Women in Restaurant Leadership

Satyne Doner
  • 5.0 (11)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated 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. Jun 16

    Jane McPherson Is Playing the Long Game

    30 years. That's how long Jane McPherson has been shaping brands in the restaurant industry—and she's still innovating, still evolving, still pushing forward. In this episode, I'm sitting down with Jane, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Penn Station Sandwiches, to trace her remarkable career journey across franchising, the sandwich category, and multiple periods of massive industry transformation. We talk about what it means to play the long game—to lead with strategy, patience, and a commitment to building something that lasts. Jane brings deep expertise in unit expansion, systemwide sales growth, and franchise partnership. But what makes her story really compelling is how she's remained relevant and forward-thinking across three decades of change. She's watched the industry transform from pre-digital to tech-enabled, and she's adapted every step of the way. We dig into the pivotal moments that shaped her career, the trends she's witnessed, the lessons from leading across nationally recognized brands, and how she's now focused on enhancing customer experience through technology-driven solutions at Penn Station as the brand approaches their 500th location. You'll hear about her philosophy on supporting franchisees, balancing growth with culture, and what it means to lead with both strategic depth and human awareness across an entire era of restaurant business. This is the story of a leader who knows that real success isn't about quick wins—it's about playing the long game.

    52 min

  2. Jun 9 ·  Bonus

    BONUS: Why Restaurants Need More Women in Trades (Kristen Nowak)

    When a restaurant's fryer breaks down, or the refrigeration system fails, there's a critical moment of truth: a skilled technician walks through the door and fixes it. But we rarely talk about that workforce. In this bonus episode, I'm joined by Kristen Nowak, President of Field Service at Unlimited Service Group, who oversees a nationwide network of service and repair organizations supporting commercial kitchens. Kristen has built her career in the skilled trades—a space where women make up only a small fraction of the workforce—and she's here to talk about why that needs to change. We get into her career journey, the critical role technicians play in keeping restaurants running, and the significant labor shortage the industry is facing. But more importantly, we explore why expanding opportunities for women in skilled trades isn't just the right thing to do—it's essential for the future of the industry.

    17 min

  3. May 26

    Olivia Ross Wants You to Do What Sets Your Heart on Fire

    Confidence isn't about being the loudest in the room. It's about knowing the value you bring and owning it. But here's what nobody tells you: in rooms where women are still underestimated, interrupted, and expected to prove themselves twice, claiming that space takes strategy, presence, and a whole lot of intentionality. In this episode, I'm joined by Olivia Ross, a WiRL advisory board member and Director of Growth & Digital Innovation at El Pollo Loco—a leader who's driven profitable growth for billion-dollar QSR brands through marketing innovation, digital transformation, and integrated strategy. Olivia shares what it really takes to speak with authority, build confidence in high-stakes environments, and lead boldly at the intersection of data, technology, and brand. We dig into how she claimed her space early in her career and what shifted when she did. She talks about speaking with authority in technical, high-stakes roles, and why visibility and influence are power skills, not soft skills. We explore strategies for holding the floor and making your voice heard without shrinking, and how to establish credibility when you're pushing organizations to evolve. Olivia also shares the mindset shift that makes the biggest difference for women navigating visibility, and what excites her most about the future of growth and digital innovation. This is the conversation about presence, confidence, and why owning your expertise isn't negotiable. #WiRLPOWER

    27 min

  4. May 12

    The Art of Thoughtful Growth: Inside Eggs Up Grill's Leadership

    There's a difference between scaling and scaling thoughtfully. Between growth that happens to you and growth you actually architect. This week on WiRL, I'm in conversation with Jennifer Folger and Chrissy McKinney from Eggs Up Grill—two leaders who embody that distinction. Jennifer leads franchise growth. Chrissy leads brand and communications. Together, they're navigating one of the most delicate balances in restaurant leadership: how to expand while staying true to what makes the brand work. #WiRLPOWER

    21 min

  5. Apr 28

    The Secret Ingredient Behind Every Great Menu (With Awo Amenumey)

    We spend a lot of time talking about menus—what's trending, what's next, what guests want. But what we don't always talk about is what actually makes those menus work. In this episode, I'm joined by Chef Awo Amenumey—a Chopped competitor and culinary strategist whose work bridges creativity and execution. From celebrating her Ghanaian roots through pop-ups to supporting operators across the industry, Awo brings a thoughtful, grounded perspective to how great menus come to life. We talk about procurement differently—less as a back-of-house function, more as a strategic tool that shapes everything. From simplifying operations and easing labor strain to building menus that are both inspired and executable, this conversation is a reminder that great ideas need strong systems to succeed. Strategic procurement supports effective menuing and operations, and Awo embodies that philosophy in everything she does. Sponsored by Foodbuy Foodservice, who resources Members to develop effective procurement strategies.  You can find more information here: https://www.foodbuy.com/ #WiRLPOWER

    41 min

  6. Apr 7 ·  Bonus

    Kassidy Angelo's Journey From Finance to Filet

    From crunching numbers at J.P. Morgan to running one of Florida’s hottest steakhouse brands, Kassidy Angelo is rewriting the rules of what it means to pivot into hospitality. In this bonus episode, she shares how she went from finance to the front lines of the restaurant floor, building award-winning Daniel’s Steakhouse alongside her family. Tune in for stories about taking bold risks, scaling a new concept to national recognition in record time, and the lessons she’s learned as a next-generation female leader in a traditionally male-dominated space.

    24 min

  7. Apr 7

    Hillary Frei on Scooping Up 80+ Years of Success

    What does it take to grow an 81-year-old brand… without completely melting what made it special in the first place? For Hillary Frei, it’s not about reinventing the wheel — it’s about knowing which parts of the recipe you don’t touch. Founded in 1945 by Alice Handel, Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream has gone from a single backyard-inspired stand to one of the fastest-growing concepts in the country — all while staying rooted in quality, consistency, and a little bit of nostalgia. In this episode, Hillary shares how she’s scaling a legacy brand in a modern world — from national expansion and operational discipline to evolving the menu without losing loyal fans along the way. It’s a conversation about growth, longevity, and building something that doesn’t just chase trends… but actually lasts. Because in a category where things can melt pretty quickly, some brands just know how to keep their cool.

    25 min

  8. Mar 24 ·  Bonus

    BONUS: The Lunch That Changed Women’s History

    Before women could lead restaurants, build brands, or take up space in boardrooms, they had to fight for something much simpler: a seat at the table. In 1868, a group of women gathered at Delmonico's for what became known as the Ladies’ Luncheon—the first time women publicly dined together without male escorts. Organized by journalist Jane Cunningham Croly, the moment made international headlines and quietly helped reshape women’s place in public life. In this special bonus episode, I sat down with Carin Sarafian to bring this often-overlooked story to life— from what dining culture looked like for women in the 1800s to how one lunch became an act of rebellion. More than 150 years later, the story still resonates. Because restaurants have always been more than places to eat—they’re places where culture shifts, where community forms, and where people claim space, sometimes for the very first time. You can also read the full story in FSR magazine!

    19 min
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Trailer

5
out of 5
11 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
    57
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Women in Restaurant Leadership
  • Show Website
    Women in Restaurant Leadership