In this episode Jon Birdsong sits down with Hala Moddelmog, CEO of the Metro Atlanta Chamber.

Hala was born and raised in Georgia and began her career as a financial analyst at Arby's Restaurant Group. Over the years, she scaled the corporate ladder and busted glass ceilings becoming the first woman to lead an international restaurant company as the President of Church's Chicken. Hala transitioned back to the first company she worked for, Arby's, but this time as President and CEO. Over the past 6 years she's led the Metro Atlanta Chamber through unprecedented growth. We talk about how a Chamber can drive real value, initiatives she would have prioritized earlier, and of course leadership stories along the way.

The Atlanta Story is put together by the folks at Atlanta Ventures -- and we can't wait to share some of the personalities behind the brand. Atlanta Ventures invests in entrepreneurs through community, content, and capital -- most notably through our Studio with companies like Greenzie and Intown Golf Club. We believe the best entrepreneurs learn from other great artists in different fields.

In this episode, we discuss…

1. What are the strategic pillars of the Metro Atlanta Chamber CEO? (2:30)
2. What makes a successful Metro Atlanta Chamber CEO? (4:00)
3. How did Hala find and decide on the Metro Atlanta Chamber role? (5:32)
4. When Hala first started, how did she want to make her mark on the MAC? (7:15)
5. Why and how is Atlanta's Chamber more impactful than other chambers across the country? (8:30)
6. Is Atlanta still "The City Too Busy to Hate?" (10:32)
7. When Hala became the first female leader of an international restaurant group, was it acknowledged as a ground breaking accomplishment or an accomplishment that didn't garner special attention? (12:15)
8. What specific leadership style led Hala to the C-Suite? (13:25)
9. How does an Atlanta Metro Chamber CEO recruit successfully? (15:10)
10. What makes a successful public-private partnership? (17:30)
11. What are the 2-3 initiatives that must continue at MAC for it to maintain its success? (19:21)
12. What would Hala have done differently six years ago knowing what she knows now? (20:20)
13. Hala talks about her childhood and how her career led to business. (24:10)
14. What advice does Hala have for graduating seniors today? (26:50)
15. Hala shares some of the highs and lows of the Metro Atlanta Chamber. (28:00)
16. What is Atlanta going to do to fix its traffic problem? (30:10)
17. What are some of the initiatives she is most proud of? (32:50)
18. How do local sports affect the city's brand and momentum? (35:10)
19. What's Hala's favorite restaurant in town? (37:10)
20. Why Atlanta and what has Atlanta done for Hala? (37:30)

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