In the fast-paced world of the restaurant industry, effective leadership is crucial to success. Amy Hom, a seasoned leader in the field, offers valuable insights into what it means to be a compassionate yet driven leader. Her philosophy, “Easy on people, tough on standards,” encapsulates the balance needed to thrive in such a demanding environment.

Key Takeaways

1. Easy on People, Tough on Standards - Amy highlights her personal motto of “easy on people, tough on standards”, highlighting the importance of supporting team members in their personal lives while also empowering them to be the best employees they can.
2. Team Development: A Leadership Priority - Too often, team development falls by the wayside and when it does, it leads to less productive teams and stagnant growth for the company. Amy highlights why it is so important to maintain team development as a leadership priority. 
3. Reaping the Rewards of Good Mentorship - When Gregg asks Amy to share an example when good mentorship has paid off, she recalls a former employee being empowered to make her own decision about the future of another employee. While things didn’t work out at the time, it was a valuable lesson for that employee who has gone on to become a leader of her own. 

About Amy Hom

Amy Hom brings over 25 years of impactful leadership in the restaurant industry and technology innovation space, Amy is currently the COO at Barcelona Wine Bar. Previously, Amy served as the Chief Operating Officer and Chief People Officer for Bluestone Lane, where she played a pivotal role in shaping operational strategies and fostering a culture of excellence. Before her tenure at Bluestone Lane, she held the position of Executive Vice President of North American Retail and Kitchens at REEF Technology, where she led transformative initiatives to convert static neighborhood spaces into dynamic community hubs, including building a food safety team, training department, and an operational excellence strategy.

With a keen eye for operational efficiency and a passion for nurturing talent, Amy has contributed in key leadership positions at prominent restaurant brands. She served as the Vice President of Operations at sweetgreen, providing operational support to over 100 locations. In her role as VP of Operations for Red Robin saw her instrumental in the development of over 250 locations internationally. Amy's journey also includes significant contributions to Wolfgang Puck's Compass Group, where she served as the Senior Director of Operations.

Committed to fostering the next generation of industry leaders, Amy founded the LEAD program in 2019, providing education and mentorship to emerging talent. Her dedication to industry development extends to her involvement with the GLEAM Network, where she serves on the Board of Directors.

Amy's thought leadership and contributions to the industry have been recognized through numerous accolades, including the Top 30 in Tech award and being named one of the 30 Top Women in Food by Lunchbox. She is the Chair of the Lunchbox Advisory Council where she focuses on connecting tech with what the end users need in the hospitality space as well as sitting on the Fast Casual Industry Council.  Amy's unique blend of industry expertise, strategic leadership, and dedication to excellence make her a valuable addition to the Barcelona Wine Bar team.

Episode Links

• Amy Hom on LinkedIn
• Barcelona Wine Bar Online
• Barcelona Wine Bar on LinkedIn
• Barcelona Wine Bar on Instagram

About Gregg Majewski

Gregg Majewski has a vast amount of experience as a corporate executive in the restaurant industry. As the former CEO of Jimmy John’s, he played a major role in expanding the franchise from 33 to 300+ stores in just 5 years by surrounding the company’s marketing strategy around the innovative approach of delivering sandwiches and being “freaky fast”. Majewski has worked to develop restaurant concepts over the last two plus decades, before starting Craveworthy Brands in 2023, which currently includes a growing portfolio of restaurant brands.

• Gregg Majewski Instagram
• Craveworthy Brands Instagram
• Craveworthy Online
• Gregg Majewski LinkedIn
• CRAVEWORTHY FRANCHISING
• CRAVEWORTHY BRANDS
• INVEST IN CRAVEWORTHY

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