Lani Kane-Hanan, an entrepreneurial C-Suite executive and CEO of Open Network Exchange Inc (ONE), exemplifies the dynamic leadership of women in hospitality and tech. Lani’s strategic vision and entrepreneurial spirit have positioned her as a trailblazer, where she consistently generates disruptive revenue streams and drives transformative growth for her company and their clients. 

As a prominent figure in both the corporate and entrepreneurial spheres, Lani is not only a leader but a mentor and advocate for women in leadership roles. She champions diversity and inclusion initiatives, recognizing the invaluable contributions that women bring to the tech industry. Through her leadership and mentorship, Lani empowers aspiring female leaders to break barriers and thrive in traditionally male-dominated fields. 

In addition to her role at ONE, Lani serves as a board member for a multitude of organizations, leveraging her expertise to guide strategic decisions and foster innovation across multiple organizations. Her multifaceted approach to leadership encompasses not only driving business success but also creating a more inclusive and caring environment. 

The Journey  

At an early age, Lani Kane-Hanan knew she wanted to be in the hospitality industry and was inspired by her grandfather, who was the General Manager of a unique hotel built in 1925. It was designed by Nelle Peters, a pioneering female architect. Lani’s grandfather taught her three important lessons during her time spent there: (1) to make sure that the product you offer is always ahead of its time, (2) take calculated risks, and (3) just like Nelle Peters – she could accomplish anything she set her mind to!  

Growing up, Lani could not wait to go to the hotel after school to make rounds with her grandfather, greeting guests and interacting with employees. This is where Lani learned being a great leader is less about being in charge, and more about making sure the people in your charge, whether guests, clients or employees, felt special.  

Inspired to follow her grandfather’s footsteps, Lani earned her B.S. and M.S. from Florida International University (FIU)- Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, where she served as an Adjunct Professor and now sits on the Dean’s Executive Advisory Board and the Hospitality Real Estate Executive Advisory Board.  As an active member of both boards for FIU, Lani serves as a subject matter expert, incorporating real-world challenges impacting the industry to prepare future graduates and shape curriculum. Lani’s passion led her to educate future graduates on the importance of leadership, integrity, ethics, and giving back to others.  

Lani also understood the impact that a special place can have on a child.  As a result, she now sits on the Board of the Southern Florida chapter of Make-A-Wish, an organization that grants wishes and creates special places for children with life threatening illnesses.  

Lani embraces technology as one of her tools to make sure that whatever she does is “ahead of its time.” She believes seamlessly integrating innovative technologies in every aspect of the hospitality industry is table stakes. This is why she recently accepted the position as Chief Executive Officer of Open Network Exchange Inc (ONE), a next generation technology-based sales, marketing, fulfilment partnership company, designed to fuel business strategies, increase customer lifetime value, and accelerate growth for hospitality, retail and financial clients globally.  

Today, Lani spends her time with clients, helping them use artificial intelligence (AI)-infused technology to personalize experiences, cost effectively find their target customer, sell more efficiently, and increase customer stickiness.  

Climbing the Ladder  

Determined to make a name for herself, Lani focused on every learning opportunity she could find, truly believing that you can “have it all.”  Early on she adopted the philosophy that the first third of your life you learn, the next third you earn, and finally the last you return.  This trend for Lani is circular, rather than linear, and by flexing through all three phases you can accomplish “having it all” – just not all at once. 

With over 25 years of experience in the travel and leisure industry, Lani interchanged between the role of a mentee and mentor to enhance her understanding of the ever- evolving landscape impacting the travel and hospitality sectors Lani’s journey took her from real estate consultant to the cruise industry, to Chief Development and Product Officer at one of the largest vacation clubs in the world, to now CEO of ONE, She worked her way to the top of the corporate ladder and expanded her expertise in every role. With Lani’s industry prowess, she became a key member of the team responsible for forming Marriott Vacations Worldwide (VAC:NYSE), a spinoff of the well-known Marriott Hotels. In her more than 20 years at Marriott Vacations Worldwide, Lani held numerous leadership roles including the position of EVP and Chief Development & Product Officer, overseeing growth and innovation through the development of new and reimagined products, resorts, brands, experiences, and partnerships. Lani’s role at Marriott Vacations Worldwide prepared her t embark on her current position as the CEO of Open Network Exchange (ONE).   

Paving the Way for Future Leaders  

Along Lani’s career path to becoming CEO, she knew the importance of leaving a legacy and building a roadmap for future leaders to rise. Determined to create that path in the travel and hospitality sector, Lani joined many associations to further her relationships while building the platform so her voice could be heard. Today, Lani is an active member of the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) and serves on their Board of Directors and Foundation Board.  

Navigating the challenges amongst gender roles, Lani was inspired to create a platform where women in the hospitality industry felt supported and heard. With only an estimated 10% of executive-level positions such as the CEO being held by women in the hospitality industry, Lani was inspired to become the co-founder and past president of Women in the Industry (WIN), an organization that focuses on women inclusion, mentorship, and networking to help those entering the field of hospitality. In addition to Lani’s career, she is a mother herself, attempting to balance work-life commitments, and WIN was an important milestone that established a foundation for women to advocate, educate, provide resources, encourage philanthropy, and support other women in their careers. Helping our future generations in the hospitality industry, Lani became a board member of the now American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA)’s Castell Forward Project, an initiative designed to empower young women in hospitality. In a recent interview with DEI Advisors, Lani credits mentorship as one element of her legacy and the importance of becoming a mentee and mentor at every level of your career.  

Innovation is Key  

During Lani’s tenure at Marriott Vacations Worldwide (VAC:NYSE), she was instrumental in the innovation of the product offerings and how to create value for consumers and shareholders alike. By harnessing customer analytics, market insights, and innovative thinking Lani enhanced the consumer experience by revamping the vacation ownership product offerings to exceed evolving expectations, while providing flexibility and variety. With a shift in consumer needs, Marriott Vacations Worldwide acted swiftly to implement innovative solutions catering to a diverse clientele, while fortifying loyalty and advocacy.  

During her career, Lani has developed the philosophy that you should take every problem and turn it upside down. She used this technique to refresh a stale mentor program and to enhance the understanding of generational differences. She enacted a reverse mentorship relationship between senior executives and newer members of the workforce, allowing one another to see differences in responsibilities and the behaviors needed to be successful in those roles.  

In addition, as corporations evolve to their environment and technological advancements, it is imperative to make corporate social responsibility a priority. For Lani, this is part of her legacy, and she is proud to have developed a sustainability initiative aimed at reducing the environmental footprint including energy-efficient upgrades, waste reduction programs, and partnerships with local conservation organizations.  

Rise to the Top as CEO 

In 2023, Lani embarked on a new journey and became the CEO of Open Network Exchange Inc (ONE), a global leader in digital business solutions amongst the travel, hospitality, retail and financial sectors. Lani’s open and transparent leadership style created an instant connection with the employees at ONE. Often times, Lani can be seen on roller skates, gliding across the floor motivating the team. She publishes a regular communication known as ‘Lani’s Lane,’ using custom jingles and poems to infuse creativity and joy into the workplace.  

In Lani’s inaugural year at ONE, she has led the team to achieve record breaking sales resulting in a 450% increase in revenue growth from the prior year while also receiving the 2023 CX Excellence Award by NICE for ONE’s commitment to supporting their customers. In addition, with this incredible growth, ONE secured a new 70,000 square foot building that includes state-of-the-art technology with a private fitness center, basketball court, locker rooms, and collaboration spaces to provide employees an environment to thrive.  

Leadership for Success  

In 2024, ONE continues to experience record breaking sales months and unprecedented growth, expanding its global footprint and securing strategic partnerships with leading corporations. ONE introduced advanced platform enhancements that help B2B partners optimize their sales strategies, growing their customer base and increasing retention. This year, ONE is projected to reach new milestones through collaborations with new partners, expanding into new product offerings and servicing, and opening new locations domestically and internationally. ONE has been an early adopter of AI technology to forge deeper connections with travelers, understand their needs, and create custom solutions to enhance consumer loyalty. While leaders face challenges outside of their control such as the economy, the impact of global events, pandemics, geopolitical instability, and environmental issues, Lani believes her global team of nearly 1,000 will be ready to pivot and implement solutions to remain nimble.  

Lani’s leadership was not solely focused on business success; she demonstrated deep care for her employees and the community. She introduced comprehensive wellness programs and robust corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.  

Reflecting on her journey, Lani attributes her success to her ability to balance analytical rigor with creative innovation, guided by her randfather’s timeless lessons. “True leadership requires harnessing both logic and imagination,” she often says. Her advice to aspiring leaders is more controversial: “Don’t be afraid to defend a differing viewpoint. If everyone agrees with you, you’re probably not pushing hard enough.” She believes that real progress often requires ruffling feathers and challenging entrenched interests and that comfort zones are where companies go to die. 

Looking ahead, Lani envisions a future where B2B2C partnerships and technology are seamlessly integrated to provide unparalleled solutions. She predicts that AI and machine learning will continue to revolutionize the industry, enabling hyper-personalized sales and services and efficient resource management. “Our future depends on how we balance innovation with practical application,” she asserts. “We must create technologies that drive business success and open new possibilities.” 

Today, Lani is celebrated as a visionary leader who seamlessly integrates left-brain and right-brain thinking to drive financial success and foster a culture of innovation. Her journey from hotel night auditor to CEO of Open Network Exchange Inc serves as an inspiration, reminding us that the best leaders are those who can balance the precision of execution with the boundless possibilities of creativity. Given Lani’s leadership skills and past accomplishments, there is no surprise that she was recognized as one of the Top 50 Women Leaders in Miami for 2023, 2024, and will continue to make headlines for years to come! 

Website: onecompany.com