In today’s episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy” talk to Lauren Bailey, co-founder and CEO of Upward Projects.

As head of the Upward Projects Restaurant Group, Bailey steers five brands and 30 restaurants toward profit, success, and good experiences. In her conversation with Jimmy and Schatzy at CREATE, the trio discusses how Bailey got into the restaurant industry and some of the lessons learned as an emerging restauranteur. They also chat about working in the restaurant industries and the particular joy the environments can produce, including a story about encountering Jimmy Buffet while working as a bartender in Nantucket.

Listen to this episode to learn Bailey’s secrets to success with engaging with your hospitality team, navigating not having all the answers, and figuring out communication preferences in an age of chat bots.

Key Takeaways

– How Lauren got into the restaurant industry, P.F. Changs and No-Doz
– Lauren’s lessons learned as an emerging restauranteur
– Navigating the exhilarating adventure of managing 30 restaurants and 5 unique brands.
– Lauren’s hands-on approach to working with her restaurant teams, drawing from her experience in every role.
– Behind-the-scenes peek: What happens when Lauren tries her hand at “Undercover Boss” in her own restaurants.
– A playful test of camaraderie: Lauren challenges Schatzy and Jimmy’s knowledge of each other.
– Unpacking the nuances of hospitality and communication preferences in an era where restaurants don’t just answer the phones.
– The tech-driven side of restaurant communications