How Leaders Lead with David Novak #269: Damola Adamolekun, CEO, Red Lobster – Show the path to success
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Dec 11, 2025 
In this engaging conversation, Damola Adamolekun, the youngest CEO of Red Lobster and former CEO of P.F. Chang's, shares his journey through leadership challenges. He discusses strategies for turning around struggling brands, emphasizing honest communication and focusing on guest experience. Damola reflects on overcoming youth-related perceptions in leadership, the importance of adaptability, and leveraging AI for operational efficiency. He highlights how crucial it is to keep customer focus central to a brand’s success and shares valuable insights on navigating tough decisions.
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From Investor To CEO At P.F. Chang's
- Damola moved from investor oversight to onsite strategy work at P.F. Chang's and became chief strategy officer.
- When COVID hit and the CEO stepped back, he took the CEO role in April 2020 to protect the deal.
Lead By Respect, Not Age
- Lead younger than your peers by earning respect through competence and humility.
- Include and empower experienced people while owning final decisions.
Guest Experience First
- Start turnarounds by prioritizing the guest experience and fix what impacts guests fastest.
- Rank initiatives by importance and ease of execution to build momentum and measurable wins.