Leading with Borrowed Tradition: Sarah Thompson on Culture, Craft, and Owning the Room

What if your biggest opportunity wasn’t the one you planned for, but the one that forced you to prove you belonged?

For Sarah Thompson, leading a fine dining Mexican restaurant as a non-Mexican chef wasn’t the goal, but it became the proving ground. At Casa Playa inside the Wynn Las Vegas, Sarah has built more than a menu: she’s built trust, earned belonging, and redefined what excellence looks like in a cuisine she wasn’t raised in but has come to deeply respect.

In this episode, we unpack how she overcame cultural bias in the kitchen, turned imposter syndrome into authentic leadership, and leveraged the resources of a major hospitality group to create a restaurant that’s as respected by locals as it is by the Strip’s most demanding diners.

If you’ve ever had to earn your place in the room, you’ll feel this one.

To experience Casa Playa or learn more, visit wynnlasvegas.com.

_________________________________________________________

Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com