Navigating the New Era of Restaurants: Connecting with Customers in a Shifting Landscape

With a heart for innovation and a mind for leadership, Maria leads a brand that values simplicity yet delivers big on flavor. Her journey, shaped by her time at Disney and other industry giants, has instilled in her the belief that even the smallest details matter. Smalls Sliders isn’t just about burgers—it’s about crafting moments of joy and creating a space where each bite reminds you that greatness comes in small packages, building a successful brand one slider at a time.

Key Takeaways:
• Maria's leadership in the restaurant industry showcases the rising influence of women in top roles. She serves as a role model for aspiring female leaders.
• Maria shares her early Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) experience and the knowledge she gained while working at Disney. She believes the skills she developed significantly shaped her leadership style, particularly her focus on customer satisfaction and operational excellence, which she now applies at Small Sliders.
• Will restaurants shrink in size in the future? Small Sliders is already ahead of the curve with its innovative 750-square- foot, compact restaurant model.
• Small Sliders is standing out in a highly competitive market by carving out a niche and focusing on their unique approach. They prioritize delivering a great product in a fast, clean, and fun environment, complemented by exceptional hospitality.
• Smalls Sliders proves that being small doesn’t mean you can't play big. With tiny burgers packing huge flavor, this brand is hitting home runs in the fast-casual market.
• Maria offers a valuable perspective on her leadership style, focusing on the balance between empathy and accountability. She explains that building a brand from the ground up requires discipline, vulnerability, and a commitment to continuous learning.
• "The B-list is about the good people doing good things in the industry we love." Maria expresses her curiosity about why they chose to feature her and the brand so early on, asking the hosts about their "B-List" during the “Talking Back” segment.

Schatzy, Jimmy, and Maria dive into segments like "What's Hot and Not" and "Branded Quick-fire," where Maria offers clear insights on industry trends, while Jimmy's connectivity steps out of the conversation.

Restaurant Transformation , Hospitality Strategies , Brand Experience , Hospitality Insiders , Hospitality Stories , Hospitality trends , Success in hospitality , hospitality insights , hospitality success , hospitality , connecting players , funny food stories , hospitality insiders , success in hospitality , hospitality stories . hospitality podcast, Custom business solutions, restaurant technology, restaurant promotions, restaurant ownership, culinary topics, food customs

Episode Credits:

• Produced by: Branded Hospitality Media
• Hosted by: Michael Schatzberg, JImmy Frischling
• Producer: Julie Zucker
• Creative Director: Adam Levine
• Show Runner: Drewe Raimi
• Post Production: Three Cheers Creative

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