Today we’d like to introduce you to Simone Hopson.
Hi Simone, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve lived many lives inside one, and every version of me has pointed toward the same truth: I was born to create experiences and serve others!
I am the oldest of five children, a role that shaped me early. Leadership, responsibility, and vision came naturally when you’re the one setting the tone. I’ve always understood that how you move through the world matters, not just for you, but for the people watching you.
I grew up surrounded by women who treated elegance as a daily ritual. My great-grandmother cooked in Cartier glasses. My grandmother lived in furs and leather, and had a deep love for beautiful crystal. My mother adores Chanel, diamonds, and the art of being well put together. These weren’t just preferences, they were values. Class, luxury, elegance, and sophistication were embedded in my DNA, but most importantly, so was love: love for God, love for beauty, love for presentation, and a deep love for serving others, expressed through care, detail, and intention.
At 20 years old, I entered the hospitality industry serving tables. Within six months, I was promoted to bartender. What began as a hustle slowly revealed itself as a calling. Hospitality brought together everything I loved service, style, human connection, timing, and atmosphere. I didn’t just work shifts; I studied people, energy, systems, and flow.
As I rose, I brought my siblings with me. One by one, I introduced them to the industry, teaching them standards, discipline, and how to command a room. Today, two of my siblings and I are business partners. Together, we own V12 Restaurant. I am proudly the sophisticated older sister of Vinny and Kelan Watson, and even more proudly, their partner in business. Building something as a family has been one of my greatest accomplishments.
My curiosity and ambition eventually took me to New York City, where I lived and worked for four years. NYC sharpened me. It exposed me to hospitality at its highest level, precision, pace, expectation, excellence. While there, I also worked within the fashion industry, deepening my understanding of styling, branding, and presentation. That cross-pollination between hospitality and fashion became foundational to how I build concepts today.
Earlier in life, I studied art in Italy, where I learned to see the world through composition, texture, and light. I’ve designed jewelry, styled clients, worked in film and television, and spent time on sets during the early days of Tyler Perry Studios. Each chapter sharpened my eye and expanded my creative vocabulary.
Hospitality, however, is where all of my worlds finally aligned.
In 2020, during one of the most uncertain moments our industry had ever faced, I was presented with the opportunity to become a part of the ownership team at The James Room. As Managing Partner of The James Room, what I once believed was simply a hustle fully transformed into passion and purpose. At a time when many businesses were closing their doors, I leaned on nearly two decades of experience across fine dining, casual dining, sports bars, country clubs, and nightlife.
Every lesson I had learned, taste, timing, leadership, discipline, and service, collided into a single, cohesive operating philosophy. With humility, intention, and an unwavering commitment to the craft, I helped guide the business through the pandemic. While many establishments did not survive, we not only endured, we thrived. Within six months, the business experienced consistent month-over-month growth and exceeded year-over-year performance compared to previous ownership.
That chapter solidified who I am as a leader.
Today, I serve as Chief Operating Officer of V12 Restaurant Group, where I oversee operations, bringing structure, creativity, and elevated service standards to the brand.
My work centers on operational excellence, leadership development, service culture, and creating environments people feel emotionally connected to, not just entertained by.
Beyond V12, I founded Platinum Rule Hospitality, a consulting firm where I help brands elevate their operations, beverage programs, training systems, and guest experience. I am also the founder of Vintage Sloane, a luxury vintage fashion line rooted in Old Hollywood glamour, craftsmanship, and timeless femininity.
In 2026, I will debut Emerald 54 in Atlanta, a concept that reflects my love for layered experiences!!!
At the heart of everything I do is God, Gratitude, Mentorship and Elevation. I believe refinement is learned, leadership is practiced, and confidence is built through intention. I’ve made mistakes, weathered unexpected storms, and rebuilt more than once, always having Faith that the next chapter will be better than the last. Those experiences fuel my desire to guide young women, especially those navigating ambition, image, and leadership, without losing themselves.
That mission lives on through my writing, seminars, and upcoming book, which explores etiquette, social intelligence, hospitality, and personal presence as tools for empowerment.
My journey hasn’t been linear, but it has always been aligned. I am a leader, a creator, a curator of experiences, and a woman committed to building beautifully, through people, purpose, and precision.
And I’m only getting started.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Being an Entrepreneur is a challenge within itself! Full transparency, My Biggest life challenge has always been choosing to put others before myself.
Another challenge and obstacle is being too talented, lol. I am a true creative and want to do all the things! In order to achieve all my goals, I’m learning to prioritize and separate tasks into “signals and noise” as the late Steve Jobs did.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
My work focuses on hospitality, leadership, and experience design.
I specialize in building hospitality brands that are intentional, refined, and operationally sound. I’m known for translating vision into execution, developing service culture, leadership structure, beverage programs, and guest experience in a cohesive, elevated way. I don’t just create places people visit; I work to create environments people remember. Experiences…
As COO of V12 Restaurant Group, I oversee day-to-day operations and have designed the beverage program, uniforms, and steps of service, ensuring the guest experience is thoughtful, consistent, and rooted in care. I place strong emphasis on leadership development throughout the entire team. I believe how you do one thing in life is how you do everything, and I encourage my team to approach every role, task, and interaction with intention and excellence.
Through Platinum Rule Hospitality, we help brands develop new concepts or elevate their current operations. Our work includes refining operations, strengthening leadership, designing beverage programs, and clarifying brand identity.
What sets me apart is lived experience. I came up through serving, bartending, and managing before stepping into executive leadership, which allows me to lead with empathy while upholding high standards.
I’m most proud of my ability to create cohesion with class, elevation, and excellence. Every detail matters, from service tone and pacing, to presentation and atmosphere. My background in fashion, art, and design informs how spaces feel, while my hospitality foundation ensures they operate seamlessly.
I am also the founder of Vintage Sloane, an up and coming luxury vintage fashion line rooted in timeless craftsmanship. The purpose of the brand is to reintroduce elegance and intentional presentation, creating space for women to embrace refinement as a form of self-respect, and to move through the world with grace, confidence, and care.
In 2026, I will debut Emerald 54 in Atlanta, a concept centered on layered experiences and thoughtful design.
At its core, my work is about elevation; of people, spaces, and standards. Hospitality is both an art and a responsibility, and everything I build is guided by love, intention, service, and legacy.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
What I love most about Atlanta is its spirit! There’s a deep sense of possibility here! Atlanta allows you to reinvent, build, and grow without needing permission. It’s a city full of creativity, culture, and ambition, where history and innovation coexist.
What I like least is that Atlanta sometimes struggles with consistency, especially when it comes to standards, execution, and follow-through in Hospitality and Fashion. The potential here is immense, but not everyone is committed to doing things with intention or excellence. That said, I see that as an opportunity rather than a flaw. It’s why I’m so passionate about leadership, refinement, and raising the bar in all Areas! Atlanta deserves experiences that match its greatness!!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @yes.miss.simone
