In this episode of Take-Away with Sam Oches, Sam talks with Kelli Valade, CEO of Denny’s and Keke’s Breakfast Cafe. This is the second edition in NRN’s new Signature Series, which are conversations with some of the biggest CEOs in the restaurant industry, powered by The Coca-Cola Company. This interview is rolling out in two parts, and in this episode Kelli talks about her career, her leadership style, and the lessons she imparts to young and upcoming leaders in the restaurant industry — particularly women in foodservice. Kelli spent 22 years at Brinker before going on to CEO roles at Black Box Intelligence and Red Lobster, and she joined Denny’s as CEO in the summer of 2022. Along the way she developed a knack for building culture and connecting with teams, and she learned about the importance of raising your hand for tasks and responsibilities that may not technically be part of your job description.

In this conversation, you’ll find out why:

·      If you see potential in someone, take it upon yourself to help unlock that potential

·      You can go far in restaurants if you raise your hand for new opportunities

·      Every leader needs a personal board of directors

·      Culture is everything in building a world-class workforce 

Have feedback or ideas for Take-Away? Email Sam at [email protected].