E59: Julia Stewart Former CEO of IHOP | Blueprint for Rising to the Top

In this episode of the Matthews Mentality Podcast, host Kyle Matthews sits down with Julia Stewart, a legendary leader who has shaped some iconic restaurant brands, including Taco Bell, IHOP, and Applebee's. Julia shares her remarkable career journey, recounting her early days as a food server at IHOP to becoming the CEO and spearheading IHOP's $2.3 billion acquisition of Applebee's, creating the world's largest full-service restaurant company. She also discusses her pivot from the restaurant industry to launching 𝐴𝑙𝑢𝑟𝑥, a cutting-edge wellness company. The episode is packed with invaluable lessons on resilience, innovation, and the importance of mentorship and company culture.

00:00 The Call That Changed Everything

00:51 From IHOP Waitress to CEO

02:14 Pancake Memories and Family Stories

03:48 The Journey to Health Tech

04:50 Challenges in Raising Capital

06:04 Breaking Stereotypes in Health Tech

07:02 From Restaurant Giants to Wellness Innovator

08:46 The Importance of User Experience

20:05 Teaching Beyond the Classroom

25:46 The Visionary Behind Taco Bell's 24/7 Model

30:03 The Power of a Career Plan

32:23 Climbing the Career Ladder

33:23 Facing Gender Barriers

35:09 Sacrifices and Choices

37:45 Taking Risks and Learning

39:33 Mentorship and Learning from Failures

41:48 Leadership and Accountability

56:32 Handling Personal Tragedy

01:01:51 Women in the Workplace

01:05:17 Navigating Career Decisions

01:05:36 The Importance of Company Culture

01:06:26 Motivations and Achievements

01:10:42 Turning Around IHOP

01:12:08 The Applebee's Acquisition

01:22:34 Creating a Unified Culture

01:28:28 Balancing Work and Family

01:37:29 Final Thoughts and Advice