Women in Restaurant Leadership (WiRL)

Melissa Fry is on a mission to inspire the next generation of women leaders—championing innovation, inclusivity, and the power to own your story. She started her journey with Hooters of America at just 18 years old, and over the past 25 years, she’s become a driving force behind the brand’s evolution. Fry has been instrumental in repositioning this legacy brand to resonate with today’s employees and guests, empowering both current and future Hooters Girls to lead with confidence—and she’s only getting started. “I remember walking in as a young woman trying to find myself, figuring out where my confidence was, where my strengths lay, and what the next step in my career path would be,” Fry says. “I’ve met some of my best friends, lifelong mentors, and amazing leaders in this organization. In this family, we all bleed orange. That was clear right away.” 🧡 Read the full feature here: https://lnkd.in/eSMeRYm6

FSR/Callie Evergreen sat down with First Watch Restaurants brand insight manager Melissa Walsh to learn how she is leading the popular brunch chain into the future with data. "The challenge I think everyone faces is being able to connect all the right data pieces together; I still think that is an issue many brands face. We are in the process of making them all talk together so we can action on it, so future state, I think being able to focus and understand our customers in full. This is going to sound cliche, but having the right message at the right time in the right channel, and being able to measure that whole journey at each touch point is going to be a game changer. I think for me, the focus and goals are really to track each part of the journey and understand how we can continue to just connect with consumers in the way that resonates with them," she says. Read the full Q&A here: https://lnkd.in/e5DtYy7k

Papa Johns is #hiring! Marketing mavens, this one’s for you 👀

IT'S HERE — if you missed out on grabbing a copy of April's QSR mag (and the first-ever WiRL edition), you can now read Shannon Hennessy's feature online! 👉 https://lnkd.in/exc4QhYM 👈 The Habit Burger & Grill CEO discusses embracing change and empowering others to do the same, all through the lens of her nontraditional career path. “The strongest leaders have pushed themselves in many different directions and asked smart questions along the way. They have taken risks, positions that went off of their resume, and roles that nobody wanted,” Hennessy says. “You have to follow your curiosity and explore various functions and concepts to build your understanding of what lights you up as a person as well as your aptitude for building a team and pointing them in the right direction.” #WiRLPower ❤️ ✨

"It's okay to be a rebel and create your own path ... have a plan A and execute it." — Evonne varady, co-founder of Clean Eatz 🌱💪 Link to podcast episode: https://lnkd.in/ef9fUDpH 🎧✨ Evonne left behind an established x-ray career, a pension, insurance, a 401K and a degree to change people's lives with her fast-growing cafe and meal prepping franchise. Today, it has over 100 locations in 23 states. 🚀 We dive into her journey as well as some 🔥 hot topics 🔥 that are rapidly changing the wellness industry, like the rise of Ozempic, gut health, sustainability in food sourcing, and competing with meal kit services. #WiRLPower #WiRLPod

More women owning restaurants? We’re here for it. 🙌🏻❤️ Kelly Gray of Hot Head Burritos dives into why franchising is ripe for a female takeover—and how women bring fresh perspective, inclusive leadership, and serious business savvy to the table. 💪🏻 We’re all about building a pipeline of powerhouse women ready to lead, own, and grow in this industry. Because when more women call the shots, everybody wins. 🏆 Give it a read, then tag a woman who should absolutely own her own restaurant someday. (Maybe it’s you?) 👀 BONUS: tag a franchising powerhouse! Read the article on QSR: https://lnkd.in/eUAwEUVD

These days, we need more honest conversations than ever—it's the only way to continue moving the needle forward and uplift women in an industry where: 💬 45% of women surveyed said they’ve been passed over for a promotion they were qualified for. 💬 1 in 4 said gender-related expectations have impacted their work-life balance. These are more than just stats—they’re lived experiences. We're bringing this conversation back in webinar form to continue sparking impactful and meaningful dialogue. ✨ Join us on April 29 at 2 p.m. EST for a powerful session created for women, by women, where we’ll dive into: ✔ Navigating difficult conversations ✔ Advocating for yourself ✔ Everyday tools to own your worth at work Let’s talk salary. Boundaries. Balance. And how we move forward—together. Lauren Selman, CMP Cristal Craven Tammy K. Billings, MBA RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/eJfyFf4K

GoTo Foods // Cinnabon // Carvel is #hiring!

Jenn Johnston is the powerhouse behind the marketing machine at FAT Brands Inc., a global franchising force with 17 concepts and growing. In our latest feature for QSR, we go behind the curtain with Jenn to learn what it really takes to build craveable brands at scale, navigate M&A chaos, and drive long-term brand love across everything from burgers to wings to froyo. From leading with purpose to keeping her team inspired through every acquisition, Jenn shares how she stays curious, collaborative, and committed to building brands that matter. #WiRLPower ✨ Read her story—and get inspired by what’s possible when women lead with strategy and soul: https://lnkd.in/ePC9iY6U

In a recent Q&A for FSR with Callie Evergreen, Roberta Frierson opened up about authentic leadership, the art of delegation, and owning your voice. Turns out, artificial intelligence AND authenticity can exist in the same sphere! ✨ 🤖 She is the SVP of Technology and Digital Strategy for Bar Louie and will be speaking on the FSR/WiRL State of the Union panel this September 2-4 in Atlanta! #WiRLPower 🔥 Learn more about the conference: https://lnkd.in/gfUwi-Gd Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/eyb9Em8b