WOMEN AT THE TOP, continued
STEWART continued from page 37
ate all she is doing to bring a modern
sensibility to this organization, and
her ability to use it to help our young
women confront problems and issues
they face today while building their
skills, self-confidence, and sense of
empowerment.
Advice for young female CEO aspirants: Believe in yourself and your
abilities (while continuing to add to
them and improve them). Don’t let a
fear of being perceived as pushy or aggressive stop you from speaking your
leading a company to fulfill the very
best it has to offer. But I also realized
I had to prepare and work at learning
everything I needed to know. That’s
why, after many years as a marketing
executive, I left and took a job as a general manager in a restaurant so I could
learn the operations side of the business
as well. And in retrospect, while not a
logical career move up the ladder, it
was invaluable to me.
What do you love most about being CEO? I always tell my franchisees
“Don’t let a
fear of being
perceived
as pushy or
aggressive
stop you from
speaking your
mind and giving
your opinion.”
that “their success is our success,” and I
mean it, not just in a commercial sense.
I love being a part of what enables them
to grow their businesses and provide for
their families and create jobs for others. IHOP has been around 55 years
and Applebee’s more than 30, and at
both brands we’ve seen generations of
families work at building a successful
enterprise and pass it on. We also have
some franchisees who began as cooks
or team members in a restaurant and
now own multiple units—it’s truly the
American success story. How gratifying
is that! I also love to lead. I believe it
is an honor and a privilege, and one I
take very seriously.
mind and giving your opinion (provided
it’s well thought out). And, conversely,
don’t let the fear of being perceived as
passive keep you from listening… really listening.
How much of your time do you
spend at that, and what are you
doing to spend more? I spend a
Describe your leadership style:
In a word, inclusive. While I am definitely responsible for making the final
decision and acting on it, I am always
cognizant of the fact that everyone on
my team has something to offer, and
I try to make sure they are aware that
I know that too, and that their contribution is both valued and appreciated.
In my career, I’ve earned the nickname
“the Velvet Hammer.” I like to think
it’s because I make my decisions firmly,
but with respect for others.
Was becoming CEO of an organization part of your professional
plan? Yes, actually, it was. I felt strongly
that loving this industry as I do, I could
make a valuable contribution toward
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Franchiseupdate ISS U E I, 2 0 1 4
great deal of time working to ensure
that both our brands remain current
and sensitive to the needs and wants
of our guests, and making sure we
con F