Lessons from Damola Adamolekun

Damola Adamolekun, the trailblazing CEO known for his transformative leadership at P.F. Chang's and now at the helm of Red Lobster, has offered a wealth of wisdom on leadership, work ethic, and personal growth. His journey from a young immigrant to a prominent figure in the corporate world provides a compelling blueprint for aspiring leaders.

On Leadership and Vision

"If you want to be a CEO, the most important thing is to not let anyone make you feel like you don't belong or that you can't do anything." A powerful message on self-belief and overcoming imposter syndrome. [1]
"You only learn how to lead by leading... Find an organization, lead it, you'll learn how to lead, you'll learn the challenges, you'll learn how to communicate, you learn how to motivate people." Advocating for practical experience as the ultimate teacher of leadership. [2]
"If you set a bar that is high, people will step up." On the importance of setting high expectations to inspire teams to achieve more. [3]
"People want to be great... They want to be winners." A leader's role is to facilitate small wins that build belief and transform organizational morale. [3]
"A lot of business is diplomacy, how to be with people, you know, how to be likable, how to make friends... that's an important part of success." Highlighting the often-underestimated social and interpersonal aspects of leadership. [2]
"Innovation and representation are not just compatible—they are essential for meaningful, transformative change." A core belief that diversity is a driver of progress and innovation. [4]
"My story demonstrates the impact of blending personal growth with professional excellence to inspire others and pave the way for success." Connecting personal development directly to leadership effectiveness. [4]
"It's about your experience, who you are as a person, the quality of your character, your integrity, your intelligence, your communication ability... there's a lot of things that are different person by person. And age is just one of them." Emphasizing that leadership capability is not defined by age. [5]
"You're always going to need great people... we're focused on efficiency and then focused on winning the competition for limited labor." A dual strategy for managing human resources: operational excellence and becoming an employer of choice. [6]
"Hire great people first of all... get great people in your organization. So recruiting is key and then once you get them there, give them information, trust them, empower them, align them to the business and let them run." A clear and effective five-step process for talent management. [7]

On Work Ethic and Personal Discipline

"My life is my work. My work is my life." A testament to his deep passion and dedication to his professional endeavors. [8]
"Conquer something early in the day. You'll feel better. Your brain will work better. You'll be in a better mood." His philosophy behind his famous 4 a.m. runs, starting the day with a victory to build momentum. [3]
"Nothing in life is given, everything must be earned." A fundamental principle that underscores his belief in hard work and merit. [2]
"There's no shortcut to success in any field... most people who are successful just work extremely hard and have a vision and have focus and have determination." Dispelling the myth of overnight success and emphasizing the grind. [2]
"Work to me is purpose. When you wake up every morning and you're excited to do something, it stops being work." Redefining work not as a chore but as a source of energy and purpose. [5]
"My dad... always told me that whatever I did, make sure I was the best doing it." A foundational piece of advice that has guided his pursuit of excellence. [1]
"In America, it doesn't matter whether you're a barber or a doctor. If you're the best at what you do, you can build a great life for yourself." A lesson from his father about the universal value of mastery. [1]
"I always found [business] interesting, even when I was young. It captivated me intellectually." Highlighting the importance of intellectual curiosity in his career path. [1]
"I started working when I was in high school and invested everything I made. I opened my first stock portfolio when I was 16." Demonstrating an early and proactive interest in finance and investing. [1][9]
"Sports trains you for life, more than anything else in the world." Attributing his understanding of duty, hard work, and sacrifice to his time as a college football player. [3]

On Strategy and Turnarounds

"Lean into what made it successful in the first place... What do people love about Red Lobster?" His strategic approach to revitalization focuses on honoring and amplifying a brand's core strengths and heritage. [10]
"His holistic strategy emphasizes the customer experience, operational excellence, and digital innovation—factors he believes are critical to ensuring long-term profitability." A summary of his multi-faceted approach to business transformation. [11]
"It's almost like running two businesses out of one box... there's no reason because you grow off-premises you need to sacrifice on your dining business." His vision for integrating and growing both dine-in and off-premise channels simultaneously. [6]
"What's really going to drive people out is if they have a great time when they come to eat at your restaurant." Underscoring the critical importance of the overall guest experience beyond just the food. [6]
"You have to lean into what made it successful in the first place." A core principle in his turnaround strategy for iconic brands like Red Lobster. [12]
"A lot of life is calculated risk... it's hard to really build something without taking some chances along the way." His perspective on the necessity of risk-taking for significant achievements. [13]
"The brand is worth saving. I think it can be saved... it's not going to be easy, but it's doable." His conviction and determination when taking on the challenge of turning around Red Lobster. [12]
"My entire focus was and is to make sure P.F. Chang's does well and is successful. There's nothing else I'm thinking about." Demonstrating his intense focus and singular dedication to the success of the business he is leading. [1]
"During one of the most challenging periods for the restaurant industry, I led P.F. Chang's through the pandemic by launching initiatives like P.F. Chang's To Go. This adaptive strategy not only returned the company to profitability... but also redefined its future." A testament to his ability to adapt and innovate in a crisis. [4]
"You need that alignment between ownership and operator. If ownership takes a different perspective... and I disagree with that and I go execute it, then I'm responsible for the result." Highlighting the critical importance of a shared vision between leadership and investors. [12]

On Personal Growth and Advice for the Next Generation

"College is a good time to build traits in yourself that are going to help you be successful over the long term... it's helpful to be intentional about how you want to mold yourself." Advising young people to be deliberate in their personal development during their formative years. [2]
"Find a way to speak publicly because you're going to need to do that in business and in life... it's very hard to get through life without having to convince people and sell yourself and market and communicate." Emphasizing the underrated importance of public speaking skills. [2]
"Learn something about finance... just learn the basics... it's the language of business." Practical advice for all aspiring professionals, regardless of their major. [2]
"Go practice leading. Join something and lead something... You only learn how to lead by leading." A strong call to action for students to seek out leadership roles. [2]
"Snatch any opportunity you have with both hands and go build the life that you want for yourself." A powerful and motivational directive for young people. [2]
"Your career journey has the power to create ripples... Investing in your growth, refining your skills, navigating challenges, and following a clear career roadmap can transform your future and those around you." A perspective on the broader impact of personal career development. [4]
"Be curious, ask questions, learn as much as you can." Simple yet profound advice for those starting their careers. [2]
"Your attitude to how you approach that work is going to determine your success." On the importance of a positive and proactive mindset in the workplace. [2]
"The best underpinning for a good career is just to being in a space that's growing." Strategic advice to choose industries with natural tailwinds. [2]
"Omi kii r'ehin igi'—water always finds its way around obstacles." A Yoruba proverb his father taught him that shaped his understanding of resilience and adaptability. [4]

On Culture and Diversity

"The goal is to apply certain standards that ensure we're hiring and promoting the best people we can, irrespective of their backgrounds." His approach to building a meritocratic and diverse team. [1]
"If we take race and gender out of the equation, we'll naturally get to a state where things are pretty balanced in terms of diversity. It's important to take bias out and just look at performance." A clear stance on performance-based evaluation to achieve genuine diversity. [1]
"I grew up in Nigeria, Zimbabwe, the Netherlands, and the U.S., which gave me a deep appreciation for different perspectives. It shaped my ability to adapt to various environments." Highlighting how his multicultural upbringing has been a key asset in his career. [4]
"When I became the company's first Black CEO in 2020, I understood the weight of that milestone—not just for myself but for every Black professional seeking representation in leadership." Acknowledging the significance of his role in promoting diversity in corporate leadership. [4]
"Business is not a one-man show... you need people to care, you need to be generous with people who do well for you." A simple but powerful message on the importance of a collaborative and appreciative company culture. [7]
"I think that's a mistake: hire great people... and then once you get them there, give them information, trust them, empower them, align them to the business, and let them run." A recipe for an empowering and effective organizational culture. [7]
"What we do here impacts our international partners, what they do impacts us. So getting that alignment was another key thing that we focused on." On the importance of a unified global culture and strategy. [6]
"You don't point." A small but significant detail in his new training at Red Lobster, where employees are taught to escort guests to the restroom, symbolizing a deeper commitment to hospitality and guest engagement. [14]
"As Adamolekun sees it, the young care the most about the 'look and feel of a restaurant.'" An insight into his strategy to attract a younger demographic by focusing on ambiance and creating social media-worthy experiences. [14]
"A bold blend of strategic precision and cultural fluency." A description of his leadership style, which is seen as setting a new benchmark in the industry. [11]

Learn more:

Lessons from Damola Adamolekun

On Leadership and Vision

On Work Ethic and Personal Discipline

On Strategy and Turnarounds

On Personal Growth and Advice for the Next Generation

On Culture and Diversity

Written by Antoine Buteau

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