Restaurant Influencers

Leadership

The Army Was Tough, But Restaurants Made Her Cry — Lessons From the Drive-Thru From a Former KFC Exec

Former KFC Chief Operating Officer Monica Rothgery discusses the experiences that shaped her leadership book, "Lessons from the Drive-Thru."

Growing a Business

When Shaquille O'Neal Wanted to Start a Restaurant, This Is Who He Approached

Perry Rogers, founder of management firm PRP and JRS Hospitality, had what it took to build his big client's Big Chicken restaurant concept.

Growing a Business

He Discovered His Favorite Sandwich Shop in College. Now He Runs It – and Has 155 Locations.

Capriotti's Sandwich Shop CEO Ashley Morris discusses buying his favorite sandwich shop and maintaining high quality while scaling and operating a fast-casual franchise.

Growing a Business

This Chef Went From Dreaming of Michelin Stars to Building an Audience as a YouTube Star

Chef Sohla El-Waylly never set out to be a food content creator, but a series of events led her to her current career.

Growing a Business

Her Restaurant Business Is Worth $100 Million — Here's Her Unconventional Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Pinky Cole, founder of Slutty Vegan, talks about going from TV producer to restaurant owner, leaning into failure and the value of good PR.

Science & Technology

After Co-Founding a Successful Restaurant Group, He Turned to Tech to Simplify the Checkout Experience

Victor Lugger's Big Mamma restaurant group took off – and now he's working on a new project.

Growing a Business

He Was Once Head Writer of 'The Simpsons.' Now, He's the Gordon Ramsay of Fast Food — Here's How This TV Exec Found an Unlikely Career as an Influencer.

Bill Oakley wrote and produced 'The Simpsons' for years. Now, he's the center of a burgeoning community of food-obsessed fans.

Growing a Business

This Chef's Unfiltered Approach to Food Found Success Online. Now, Her Grocery Store Brings Her Brand to Life: 'I Don't Want to Live on the Internet.'

Alison Roman discusses her growing list of digital projects — and her Upstate New York grocery store, First Bloom.

Growing a Business

How This Michelin-Starred Chef Overcame Loss and Hardships to Achieve Stardom

Chef, author and philanthropist Vikas Khanna discusses turning failure into triumph, creating a literary masterpiece and hosting "MasterChef India."

Growing a Business

How This Beverage Industry CEO Used His Passion for Hip-Hop to Build Partnerships With Jay-Z, Rick Ross and More

Sovereign Brand's Brett Berish discusses embracing authenticity, learning from "failures" and partnering with music icons.

Growing a Business

This Food Network Mainstay Feeds His Passion for Fast-Paced Restaurant Life in Just 3 Days a Month

Celebrity chef Marc Murphy discusses being on the Food Network, operating a pop-up restaurant and the gratification of being a business owner.

Starting a Business

These Husband-and-Wife Co-Founders Started a Food Brand to Share Chinese Culture — Then a Smart Rebrand Took Their Company to the Next Level

Jennifer Liao of MìLà on starting a food business, amplifying modern Chinese food and using storytelling to grow a brand.

Growing a Business

How This CEO Breathed Life Into a 75-Year-Old California Ice Cream Brand Without Losing Its Nostalgic Identity

McConnell's Fine Ice Creams CEO Michael Palmer talks about revitalizing the brand for a new era and rethinking social media strategies.

Growing a Business

This CEO Was Tasked With Helping an Iconic Hawaiian Brand Regain Its Footing. Here's How He Used Storytelling to Do It.

Scott Snyder, CEO of Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii, shares how he's helped take the already well-loved brand to the mainstream.

Growing a Business

Shaquille O'Neal Used an Unconventional Strategy to Start His Chicken Restaurant — Here's Why It Worked

The NBA Hall of Famer leveraged his 35 million Instagram followers to build buzz around Big Chicken before it even launched.