by TIMEICONIC MAGAZINE

By Toni Jacaruso, Jacaruso Enterprises

Some people stumble into their calling; others seem destined for it from the very beginning. Toni Jacaruso, Founder & President of  Jacaruso Enterprises falls firmly in the latter category. Long before she became one of the most influential women in hospitality, she was already practicing leadership in her own neighborhood.

As a young girl, she ran a babysitting business that was anything but ordinary. Unlike most kids who simply took the occasional job, Toni thought bigger. She organized her friends, delegated assignments, and even took a small cut from each job to expand her reach. “I was basically a tiny CEO before I could even drive,” she laughs. What started as pocket money became her first lesson in entrepreneurship, teaching her the basics of leadership, money management, and teamwork.

By 16, she landed her first “real” job at the Holiday Inn in downtown Minneapolis. For most teenagers, it might have been just another part-time gig, but for Toni, it was life-changing. “That hands-on, gritty role hooked me on hospitality,” she recalls. “I got a front-row seat to how hotels actually run, and I loved every second of it.”

Read more about Jacaruso’s featured article in TimeIconic’s Top 10 Dynamic Women Leaders Elevating Hospitality 2025 issue.