Paul Saber | President & CEO Manna Development Group, LLC | Being a True Servant Leader

Paul Saber has been a restaurant owner since 1980. He was the Owner/Operator of McDonald’s restaurants from 1985-2001. In 2003, Paul became President and CEO of Manna Development Group, LLC, and currently holds the Area Development Agreement for Panera Bread. In 2022, Paul was the recipient of the Fierce Brand Love Award. Paul served on the Board of Directors of several Christian ministries and served as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association from 2007 to 2009.

I’m excited to have Paul Saber on the podcast this week to share his experiences and insights on balancing business and faith. Paul shares his entrepreneurial journey and discusses his time working with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. We dive deep into the significance of prayer in business decision-making, with Paul sharing a personal anecdote about his time working with Billy Graham. Paul also shares his thoughts on the intersection of leadership and faith, emphasizing the importance of value, inspiring employees, and giving back to the community. 

“We laid the foundation of wanting to truly be here to serve others.” - Paul Saber

“Everything is about prayer and the commitment to Christ.” - Paul Saber  

“Have we asked the Lord if this is right for us?” -  Paul Saber 

This Week on The Wow Factor:

• Paul shares more about his introduction to the world of work and how his father taught him the value of buying things by having him count customers and calculate profits at a young age
• The tragedy of Paul’s brother's death and how Mark influenced Paul over the years, including introducing him to Jesus 
• Why Paul was committed to starting a business with a focus on people, not location or restaurant concept
• How Paul built a team at Panera Bread with a strong focus on loving God and caring for people, which led to the company's success
• Paul shares a personal story of demonstrating servanthood by washing the feet of employees
• Paul and his wife launched Share the Dough to give back to communities and employees in need
• How Share the Dough provides scholarships, gives back to employees, and supports women and children in need across 14 states
• Paul’s experience of working for Billy Graham and Franklin Graham and highlights the impact it had on his personal and professional life
• The importance of prayer in leadership with Billy Graham's legacy

Paul Saber’s Words of Wisdom:

The most important thing we do isn’t the performance or figuring out the details of what’s needed. It is prayer and whether we have asked the Lord if something is right for us. 

Connect with Paul Saber: 

• Manna Development Website 

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