Coffee with a T-bird hosted by Alex Rozenfeld
Grab a cup of coffee and join Alex Rozenfeld, Thunderbird alum and founder of Freshwater Investments, as he sits down with fellow T-bird graduates who are making an impact in business, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Each episode features open and insightful conversations that explore the pivotal moments, personal motivations, and lessons learned on their journeys.
From building companies across continents to leading global teams, these stories highlight the drive and mindset behind success. Whether you're a student, alum, or someone passionate about business and personal growth, you'll walk away with fresh ideas and real-world perspective.
This is more than a podcast—it’s a platform for connection, storytelling, and celebrating the global spirit of Thunderbird.
This podcast is sponsored by www.freshwaterinvestments.com
Coffee with a T-bird hosted by Alex Rozenfeld
Scaling Mountains and Hotels: Michael Johnston's Journey from Private Equity to Hospitality and Beyond
In this conversation, Michael Johnston shares his fascinating journey from strategy consulting and private equity to becoming a hospitality entrepreneur. He discusses his early travels, the impact of his Peace Corps experience in Ukraine, and the challenges of navigating the Ukrainian economy while working in private equity. Michael also delves into the founding of Aspen Company, his vision for luxury boutique hotels, and the innovative strategies he employs to enhance guest experiences and operational efficiency.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelajohnston/
About Michael in his own words:
I’m a hospitality executive and entrepreneur with a passion for building and scaling brands that blend design, experience, and operational excellence. My background spans strategy consulting, private equity, and hospitality, giving me a foundation for leading complex projects from vision to execution. After earning my MBA, where I focused on international business, I went on to advise global clients on growth and turnaround strategies during my time at KPMG and Deloitte.
Over the past fifteen years, I’ve led businesses in six countries, with a focus on Europe and the U.S. I served as CEO of RHC, one of Eastern Europe’s largest hotel investment companies specializing in full service internationally branded hotels, where I developed nine hotels in nine cities and led the company through a successful exit at 22x EBITDA.
Most recently, I founded The Aspen Company, a design-led hospitality investment and management company. To date, we have acquired and repositioned two iconic properties—Liss Ard Estate in Ireland and Abbaye de la Bussière in France—both members of Relais & Châteaux and recipients of top industry accolades. I’m also a Partner in our family-owned hotel investment and management company, Las Brisas Hotel Group, based in California, which has owned and/or operated seven hotels in California and Arizona.
My approach combines hands-on operational leadership with strategic clarity and a strong investor mindset. I thrive in environments where creativity meets discipline — whether repositioning underperforming assets, building teams, or bringing new concepts to market.
Alongside hospitality, I’ve also expanded co-working and lifestyle concepts, always with a focus on brand, community, and experience. I speak Russian and Ukrainian and am learning Portuguese and have lived in nine countries—an experience that has deeply shaped how I lead, collaborate, and build across cultures.
This podcast is sponsored by Freshwater Investments