Ursula Hickox is a senior leader and strategic advisor specializing in hospitality ventures, business development, and leadership strategy. With 25+ years of experience guiding complex service organizations, she brings deep operational insight to entrepreneurs, program leaders, and organizations developing hospitality-focused environments. Throughout her career, Ursula has led large-scale operations that required balancing financial performance, customer experience, team leadership, and long-term strategic planning.

She is known for helping organizations move beyond ideas and into structured, sustainable execution. As the founder of The Grounded Compass, Ursula works with founders and leadership teams to develop hospitality concepts, strengthen operational frameworks, and guide organizations through growth with clarity and confidence. In addition to her leadership and advisory work, Ursula has contributed to academic and international learning environments, sharing practical insights on leadership, service industries, and organizational development. Her approach blends strategic thinking with real-world leadership experience, helping organizations create ventures that are practical, scalable, and built to last.