Women in Restaurant Leadership

Satyne Doner
  • 5.0 (12)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Biweekly

Women in Restaurant Leadership is a new podcast from the teams at QSR and FSR magazines and the podcasts QSR Uncut and The Restaurant Innovator. It will explore stories and insights from women leaders across the industry, creating a space to share ideas, aspirations, and help progress the sector forward. Join the WiRL movement!

  1. 3d ago ·  Bonus

    FEMALE FOUNDERS: Melissa Butler Built an App in a Year

    Melissa Butler spent 30 years building a successful business. Then she retired, got bored, and built something new. The story: She got on a GLP-1, went to a restaurant, couldn’t figure out what to order, and thought “I could make an app for this.” A few months later, Menu Order AI launched. Now it’s in 24 countries, 5 languages, 185,000 downloads, and helping people on GLP-1s navigate restaurant menus without the stigma or the stress. But this episode isn’t really about the app. It’s about what happens when a founder walks away, gets bored, and decides to build again. It’s about empowering people through kindness. It’s about asking for help. And it’s about proving that you can start over—and build something that matters. In this female founders bonus episode, Melissa tells you how it all happened, what surprised her most, and why being nice in business actually works. Registration is now open for the Women in Restaurant Leadership Summit in Scottsdale, Arizona. Find your community. Be empowered. Learn from the best. Find out more and sign up here today.

  2. 3d ago

    Holly Smith Is Writing P.F. Chang’s Next Chapter

    Every fortune cookie comes with a message. Holly Smith is writing P.F. Chang’s next one. As Chief Marketing Officer, Holly is steering one of America’s most beloved casual dining brands through a transformation that feels fresh, authentic, and genuinely exciting. She’s spent her career at major brands—TGI Fridays, Joe’s Crab Shack, Rosa Mexicano, Yardbird—and she’s brought all of that wisdom to P.F. Chang’s. The results speak for themselves: moved from 22nd to 3rd in same-store sales growth, guests visiting more frequently, dining room traffic up 10%. But here’s what actually matters—she’s doing it by connecting authentically. Through 120+ creator partnerships, through seasonal menus that feel real, through campaigns like Bao that mean something, and through a philosophy that says marketing and guest experience aren’t separate—they’re woven together. P.F. Chang’s isn’t just evolving. It’s coming alive under her leadership. In this episode, Holly talks about her journey, how she balances heritage with innovation, what real marketing leadership looks like, and why she’s committed to supporting women in the industry. Plus, she’s speaking at WiRL 2027 in Scottsdale this February! Registration is now open for the Women in Restaurant Leadership Summit in Scottsdale, Arizona. Find your community. Be empowered. Learn from the best. Find out more and sign up here today.

  3. Oct 27 ·  Bonus

    HALLOWEEN BONUS: The Scream Queens Turning 34 Bars Into Haunted Havens

    Black Lagoon is what happens when two industry veterans—and creative partners—decide to build something bold after surviving COVID. Erin Hayes and Kelsey Ramage built an immersive cocktail experience that’s transforming 34 bars across North America into Halloween wonderlands. We’re talking custom immersive decor, cinematic lighting, chilling soundscapes, collectible glassware, and an entirely new cocktail menu designed to transport guests somewhere else. But this is also a story about creative partnership and resilience. Two women who’ve navigated the hospitality industry, who weathered the pandemic, and who decided to build something that brings joy and excitement back to bars and their guests. The genius of Black Lagoon is the partnership model. Erin and Kelsey aren’t opening their own bars—they’re partnering with existing venues to handle the full experience design and execution across 34 simultaneous activations. In this Halloween bonus episode, our scream queens talk about how they turned an idea into a multi-city, multi-bar activation, what creative partnership looks like in execution, how they survived and rebuilt after COVID, and what it takes to pull off something this ambitious.  HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! Registration is now open for the Women in Restaurant Leadership Summit in Scottsdale, Arizona. Find your community. Be empowered. Learn from the best. Find out more and sign up here today.

  4. Oct 20

    Julie Klinger on Why Operations Need More Heart

    Julie Klinger is the Chief Operating Officer of Playa Bowls—overseeing franchise operations, company operations, HR, and learning and development. She’s spent her career at Chili’s, Cheddar’s, Smokey Bones, Macaroni Grill, and Nothing Bundt Cakes. But Julie doesn’t lead like most COOs. She believes operations should have a heartbeat. In this episode, she talks about her journey across major brands, why people-first leadership actually drives better results, how to support franchisees genuinely, and what it takes to prove that operational excellence and people care aren’t opposites. Registration is now open for the Women in Restaurant Leadership Summit in Scottsdale, Arizona. Find your community. Be empowered. Learn from the best. Find out more and sign up here today.

  5. Oct 6 ·  Bonus

    BONUS: Two Founders Exposing Hospitality's Biggest Secret

    Employee theft quietly drains bars and restaurants every single day. Everyone knows it's happening. No one talks about it. Until now. Chloe Rachel Howard and Jauna Werner co-authored "How I Steal From You"—a true crime exposé on internal theft schemes in hospitality. Chloe grew up in a family restaurant, spent a decade consulting on loss prevention. Jauna is a business operations expert who's transformed restaurant operations at major corporations. Together, they're changing how restaurant owners think about security, culture, and profit protection—without turning their operations into prisons. In this episode, they walk us through the psychology behind why employees steal, how "small" schemes escalate into six-figure losses, and what the red flags actually look like. Plus, we play through real scenarios so you can see how they actually think. This is transparency. This is what needs to be said. Find out more here: https://www.howistealfromyou.com/ Registration is now open for the Women in Restaurant Leadership Summit in Scottsdale, Arizona. Find your community. Be empowered. Learn from the best. Find out more and sign up here today.

  6. Oct 6

    Kasia Bednarz: Survival Story Turned Fast-Casual Mission

    Kasia Bednarz didn't grow up thinking about "clean eating." She grew up eating potatoes because that's what her family could afford. Today, she's the Founder and CEO of FARE—a fast-casual brand proving that fast food and real food don't have to be enemies. Built on scratch-made recipes, zero seed oils, zero refined sugars, FARE has grown from a farmers' market table to 10 Chicago locations, with Charlotte opening this fall. Kasia scaled FARE without cutting corners. Inc. 5000 honoree. EY Winning Women. Still develops every menu item herself. And she's deliberately building the leadership pipeline she never had—placing women at every level. In this episode, she talks about turning survival into mission, staying true to what matters while scaling, and what it means to be a first-generation female founder building something real. Registration is now open for the Women in Restaurant Leadership Summit in Scottsdale, Arizona. Find your community. Be empowered. Learn from the best. Find out more and sign up here today.

  7. Sep 29

    Zipporah Allen on Real Power: Boundaries, Motherhood, and Leading on Your Terms

    Zipporah Allen's #WiRLPOWER moment isn't about climbing the corporate ladder. It's about learning to ask for what she needs—unapologetically. Ten weeks postpartum, pumping on a corporate jet with a room full of men. Caregiving for her mother while preparing for board meetings. Leading at work while being a leader at home. Zipporah carries a lot. And over nearly two decades at McDonald's, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Strava, and now Sweetgreen, she's learned something crucial: real power isn't about doing it all quietly. It's about setting boundaries while still meeting the mission. As Chief Commercial Officer at Sweetgreen, Zipporah is redefining what it looks like to lead with your whole self—creativity, strategy, tech savvy, heart, and the courage to ask for what you need. In this episode, we dive into her journey to Sweetgreen, the wraps launch, strategic collaborations, the fall menu launch—but mostly, we explore what happens when a woman stops apologizing for her needs and starts leading from a place of authenticity and power. You'll also play through her "Build Your Leadership Menu" game—a deeply personal look at the foundation of her leadership and what she's learned about real strength. This is what #WiRLPOWER actually looks like. Registration is now open for the Women in Restaurant Leadership Summit in Scottsdale, Arizona. Find your community. Be empowered. Learn from the best. Find out more and sign up here today.

  8. Aug 25

    Front-Line Leadership: Burger King Manager Tells All

    Most leadership advice comes from people who've never worked a Saturday night shift. Kayla Henson has. She started as a McDonald's crew member in 2006 and worked her way to Burger King General Manager. She's worked the doubles, led through call-offs, managed impossible shifts, and built cultures people actually want to be part of. Kayla is also the creator of QSR Nugs of Wisdom. She shares practical lessons on developing leaders from crew to GM, building culture, and leading through pressure without losing your people.  In this episode, Kayla talks about her actual journey, the moments that shaped her, and what she's learned about investing in people. She shares real stories from the trenches and plays through actual QSR leadership scenarios. This is what real leadership looks like. You can connect with Kayla here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayla-henson-68aa662a9/ Registration is now open for the Women in Restaurant Leadership Summit in Scottsdale, Arizona. Find your community. Be empowered. Learn from the best. Find out more and sign up here today.

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Trailer

5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Women in Restaurant Leadership is a new podcast from the teams at QSR and FSR magazines and the podcasts QSR Uncut and The Restaurant Innovator. It will explore stories and insights from women leaders across the industry, creating a space to share ideas, aspirations, and help progress the sector forward. Join the WiRL movement!

Information

  • Creator
    Satyne Doner
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    69
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Women in Restaurant Leadership
  • Show Website
    Women in Restaurant Leadership

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