Damola Adamolekun: Leading P.F. Chang’s To New Heights

This week Andrew talks with former P.F. Chang’s CEO Damola Adamolekun. Damola took over as CEO during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic — and led the company & its 20,000 team members through a variety of monumental strategic initiatives. In this conversation, Damola shares a behind-the-scenes look at the leadership mindsets & philosophies he put in action to power one of the world’s most iconic brands to new heights. You’ll hear actionable lessons on how to manage during times of disruption, communicate a clear vision, achieve quick wins to build momentum, & so much more. This episode will get you hungry to take on your next big challenge.  Programming Note: This conversation was recorded while Damola was still CEO at P.F. Chang’s prior to the recent announcement that he stepped down as CEO. Show Highlights: (2:30) - Decision to invest in P.F. Chang’s(3:25) - Current vs. potential(4:09) - Presenting investor pitch to John Paulson(4:31) - Extrapolating to what’s possible(6:38) - The power of being present(8:32) - Using challenges/crisis to galvanize(10:12) - Balancing parallel initiatives (10:59) - Changing perceptions(11:34) - Shifting mindset of an organization(13:45) - Building momentum through quick wins(14:23) - Restaurant operator going above & beyond(18:34) - Attention to detail (20:47) - Getting others excited about role(23:51) - Damola’s morning routine(24:38) - Starting your day with a conquest(26:27) - Creating positive habits(28:35) - Moving from Nigeria to US(30:22) - Damola’s inspiration** Follow Andrew On Social Media **Twitter: @andrewhmosesInstagram: @AndrewMoses123Sign up for e-mails to keep up with Andrew's podcast at everybodypullsthetarp.com/newsletter