We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mariska Ly Ho. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mariska below.
Mariska, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s talk legacy – what sort of legacy do you hope to build?
Serving others and finding joy in it—this is my mantra. There is no secret ingredient to happiness; it lies in embracing this mindset, whether with family, friends, or business colleagues. People have long searched for the key to happiness, yet they often overlook that it all begins at home. I want to be remembered as someone who lived by this code, leaving a legacy of kindness and service.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Like many immigrants in NYC, I entered the restaurant industry while studying in the U.S. Originally from Indonesia, I worked in restaurants to support myself as an international student in my 20s. Restaurants combine service and hospitality, and for Indonesians, hospitality is second nature—it’s in our roots to serve others.
Adrian Zecha, the Indonesian-born founder of Aman Hotels, built his brand on these same values. Indonesian hospitality is in my DNA, and I’ve carried that into my work ever since.
How do you keep your team’s morale high?
Integrity and humility. This may sound biased, but practicing what you preach truly works wherever you go. As a leader, your team looks up to you. Live by the expectations you set for yourself, just as you expect others to see you. Stay grounded and humble. Acknowledge that you don’t always have all the answers. Learning to co-exist and work as a team is the key to success.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I once thought I’d be an artist—either in a music studio or performing on a big stage. I even went to college to study music engineering. But life has a way of steering you in unexpected directions.
Over time, I’ve learned not to fight the current but to ride the waves. Fail once? Get up twice. Fail twice? Keep going.
In the past 18 years, I’ve switched majors three times and worked almost every position in a restaurant, all in search of who I am. In many ways, I’ve found myself through restaurants. I’ve learned to navigate life by listening to the stories of others—whether from coworkers behind the scenes or customers across the table.
Restaurants didn’t just teach me how to work; they taught me how to live.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @rikalyho
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/public-profile/settings?trk=d_flagship3_profile_self_view_public_profile
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/KouDRsLGdAc?si=mp6hsIfsdr-qbWC6
Image Credits
Pic 1: Credit @luchesopher
Pic 2: Credit @mezcalunionusa @mezcalunion
Pic 4: Credit @luchesopher
Pic 8: Credir @rayjansonradio