Welcome to the Season 2 debut!! ✨ The restaurant industry is full of incredible career opportunities—if you know where to look. In this episode of the WiRL pod, I'm sitting down with Sarah Diehl, founder of Empowered Hospitality. She joins me to break down the evolving talent landscape in hospitality. 💪 From shifting employee expectations to the power of employer branding, Sarah shares expert insights on how restaurant professionals can build long-term, fulfilling careers beyond the front line. Whether you're a manager looking to grow, an operator aiming to retain top talent, or someone eager to transition into a corporate role, this conversation is jam-packed with practical advice, career strategies, and HR wisdom that every hospitality professional needs to hear. Tune in to discover how to turn a restaurant job into a lasting career! #WiRLPower ✨…

In this episode of Women in Restaurant Leadership , I sat down to chat with Stephanie Jaeger, President of Les Dames d'Escoffier International (LDEI), to explore how the organization is championing women in food, beverage, and hospitality. Stephanie shares insights on LDEI’s most impactful initiatives, the power of mentorship, and her vision for the future of women in the industry. She also reflects on her personal journey in hospitality, the global connections LDEI fosters, and even reveals which legendary chefs she’d invite to a dream dinner party. Thank you for tuning into this bite-sized episode of the official WiRL pod—stay tuned for more!…

For the Women in Restaurant Leadership podcast SEASON ONE FINALE (can you believe it?!), we’re teaming up with our sister publication PMQ Pizza for a special bonus episode! PMQ senior editor Charlie Pogacar is leading the conversation this time, with pizza industry trailblazers Laura Meyer and Stephanie Swane. 🍕 They dive into the future of pizza, innovation in the industry, and the importance of championing women in food. From pushing culinary boundaries to redefining leadership, Laura and Stephanie share their insights on what’s next for the world of pizza. #WiRLPowe #PizzaPower anyone? ✨💪…

What does it take to build a thriving healthy fast-casual empire? I'm sitting down to chat with Darden Coors, CEO of Salad Collective (and Coors family heiress), along with Jenn Ruppert, Salad Collective's VP of Marketing and one of our recent WiRL Together Summit speakers! Darden shares her unique journey from practicing law to leading MAD Greens, Tokyo Joe’s, and Snappy Salads under one roof. I'll explore how she blends her family’s legacy with her vision for growth, the challenges of scaling a mission-driven brand, and what’s next for Salad Collective. Plus, Jenn offers insights on brand strategy, leadership, and making healthy eating fun. Grab a fork and join us! 🥗🎙️…

How does a legal powerhouse transition into leading a beloved French café brand? ☕️✨🥐 In this episode, we sit down with Christine Johnson, who was COO of la Madeleine at the time of this recording and now serves as executive vice president, to explore her unique journey from practicing law to overseeing operations at a national restaurant chain. Christine shares how her legal expertise has shaped her leadership approach, from strategic decision-making to navigating industry regulations. We’ll also dive into how she balances la Madeleine’s legacy with innovation, leads through change, and mentors the next generation of restaurant leaders. #WiRLPower ❤️…

Ready for another bite-sized episode to get your week started on a good note? In this episode of the Women in Restaurant Leadership podcast, I'm joined by Cheryl Fletcher, chief development officer at Tropical Smoothie Cafe. She shares her inspiring (and unconventional) journey to the C-suite and what it’s like to lead in the fast-paced world of QSR. Cheryl discusses stepping outside her comfort zone, her bold leadership style, and the strategies behind Tropical Smoothie’s rapid growth in recent years. She also offers valuable advice for aspiring women leaders, insights into balancing brand expansion with consumer trends, and her vision for the future of women in the restaurant industry. See you next time... thanks for tuning in!…

In this episode of Women in Restaurant Leadership , I sit down with MJ Riva, CEO of Pizza Factory, to explore her journey in the restaurant industry and the evolution of her leadership style. MJ shares powerful insights on finding your voice, embracing discomfort to grow, and navigating challenges with confidence and authenticity. We discuss how she’s used her unique perspective to drive brand growth at Pizza Factory, the role of mentorship in empowering others, and strategies for asserting authority in high-pressure situations. MJ also offers advice for emerging leaders on building support networks and fostering environments where women feel empowered to speak up and lead. So sit back, relax, and take a bite out of this episode 🍕 ✨…

Happy New Year, #WiRLFam! In this episode of the Women in Restaurant Leadership podcast, I’m joined by Tara Gilad, President and Founder of Vitality Bowls, a fast-growing superfood café franchise that has transformed the healthy dining landscape. Tara shares her inspiring journey from her health-conscious upbringing and entrepreneurial roots to founding a brand driven by a deeply personal mission—creating safe, nutritious dining options for those with food allergies. 🥗🍎🥕 We’ll explore how Tara overcame early challenges to build Vitality Bowls into a nationally recognized brand with over 70 locations, her approach to innovation through ventures like Harvest Kitchen, and the strategies behind the company’s rapid expansion into new markets. 🚀 Tara also opens up about the importance of educating future generations on healthy eating, the evolving trends in the wellness food space, and how she balances the demands of leadership with her personal life. Plus, don’t miss Tara’s insights on leadership as a female entrepreneur, advice for aspiring business owners, and her answers to some fun rapid-fire questions—including her favorite Vitality Bowl creation and the superfoods that didn’t quite make the menu! Welcome to 2025, everyone!…

How does a biology major become one of QSR’s Young Leaders to Watch? In this episode of Women in Restaurant Leadership , I chat with Trisha Bovell, Head of Training at Big Chicken, about her unconventional path into the restaurant industry, her rise from GM to training guru, and her hands-on approach to onboarding that’s helping Big Chicken grow! Trisha shares lessons from her time at Dutch Bros and Topgolf, her secrets to building a killer training program, and how she balances leading the charge at Big Chicken with co-owning her small business, Simply Charcuterie LV. We also chat about the two U.S. states she hasn't visited yet, what it's like to raise a one-year old, and her mandatory travel plans every three months!…

In this episode, I sit down with Meredith Sandland , author of Delivering The Digital Restaurant and founder of Empower Delivery , to discuss the transformative shift in how Americans consume food. Meredith shares her career journey, pivotal lessons learned along the way, and her passion for leading change in the restaurant and delivery industries. We dive into: 🍴 How food consumption patterns are evolving in the U.S. 📖 The inspiration behind her book and the hardest part of writing it 🚀 The challenges and triumphs of founding Empower Delivery 📦 What’s next for third-party delivery apps and how restaurants can adapt 🔮 Her vision for the future of delivery and its impact on the industry Plus, Meredith reads an excerpt from her book and offers advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, authors, and anyone looking to step outside their comfort zone. It's a perfect listen for anyone making a pre-Thanksgiving road trip!…

Let's talk tech! 👩‍💻🤖🎮 This week, we're catching up with Shelly Rupel, CEO and Co-Founder of Devour—a next-gen engagement platform that's "feeding the future" by weaving seamless food ordering into the world of gaming and streaming. Shelly is a fearless leader in three traditionally male-dominated fields: restaurants, technology, and gaming. With Devour, her goal is to reach all 212 million U.S. gamers by meeting them where they are and going beyond the traditional means of engagement and loyalty. 🏆 Check out her full story on QSR : https://www.qsrmagazine.com/story/shelly-rupel-shares-life-as-a-woman-in-restaurant-tech-and-gaming/ Explore Devour's latest app, DevourPlay: https://devourgo.io/go-vip-dashboard…

Today I'm joined by Healey Mendicino, who shares her journey to becoming the president of Port of Subs, a beloved 52-year-old nationwide sandwich shop. We also dive into the nuances of franchising and what it takes to successfully grow in today's ever-changing environment. We also learn about Healey's favorite sub order!…

This time on the Women in Restaurant Leadership podcast, we're joined by Brandy Blackwell, VP of Marketing at Another Broken Egg Cafe. Brandy opens up about her inspiring career journey, unique leadership style, and what it takes to thrive as a woman in a male-dominated industry. We’ll also dive into the “Brunch Boom” phenomenon and explore how Another Broken Egg Cafe continues to lead the way with fresh innovations in a competitive market. And don’t miss the fun bonus at the end—Brandy reveals her dream brunch guests and shares her ultimate brunch playlist!…

Today we're joined by Jennifer Dodd, CEO of Main Squeeze Juice Company! In this episode, we talk about everything under the sun when it comes to career growth. With over 30 years of experience leading successful turnarounds, driving strategic growth, and empowering diverse teams across brands like The Melting Pot, Tim Hortons, Dunkin’ Donuts, Applebee’s, Church’s Chicken, Arby’s, and more, Dodd’s leadership journey is unparalleled. Her story, which began at a Wendy’s drive-thru where she met her husband, adds a personal touch to her professional achievements. As a certified DiSC leadership assessment tool facilitator and practitioner of inter-cultural intelligence since 1993, Dodd is passionate about helping individuals navigate their career growth, enhance teamwork, and improve communication through self-awareness and development. Our upcoming webinar takes this episode a step further by working directly with you to reach your career goals and recognize your superpower! Check out the upcoming webinar here: https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/4713975/3A852F3C1C0A3D88EE8586F0DA922613…

This week I'm joined by Emily Rugaber, VP of Marketing at Thanx. She's a leading expert in digital transformation, loyalty, and data-driven restaurant marketing. Together, we explore how customer behavior has evolved over the past few years and the pivotal role that digital transformation plays in shaping loyalty programs today. Emily breaks down the latest loyalty trends, how data and personalization can help brands forge deeper emotional connections, and how restaurants can overcome the biggest challenges in customer retention. Whether you're looking to enhance member acquisition or understand the future of restaurant marketing, this conversation is packed with insights that will help you stay ahead of the curve. #WiRLPower…