Confessions of Ginnie Dunleavy

The incredibly creative and talented team that I get to work with. I also love being part of the higher education community. This year I was able to see Angela Davis and Gloria Steinem with my daughter. That is pretty awesome!

Finding a parking space. 

The turnaround that we have had at RISD. I believed strongly in the benefits of self-operated dining programs and was recruited by RISD to help. We were able to develop a strong mission and values that have guided us to becoming an award wining, fiscally sound dining program. 

When I first came to RISD a group of student wanted to use the freezer as a studio space to sculpt ice. 

I could see myself being a coach. I love the community, competition and continual learning that come with being part of a team. 

I really wish I could sing. When my kids were babies I would sing and they would say, “Mommy, shhhhh.”
 

I would like to be able to speak another language or two or three. 

Harm to my family. 

I think the position of Secretary of State is incredibly challenging. Madeline Albright and Condi Rice are very impressive but I really admire the way Hillary Clinton has represented the U.S. while in this role. Her speech on human rights and work for women’s equality around the world I find motivating. I admire her courage and appreciate her sense of humor.

I am not really a one meal kind of gal. I am all about the ingredients; if something is really fresh I will usually love it. My most recent favorite meal memory was fish chowder and brown bread in a little pub in Ireland. I’m still thinking about that, it was so good! 

I love to do jigsaw puzzles and now that they have an app for that I usually do one a day. 

Horseradish, Wocestershire sauce and V8. Can you guess what is in my freezer?

I would say eating exotic and endangered animals in like, say, shark fin soup, I just don’t get it. 

I once ate deep fried crickets as an appetizer. Turns out they’re not that appetizing after all. 

The fire and ice type set up that is all about the Mongolian grill. Of course, I am not a chef, they are probably a blast to cook on but I do not like other people’s ingredients getting into my food. 

See a foreign film with subtitles: the best of both worlds.

Evening.

When I first came to RISD I would say “act happy or be happy, I don’t care which,” but in the last six years I have come to realize that the most impactful thing you can do to influence customer experience is to hire for attitude. We have a talented team who can teach our way of doing business and can refine and improve skills but if a person does not have a natural passion for making others feel taken care of we will not reach our goal of being exceptional.  

Q. Who is your favorite celebrity chef?

Cat Cora. She battles with the best of them and always finishes with a shot of ouzo!

Q. What activity is at the top of your bucket list?

I’d really love to take a significant amount of time out of my normal life to contribute to some sort of relief effort or philanthropic venture. 

Q. What is your most treasured possession?

I wear my Grandmother’s engagement ring. I love it and the memory of her giving it to me is never far.  

Q. If you could eat dinner with anyone living or dead, who would it be?

I can see myself sitting down to dinner with a comedy icon like Gilda Radner, Carol Burnett or Tina Fey.  

Q. What would be your dream vacation?

For me, it is all about the accommodations, amenities and food and beverages. I would like to go someplace that would be featured on an exotic calendar, a villa in the Alps or a luxury hut in Fiji for example. 

Q. What do you value most in a friend?

Loyalty and unconditional acceptance.  

Q. If you had a time machine what historical event or era would you visit?

I’d love to visit the late ‘20’s early ‘30’s-at the tail end of prohibition.