POPULARITY
As Marla Gibbs (look her up, Boomer. Did I get that right?) once said, “there's no place like home!” And she was obviously singing about Skokie, Illinois - home of a cookie cutter AMC Movie Palace so glorious, it rivals only Chicago's famous Esquire Theater, now home to a shuttered Dallas-based steak chain. (#Progress) Usually, Tony and T.J. only go on post-Bears game movie dates when it involves seeing the latest Marvel sequel to a Marvel sequel. (Turn up the volume on those explosions, projector man!) But a special field trip was made after a SEASON-TURNING BEARS WIN, to go see the limited, first ever theatrical release of Paul McCartney's “One Hand Clapping”. Is the film better on the big screen than tucked away on the “Band On The Run” Archive Collection DVD? Does the music rock even harder in the theater? What's the deal with popcorn prices these days, Obama? Tony and T.J. ask these salient and Soily questions, and also ponder from the backyard (of the theater):
In this episode of Franchise Today, I sit down with Tom Krause, CEO of Donato's Pizza, for a compelling conversation about the storied history and exciting future of the beloved pizza brand. Tom shares his unique journey into the franchising world, starting with his early days at McDonalds and Wendy's and eventually leading him to Donato's. He discusses the transformative milestones that have shaped his career and the company, including McDonald's acquisition and subsequent buy-back of Donato's, the challenges and triumphs during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the strategic partnership with Red Robin Gourmet Burgers that has enabled national expansion. You will also hear about Tom's personal milestones, such as his marriage to the founder's daughter, Jane Grote Abell, and their combined efforts in fostering a strong company culture and commitment to community service through the Donato's Foundation. As Tom prepares to retire, he introduces his successor, Kevin King, and shares his optimistic vision for the future of Donato's and the pizza industry at large. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in franchising, business growth, and the power of strong leadership and culture.
Watch Carol and Tim LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF. F1 Miami Grand Prix Ambassador Guenther Steiner talks about the growth of Formula One Racing in America. GJ Hart, CEO of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, shares his thoughts on the competitive burger space. Bloomberg News Senior Washington Correspondent Saleha Mohsin discusses her book Paper Soldiers: How the Weaponization of the Dollar Changed the World Order. Hosts: Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec. Producer: Paul Brennan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Watch Carol and Tim LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF. F1 Miami Grand Prix Ambassador Guenther Steiner talks about the growth of Formula One Racing in America. GJ Hart, CEO of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, shares his thoughts on the competitive burger space. Bloomberg News Senior Washington Correspondent Saleha Mohsin discusses her book Paper Soldiers: How the Weaponization of the Dollar Changed the World Order. Hosts: Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec. Producer: Paul Brennan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
WANT THE FULL EPISODE? Check out Ep.118 I Gerry O'Brion I Deciding to Find Your "Because": The Marketing Framework That Closes Sales in Crowded Markets, or download it directly using this link.Gerry O'Brion, marketing expert from Coors Light, P&G, Red Robin, and more, shares his framework for helping businesses stand out in crowded markets.KEY TOPICSRecognizing the needs of your ideal market and exceeding them.Turning brand promises into brand proof. Putting your business best-kept-secrets in places where consumers gain awareness. The power of specificity in your marketing strategy. Running a competitor analysis for your business. CONNECT WITH USwww.decidedlypodcast.comJoin us on Instagram: @decidedlypodcastJoin us on FacebookShawn's Instagram: @shawn_d_smithSanger's Instagram: @sangersmith GRAB YOUR COPY OF SANGER'S BOOK A Life Rich with Significance: Transforming Your Wealth to Meaningful ImpactMAKING A FINANCIAL DECISION?At Decidedly Wealth Management, we focus on decision-making as the foundational element of success, in our effort to empower families to purposefully apply their wealth to fulfill their values and build a thriving legacy. LEARN MORE: www.decidedlywealth.comSUBSCRIBE TO THE DECIDEDLY NEWSLETTER CONNECT WITH GERRY O'BRIONGerry's Website: www.whatbigbrandsknow.comGerry's Book: www.theybuyyourbecause.comGerry's LinkedIn Instagram: @gerryobrion After earning his MBA from the University of Michigan, Gerry began his career working in marketing with Procter & Gamble on brands such as Crisco, Tide, Mr. Clean, and Spic & Span. Next, he was the Brand Manager for Coors Light, a $2 billion business. There, he helped launch innovations that grew the brand by $250 million. He was then VP of Marketing for the $1.5 billion Quiznos restaurant chain. Gerry was most recently VP of Marketing for Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, a $1 billion brand. He's now a marketing keynote speaker and author with an emphasis on his Power of Because framework, the missing link to closing sales in crowded, competitive markets. He built his career growing big brands and distills that experience into creating strategies that are actionable for small businesses all the way to billion-dollar brands.
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers' new flat-top grills make better burgers, improve efficiency and give the chain more menu optionality going forward, CEO and President G.J. Hart tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin' It Up podcast, Hart sits down with BI's senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to give an update on the chain's North Star plan, which includes improved food and operations, fewer discounts and new compensation plans for market partners and single-unit operators. He also comments on marketing spending, sale-leaseback transactions and changes to the loyalty program. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Gerry O'Brion, marketing expert from Coors Lite, P&G, Red Robin, and more, shares his framework for helping businesses stand out in crowded markets.KEY TOPICSRecognizing the needs of your ideal market and exceeding them.Turning brand promises into brand proof. Putting your business best-kept-secrets in places where consumers gain awareness. The power of specificity in your marketing strategy. Running a competitor analysis for your business. CONNECT WITH USwww.decidedlypodcast.comJoin us on Instagram: @decidedlypodcastJoin us on FacebookShawn's Instagram: @shawn_d_smithSanger's Instagram: @sangersmith GRAB YOUR COPY OF SANGER'S BOOK A Life Rich with Significance: Transforming Your Wealth to Meaningful ImpactMAKING A FINANCIAL DECISION?At Decidedly Wealth Management, we focus on decision-making as the foundational element of success, in our effort to empower families to purposefully apply their wealth to fulfill their values and build a thriving legacy. LEARN MORE: www.decidedlywealth.comSUBSCRIBE TO THE DECIDEDLY NEWSLETTER CONNECT WITH GERRY O'BRIONGerry's Website: www.whatbigbrandsknow.comGerry's Book: www.theybuyyourbecause.comGerry's LinkedIn Instagram: @gerryobrion After earning his MBA from the University of Michigan, Gerry began his career working in marketing with Procter & Gamble on brands such as Crisco, Tide, Mr. Clean, and Spic & Span. Next, he was the Brand Manager for Coors Light, a $2 billion business. There, he helped launch innovations that grew the brand by $250 million. He was then VP of Marketing for the $1.5 billion Quiznos restaurant chain. Gerry was most recently VP of Marketing for Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, a $1 billion brand. He's now a marketing keynote speaker and author with an emphasis on his Power of Because framework, the missing link to closing sales in crowded, competitive markets. He built his career growing big brands and distills that experience into creating strategies that are actionable for small businesses all the way to billion-dollar brands.
This week, on the Extra Serving podcast, a product of Nation's Restaurant News, NRN editors Holly Petre, Sam Oches and Leigh Anne Zinsmeister spoke about discounting.McDonald's was in the news this week for not one but two stories. First, the chain revealed it would be giving fries away on Fridays to customers who purchase anything over $1 on the chain's mobile app. How far can McDonald's go with its deals? Also, the chain is making its McFlurry more sustainable. The spoon used for the treat will now be the same spoon it uses for its sundaes.Also, KFC is embracing boneless chicken. To reach out to Gen Z and Alpha, boneless chicken is the way to go. Following the debut of the chicken chain's first nuggets, KFC is trying out different tenders. The chicken sandwich wars seem to be evolving as Gen Z and Gen Alpha's tastes evolve and they become the generations with the most spending power.Finally, the editors talked about another brand offering discounts. This time, it's Domino's. The pizza brand is offering customers with student loan debt a free pizza. The chain is giving away $1 million in free pizza only to the more than 44 million people with student loans who have lost discretionary income due to loan repayment restarting.This week's guest is G.J. Hart, CEO of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers.
Courage & Conviction Investing details how you know you're in a small cap stock for the right reasons using Farmer Brothers (NASDAQ:FARM) as an example (0:45). Why he likes Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and binary bet, Yield10 Bioscience (6:30). This is an abridged version of our recent conversation 'Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish' Small Cap Strategies'.Show Notes:Red Robin: Another Beat And A RaiseSmall Cap Alpha, Commodity Danger And Advanced Emissions Solutions With Courage & Conviction InvestingRed Robin Gourmet Burgers' Impressive Turnaround Momentum Could Torch The ShortsSubscribe to Second Wind Capital by Courage & Conviction InvestingEpisode transcriptsFor full access to analyst ratings, stock quant scores as well as dividend grades, subscribe to Seeking Alpha Premium at seekingalpha.com/subscriptions
The Queen of Questions! Pattye Moore, former Chairman and Interim CEO at Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and former Sonic Drive-in President joins us on The Franchise Woman Podcast: Where Passion & Purpose Collide. She shares her story of falling in love with franchising so much so she is now leading an expansion project with Donatos as an area developer. Her story is about how curiosity and asking the right questions lead to a more fulfilling and successful life. Some of these questions turned into ways she could contribute her talents and ultimately step into leadership roles. Learn how you can be more curious on this episode of The Franchise Woman podcast.
This week on the Extra Serving podcast, a product of Nation's Restaurant News, NRN editors Holly Petre, Sam Oches, Leigh Anne Zinsmeister and Alicia Kelso spoke about the latest trend in restaurants.A few years ago, we were talking about Sweetgreen and Wingstop — both brands that viewed themselves as tech companies first and restaurant companies second. Now, there's a new trend across restaurants as they become more marketing companies that sell food, rather than restaurants with good marketing teams. Chipotle Mexican Grill, McDonald's and Taco Bell have all been named by Rolling Stone among the top 20 marketers across the country and across industries. So, what earned them this title, and how are restaurants acting like marketing companies?Also, technology vendor Toast, which unveiled an extremely controversial fee last month, has walked back that policy. The fee was 99 cents on any orders of $10 or more, and the fee was charged straight to the customer rather than to the restaurant. Restaurants had no option to take the fee on themselves, and thought it would deter customers from buying from them. The fee has now been removed from Toast's system. What does it mean that the company is listening to its customers, and what does it hold for the future of the tech company?This week's interview is Brian Sullivan, VP of culinary for Red Robin Gourmet Burgers & Brews.
This week Chris talks to Allison Page, Founder & CPO of Seven Rooms.Allison Page is Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of SevenRooms, a data-driven operations, marketing and guest engagement platform that empowers hospitality operators to maximize revenue, build brand loyalty and enable personalized experiences. SevenRooms is venture-backed by Amazon, Comcast Ventures and Providence Strategic Growth, and has been named to Inc.'s annual list of Best Workplaces for 2020. The company's clients range from neighborhood restaurants to international, multi-concept hospitality groups including MGM Resorts, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Bloomin' Brands, Topgolf, Jumeirah Group, Wolfgang Puck and Live Nation. Since inception in 2011, Ms. Page has been responsible for driving product innovation, defining the company's product roadmap, vision and strategic positioning, and scaling the platform to over 250 cities worldwide. She holds more than a decade of experience as an entrepreneur in the hospitality industry; launching, building and commercializing high-growth technology platforms across global restaurant, hotel and entertainment brands. She brings knowledge in the areas of technology, guest experience, guest engagement, CRM, marketing, loyalty, data analytics and consumer trends. Prior to founding SevenRooms, Allison started her career in investment banking at Credit Suisse. She holds a bachelor's degree in Finance & Real Estate from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and was named one of Hospitality Technology's 2019 Top Women in Restaurant Technology. She currently sits on the boards of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and the Pillsbury Institute for Hospitality Entrepreneurship at Cornell University.During the chat we discuss:Allison's career and her path to founding seven rooms?Tech in the hospitality industry? Are we getting the most out of what is on offer?How operators create a smoother guest experience across establishments by making use of the latest technology.How brands leverage guest data to create personalised experiences that improve guest satisfaction and customer service.How operators level up their marketing strategy to both on and off-premises Tune in each week to the Tech on Toast podcast.
12/18/11 - Red Robin has bottomless fries If I order bottomless fries at Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, how many fries would I have to eat in order for the restaurant to lose profit on my order? 12/19/11 - Ping google.com -t will give some more info on pings 12/20/11 - Gas gauges have an arrow pointing which side of the car it's on. The Fuel Gauge Arrow 12/22/11 - How to use Combofix ComboFix – Bleeping Computer 12/23/11 - Napoleon Dynamite had a $400,000 budget, but grossed $46,140,956. Napoleon Dynamite Quotes | Napoleon Dynamite – Box Office Mojo 12/24/11 - Mario originally was supposed to have a gun. Miyamoto: Mario originally had a gun | Super Mario Bros.' 25th: Miyamoto Reveals All 12/26/11 - Ultrabooks have specific specs needed to be called ultrabooks. Intel Capital launches $300M ultrabook fund 12/27/11 - Dell laptops in 2001 used to cost $1200 The Cost of a Computer the Year You Were Born | $2,400 Laptop From 1994: Packard Bell Statesman | Dell Inspiron 9100: $4,800 Pentium 4 Laptop from 2004 | $5,399 Laptop From 1997: Gateway Solo 2200 12/28/11 - There is a Fantasy Starcraft league. BlizzConn ESL Fantasy Leagues | Fantasy eSports | Jung "FanTaSy" Myung Hoon | Fantasy (map) | Forget football: These fantasy e-sports sites mix League of Legends with cold, hard cash 12/29/11 - How to register Apple products and where to see them. 12/30/11 - 250x250 is a good resolution for Skype profile pictures. What's the default Skype Profile Picture Size? 12/31/11 - VNC on the ipad This episode's music comes from archive.org and the Free Music Archive Tracks featured in this episode include: Kevin MacLeod - Batty McFaddin - Slower [ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ ] Doctor Turtle - Curse You, Fingers (edit) Doctor Turtle - Faster, Sons Of Vengeance, Faster! Doctor Turtle - Go Tell It On The Molehill Doctor Turtle - Doctor Turtle's Maggot
In this episode, Courtney Lane interviews Mark Heydt, author of "Rescuing the Corporate Exhausted Hero". Mark is focused on helping leaders truly elevate their leadership from exhaustion to being a strategic leader. He focuses on coaching leaders to delegate effectively so they can focus on creating vision, influencing change proactively, and coaching their teams. ABOUT MARK HEYDT Mark Heydt is the Chief Learning Officer and Founder of Game Plan Leader, LLC. An experienced speaker, published author, and entrepreneur, Mark has held senior level positions leading the strategy and execution of talent development, talent management, talent acquisition, and talent engagement at large companies including Target, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, DCP Midstream, and Sports Authority. Now as a consultant, he has added experience in healthcare, manufacturing, marketing, tech services, government, media, and financial services. Mark's passion is to eliminate exhaustion from the corporate world. This can be achieved by elevating leaders into true strategic leadership roles from their individual contributor roles. As an International Coach Federation certified coach, Mark has experience coaching many C-suite executives, divisional leaders, entrepreneurs, and middle managers. Mark's clients consistently praise his positive energy and his ability to develop a collaborative and strategic environment. His programs create actionable game plans that deliver results. His clients also say that his extensive corporate experience provides relevant situational examples that helps gain the trust from both executives and program participants. Mark has a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Indiana University and a Master's in Organizational Development & Training from the University of Denver. Contact Mark Heydt via his website: www.MarkHeydt.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/proactivetalent/message
This episode was originally recorded for the "Digital Enterprise Society Podcast". It is an interview with Gerry O'Brion from What Big Brands Know. Gerry is a friend of Thom Singer's and and expert in marketing strategy for companies of all sizes. How can you influence people to say yes? Regardless of your professional position, you are in a position of influence. Every day you are faced with opportunities to influence others, whether it’s your boss, your coworkers, or your customers. In today’s episode Thom Singer is joined by marketing consultant Gerry O’Brion to talk about how to effectively influence others. Gerry shares the four questions about your audience that you need answers to, and he offers the single most critical thing you need to do to effectively influence others (and it doesn’t start with finding your why). On today’s podcast, you will learn about: Influencing people to say yes Regardless of your position, you are in the position to influence others. Effective influence techniques can be applied to any situation. A strong framework of influence can effectively change the decisions people make. Four questions to ask about your audience Who are you influencing? Not everyone can be influenced in the same way, so your approach will have to change accordingly. What insights do you have about your audience? And what do they want more or less of, hope for, and fear? What is the outcome that you are going to cause? You need to have proof that you will deliver what you say you can deliver. What is your because? Your because is the logical proof that the decision is a good one. How to best frame your influence Clearly identify what’s in it for them. Find actual metrics that prove the results that come when you put your promise to work. People want to be able to prove to others that they made a good choice — give them the evidence they need to say yes. Don’t focus only on the outcome, support it with rational, logical reasons that support the decision. How to identify the because People may understand your why, but when they understand your because, you will really be able to have an effective influence on them. Understand the problems that leaders are trying to solve. Frame your solutions in terms of what they are thinking about, not what you are thinking about. Use the insights into their mindset to answer their concerns and solve their problems. About Gerry O'Brion Gerry O’Brion is a marketing keynote speaker and author who translates big brand strategies into knowledge that any business can use to win in the marketplace. Gerry’s presentations drive growth with companies of all sizes from small businesses to billion dollar brands. Gerry built his career growing big brands and distills that experience into creating strategies and real ideas that are actionable immediately. After earning his MBA at the University of Michigan, he worked with Procter & Gamble on brands such as Crisco, Tide, Mr. Clean, and Spic & Span. Next, at Coors Brewing Company he managed Coors Light, a $2 billion business. He was then VP of Marketing for the $1.5 billion Quiznos restaurant chain. Gerry was most recently VP of Marketing for Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, a $1 billon brand. Gerry works to first understand your unique goals and challenges, and then to deliver a presentation that delivers maximum impact for every dollar you invest. https://thomsinger.com/podcast/know-your-because
Customer Experience University - Winning Loyalty & Engagement One Customer at a Time
Thank you for joining me for this series titled Stronger Through Adversity. The book by the same name is based on conversations I've had with more than 140 global leaders as they navigate through COVID-19. In Stronger Through Adversity, I play off the theme of "Bring your Son or Daughter to Work" day to emphasize the importance of bringing our authentic self to work every day. The leaders I spoke with for the book, whether that was Stephanie Linnartz, President of Marriott, Steven Preston, CEO of Goodwill Industries, or Dave Pace, Chairman of the Board for Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, talked a lot about authenticity and leadership vulnerability - especially in a crisis. If you would like to learn more about Stronger Through Adversity and get your special signed 40% off pre-order offer, head to strongerthroughadversity.com.
A Red Robin Gourmet Burgers with Donatos pizza on the menu typically outperform other restaurants, recording higher sales. That's good news for Red Robin, whose turnaround plan called for adding Donatos' iconic edge-to-edge topping pizzas at up to 425 restaurants by 2022. The partnership started off with a bang in early January but briefly paused during the pandemic. Now, Red Robin will soon be adding Donatos to 31 restaurants in Seattle and Tacoma, Wash. That would bring the total to about 80 Red Robin restaurants by the end of October. But what does Donatos, which sports about 165 traditional locations, get from this new partnership? Tom Krouse, chief executive of Donatos, tells the Extra Serving podcast exactly what the partnership is doing for the Columbus, Ohio-based chain. And, his answer might surprise you. “The Red Robin experience taught us that we can operate and produce a tremendous amount of product in a very small space,” Krouse said. Does that mean a ghost kitchen operation is in their future? Tune in to our podcast to find out. Krouse will talk about the company's strategic partnership with Red Robin, as well as the brand's challenges with hiring delivery drivers, gains made in the pizza space, and new growth – both virtual and brick and mortar. Listen to our Podcast.
A Red Robin Gourmet Burgers with Donatos pizza on the menu typically outperform other restaurants, recording higher sales. That’s good news for Red Robin, whose turnaround plan called for adding Donatos’ iconic edge-to-edge topping pizzas at up to 425 restaurants by 2022. The partnership started off with a bang in early January but briefly paused during the pandemic. Now, Red Robin will soon be adding Donatos to 31 restaurants in Seattle and Tacoma, Wash. That would bring the total to about 80 Red Robin restaurants by the end of October. But what does Donatos, which sports about 165 traditional locations, get from this new partnership? Tom Krouse, chief executive of Donatos, tells the Extra Serving podcast exactly what the partnership is doing for the Columbus, Ohio-based chain. And, his answer might surprise you. “The Red Robin experience taught us that we can operate and produce a tremendous amount of product in a very small space,” Krouse said. Does that mean a ghost kitchen operation is in their future? Tune in to our podcast to find out. Krouse will talk about the company’s strategic partnership with Red Robin, as well as the brand’s challenges with hiring delivery drivers, gains made in the pizza space, and new growth – both virtual and brick and mortar. Listen to our Podcast.
Elana Duré and the team discuss the top 10 wildest campaigns of the 2019 proxy season, as covered in the August issue of Activist Insight Monthly. Also discussed are Vintage Capital Management's campaign at Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, why Axon Enterprise is a "stunning short," and comments from Strategic Capital on activism in Japan. View all of the products offered by Insightia by visiting our website.
Leslie Grandy is an expert in new product development, business planning and strategy, she's also a kick ass sponsor and mentor to women in business. In this episode, Leslie and Joleen discuss the many ways women can support one another in business plus, Leslie talks about how the corporate machine works and how to be an entrepreneur in a large corporation. Leslie currently serves on the Innovation Advisory Board of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and is one of the founding members of the Seattle Chapter of Advancing Women in Product.
Among chains, Red Robin stands out for having its burger prep down pat.
Susan Lintonsmith is an accomplished business leader with nearly 30 years of success in generating sales and profit growth in global and national assignments in public and private industries. Susan is currently President and CEO for Quiznos, a Denver-based global restaurant company with locations in 32 countries. Susan joined Quiznos in July 2012 as the Global Chief Marketing Officer and became President and CEO in July 2016. Previously, Susan was the Chief Marketing Officer at Red Robin Gourmet Burgers for over four years where she led many initiatives including strategic planning, menu development and the launch of the highly successful loyalty and 3rd party gift card programs. Prior to that, she served as the Vice President and General Manager at WhiteWave Foods where she led the Horizon Organic business and the launch of Horizon Organic milk plus DHA, the first milk with Omega 3. She served as Vice President of Global Marketing at Western Union for four years, and previously was director of marketing for the Coca-Cola Company (5 years) and Pizza Hut Inc. (7 years). Susan has her MBA in Marketing and Finance from Indiana University and her Bachelor’s of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame. Susan lives in Colorado with her husband, two teenage sons, and two adorable dogs.
Chris Laping, Author, Co-Founder and CEO at People Before Things, LLC, joins Jan and Jim in a discussion about change — why it seems so straightforward but fails so often. The key to change is a culture of empowerment and respect. Chris shares the genesis of the philosophy of People Before Things and how it grew from his leadership roles in IT. His curiosity led him to explore the conditions that prepare people for change and conditions that block change. Change is not a function of a team’s attitude but of their preparation and capacity. It is the role of the leader to prepare the team, communicate the why and how to them, and grant them the space to perform the necessary change in a culture of empowerment. Key Takeaways [4:47] Chris explains how he developed the framework for People Before Things. He stepped into IT leadership and found that it was difficult to build organizational buy-in for change. He looked for patterns to explain success or lack of success and he learned that change was not the end user’s problem but a leadership opportunity. [5:35] Chris sees two patterns for successful change: first, enable people for change by nurturing conditions that set people up for change, and second, activate people for change by nurturing conditions that inspire engagement and make team members willing accomplices to the change. Someone who is already heavily scheduled won’t work on the change if it is not given space. [8:06] Respect, collaboration, trust, and a unified vision are the attributes for project success. Leaders don’t always have these in their toolbox. Their toolbox is getting work done, performance, excellence, and continuous improvement. They need to intertwine a culture of empowerment with the tools of getting work done. Chris gauges a company’s health by how they tackle tough problems together. [11:01] There is always change in an IT department. It is not the technology that solves problems. Chris has seen many managers become enamored with technology as an end, and not as a means to an end. Finance and HR leaders are especially susceptible to this. Building business capability is the goal. This is people’s work, not technology’s work. Culture is more critical than technology. [15:43] Initiating technology projects without basing them on the culture sets up failure. Communicating and training on the technology is no substitute for communicating why there is new technology, and how it fits in the mission. [19:27] In the IT world there is often talk about executive sponsors. It should be executive ownership, not just sponsorship. Executives need to emphasize how important this change is in the organization. They need to show up and be involved all the time. They need to be invested in the team and the team’s success. Executives and their team together need to be accountable to the same outcome and results. [24:20] Chris’s father and other great leaders modeled intellectual curiosity and asking questions. Feedback loops require not just asking for feedback but actually doing something about the feedback. The important thing Chris learned from leaders is that questions led to action about the information. This reinforces the feedback loop. People learn their input will be heard, considered, and used. [27:36] Chris offers two disruptive ideas: first, that change is a leadership opportunity. It’s not about team members refusing to change but about leaders enabling change. The heavy lifting is getting your team into position to win. The second idea is that real change happens at the grassroots level. It is important to get a common voice established in the rank and file. They often hold the key to solutions. [29:57] Chris talks about offsite meetings. If your takeaway is a strategy that you will increase sales and improve profitability, you wasted your time. Your team comes to work daily already knowing this. Rather than spending time stating the obvious, get aligned on a common goal and why that goal is important. [32:32] Chris defines strategy as prioritization. Treat resources as precision tools to apply in just the right place. Don’t let abundant resources make you complacent. Keep a sharp focus to reinvest in the things that bring the most benefit. Prioritize the two or three things that matter the most. [37:31] Chris’s advice for his 10-year-younger version of himself: Be patient. Writing a book, sharing ideas, and building strong awareness for those ideas can be a slow build. There are no overnight successes. Chris starts from square one every day with his message, because most people haven’t heard them. Website: PeopleBeforeThings.co LinkedIn: Chris Laping Twitter: @CIOChris Facebook: People Before Things Quotable Quotes Chris learned creativity from his classical pianist mother and structure from his Navy Commander father. Leaders enable and activate people for change. “It became very clear that the patterns around success … really had to do with me and that change wasn’t my end users’ problem.” “People, in general, are very purpose-driven and want to make a difference at work.” “When [people] know why something is important, you get different results.” “If change is really important and vital to an organization, we must clear the decks and let people focus on it.” Leaders have to prioritize time and space for a change or it will not happen. Respect, collaboration, trust, and a unified vision are all attributes for a winning project. “Technology is the vitamin and culture and how we treat people is really, truly the painkiller.” “The worst thing you can do is actually ask them for their feedback or opinion and then proceed to do nothing about it.” The keys to disruption are for leadership to enable the team to change and for the team to give voice to their feedback. “If the opposite of your strategy isn’t a strategy, then you don’t have a strategy.” “When organizations have priority and focus, the capacity they need to accomplish the things that are essential is there.” “Prioritize — of the 20 things we could do to win the game, what are the two or three that matter the most?” Bio Chris Laping, author & CEO, People Before Things, LLC, brings 25 years of information technology and business transformation experience to his newly released book, People Before Things, which focuses on change leadership. Chris enjoyed 14 years as a Chief Information Officer across three different brands and the work of his teams has been spotlighted in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Fast Company, and CIO Magazine, among others. His book explores the connection of the human experience to the outcomes of change and transformation initiatives and the role leaders play to pave success. Most recently, Chris was the Senior Vice President, Business Transformation and Chief Information Officer at Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, where he was a highly contributing member of a management team that completed a successful turnaround of an $8 stock to $89. Chris has received several awards for his work in the IT industry including The Economist’s Top 5 Social Business Leader and InformationWeek’s Social Business Technology Leader. He has also been named as a ComputerWorld Premier 100 IT Leader and has received three InfoWorld 100 awards. The work of his teams has been spotlighted in three books: The Engaged Leader, Mobile Mind Shift, and Implementing World Class IT Strategy. Books mentioned in this episode People Before Things: Change Isn't an End-User Problem, by Chris Laping
SHOW NOTES Susan Lintonsmith is an accomplished business leader with nearly 30 years of success in generating sales and profit growth in global and national assignments in public and private industries. Susan is currently President and CEO for Quiznos, a Denver-based global restaurant company with nearly 900 locations in 33 countries. Susan joined Quiznos in July 2012 as the Global Chief Marketing Officer and was promoted to CEO in July 2016. Previously, Susan was the Chief Marketing Officer at Red Robin Gourmet Burgers for over four years where she led many initiatives including strategic planning, menu development and the launch of the highly successful loyalty and 3rd party gift card programs. Prior to that, she served as the Vice President and general manager at WhiteWave Foods where she led the Horizon Organic business and the launch of Horizon Organic milk plus DHA, the first milk with Omega 3. She served as Vice President of Global Marketing at Western Union for four years, and previously was director of marketing for the Coca-Cola Company and Pizza Hut Inc. Listen and Learn: Why socializing and relationships are just as important as results How to "elevate above the treeline" The importance of listening as a leader Whether leadership qualities are gender neutral The importance of customer reviews TO FIND SUSAN ON LINKEDIN, CLICK HERE. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT QUIZNOS CLICK HERE
In addition to her role as CEO of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews, Denny Post serves on the board of Women’s Foodservice Forum, and Blue Dog Bakery, a $20M natural dog treat company. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in journalism and social sciences from Trinity University and a Certificate from Wharton Executive Education School of Business in Strategy and Management. Enjoy this rich conversation between Denny Post and host Gregg Dedrick on this episode of the David Novak Leadership Podcast. Connect with David on Twitter: twitter.com/DavidNovakOGO See more Podcasts: davidnovakleadership.com/leadership-podcast/ Take our Free Recognition Survey: davidnovakleadership.com/survey
Target’s 1st-quarter profits get them through a “very choppy” retail environment. Red Robin Gourmet Burgers’ stock pops 17% on a strong 1st-quarter report. David Kretzmann analyzes those companies, plus Jack In The Box’s decision to spin off Qdoba. Plus, we discuss why delivery is so important for the future success of restaurant companies and spend a minute on last night’s NBA draft lottery.
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews, or simply Red Robin, is an American chain of casual dining restaurants founded in September 1969 in Seattle, Washington. In 1979, the first franchised Red Robin restaurant was opened in Yakima, Washington. Red Robin is now headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado, and, as of 2015, has 538 locations, including 499 that are company-owned and 99 that are franchised.
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews, or simply Red Robin, is an American chain of casual dining restaurants founded in September 1969 in Seattle, Washington. In 1979, the first franchised Red Robin restaurant was opened in Yakima, Washington. Red Robin is now headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado, and, as of 2015, has 538 locations, including 499 that are company-owned and 99 that are franchised.
Memorial Day is the unofficial start to one of the most anticipated times of the year – the summer grilling season. During the summer, everyone thinks they are a “grilling expert,” but often times they are letdown by the results – over/undercooked burgers; a lack of flavor; or the burger patties shrunk into sliders. To celebrate the grilling season, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews is opening the phone lines, giving away their secrets, to answer the at-home griller’s most burning questions Burger Master, Chef Karen Kaehler is available via satellite to discuss those secrets, including: •Why preparation and planning is key to the perfect burger•Pre-heating tips, and ways to bring out the flavor of the meat•The art of burger toppings (pineapple?! J)•The new Yummm Hotline kicking off on Memorial Day
Memorial Day is the unofficial start to one of the most anticipated times of the year – the summer grilling season. During the summer, everyone thinks they are a “grilling expert,” but often times they are letdown by the results – over/undercooked burgers; a lack of flavor; or the burger patties shrunk into sliders. To celebrate the grilling season, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews is opening the phone lines, giving away their secrets, to answer the at-home griller’s most burning questions Burger Master, Chef Karen Kaehler is available via satellite to discuss those secrets, including: •Why preparation and planning is key to the perfect burger•Pre-heating tips, and ways to bring out the flavor of the meat•The art of burger toppings (pineapple?! J)•The new Yummm Hotline kicking off on Memorial Day
Trading Block: Our special guest today is Vlad Karpel, Founder of Tradespoon. Dow jumps triple digits; oil recovery boosts energy 2%. How should investors play falling Apple stock? Earnings today after the bell: Rackspace Hosting, Inc., Shake Shack, Inc., Take Two Interactive - TTWO $31.38, Straddle - $3.10 - Approx. 10%. BATS gets regulatory nod for second U.S. options exchange. Odd Block: Calls and puts trade in Ensco PLC (ESV), calls trade in Oasis Petroleum Inc. (OAS), and calls roll in SYSCO Corp. (SYY) Strategy Block: Tosaw analyzes SPX and SPY Around the Block: Earnings! Tuesday - Fogo de Chao, Inc., Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Tribune Publishing Company Wednesday - Cisco, Macy's, Aramark, Roundy's, Inc., BABA and CSCO Thursday - Applied Materials, Inc., Kohl's, King Digital Entertainment, El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc., Nordstrom Inc., Tribune Media Company, Friday - J.C. Penney
Trading Block: Our special guest today is Vlad Karpel, Founder of Tradespoon. Dow jumps triple digits; oil recovery boosts energy 2%. How should investors play falling Apple stock? Earnings today after the bell: Rackspace Hosting, Inc., Shake Shack, Inc., Take Two Interactive - TTWO $31.38, Straddle - $3.10 - Approx. 10%. BATS gets regulatory nod for second U.S. options exchange. Odd Block: Calls and puts trade in Ensco PLC (ESV), calls trade in Oasis Petroleum Inc. (OAS), and calls roll in SYSCO Corp. (SYY) Strategy Block: Tosaw analyzes SPX and SPY Around the Block: Earnings! Tuesday - Fogo de Chao, Inc., Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Tribune Publishing Company Wednesday - Cisco, Macy's, Aramark, Roundy's, Inc., BABA and CSCO Thursday - Applied Materials, Inc., Kohl's, King Digital Entertainment, El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc., Nordstrom Inc., Tribune Media Company, Friday - J.C. Penney
Alibaba delivers its first earnings report and Wall Street likes what it sees. Plus we analyze the latest results from Herbalife and Red Robin Gourmet Burgers.
We analyze the latest results from Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and SeaWorld Entertainment. Plus we dip into the Fool Mailbag and try to answer the question, “Which company has more powerful robots: Amazon or Disney?”
Tim Hanson from Motley Fool Funds analyzes the Fed’s latest announcement, Alibaba’s impending IPO and the newest offering from Red Robin Gourmet Burgers. Plus, we share our thoughts on the NCAA basketball tournament.