Sara Finnegan of Edley’s Restaurant Group on How to Grow and Retain Your Soul

Sara Finnegan, chief of staff at Edley's Restaurant Group, has an inspiring recipe for growth. And the main ingredient is a Southern Soul. The restaurant industry leader has emerged with a strong and empowered voice to help others succeed.

Watch this interview to learn about giving back to the community, serving on the Toast Customer Advisory Board, finding user-generated content, and what it means to be a woman in hospitality.

@calibbqmedia @entrepreneur @edleysbbq

WHAT DID YOU LEARN on this episode of the Restaurant Influencers podcast, presented by the @Toast point of sale and restaurant management technology company? Let us know by leaving a YouTube comment below.

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Chapters:

[02:00] - Sara Finnegan 2-minute Drill

[04:05] - Recipe for Growth

[07:20] - Learning to be Vocal in Business

[18:03] - Being a Woman in Hospitality

[19:50] - Implementing User-Generated Content

Sara Finnegan is a Restaurant Influencer -

As Chief of Staff for a restaurant group, Sara Finnegan spends a lot of time taking care of others.

For her, Edley's Restaurant Group represents more than just a company; it embodies a commitment to giving back to the community.

The company owns and operates the Edley’s Bar-B-Que restaurant chain. Edley’s Bar-B-Que was founded in 2011 by Will and Catharine Newman in Nashville, TN.

The name Edley's pays homage to Will’s grandfather George Edley Newman, Jr., who left behind a legacy of “generosity, hard work and Southern hospitality.”

When Sara Finnegan joined the Edley’s team she was asked one important question by the founder Will Newman: “How do we grow and keep our Southern Soul?”

The answer, always it almost always does, circles around to humanity.

“It really comes down to people,” Sara Finnegan told Restaurant Influencers host Shawn Walchef of Cali BBQ Media (). “Even if you have 1,000 locations, as long as each location has the right people, and they’re authentic about it, then you keep your soul.”

The values of treating people right and fostering a positive work environment have become integral to Edley's Restaurant Group’s success. That exceptional workplace culture and active engagement with the community are essential components of their recipe for growth, alongside offering great food and restaurant service.

“If you provide a great place for people to work, if you're part of the community… people are going to come to you,” says Sara Finnegan.

Being a woman in the hospitality industry, Finnegan understands the unique challenges that women can face in the workforce. She recognizes that the experience can differ significantly from that of their male counterparts.

To address these challenges, the leader is actively working on creating a support group for women in hospitality with a goal to provide a platform where people can advocate for each other, share experiences, and receive the coaching and development they need to thrive in management roles.

Episode Links:

Edleys BBQ Online

Edley's BBQ Instagram

Edley's BBQ TikTok

Sara Finnegan LinkedIn

ABOUT EDLEY’S BAR-B-QUE:

Edley’s Bar-B-Que is a tribute to All Things Southern. Edley’s Bar-B-Que is family owned and operated by its founders, Will and Catharine Newman. The first location was opened in 2011 in Nashville, TN. Now they operate multiple spots. It has been recognized by publications such as Southern Living, USA Today, and Garden & Gun. Edley’s Bar-B-Que has been awarded Best BBQ in Nashville for four years by the readers of The Nashville Scene. The company is owned and operated by Edley’s Restaurant Group.

Edley’s BarBQue LinkedIn 'sbarbque/

ABOUT RESTAURANT INFLUENCERS:

Restaurant Influencers is a weekly video podcast series presented by Entrepreneur Media and Cali BBQ Media. Every week host and restaurant owner Shawn Walchef (@shawnpwalchef) talks with business leaders like Rob Dyrdek, Elizabeth Chambers, Stratis Morfogen, Chris Comparato, Meredith Sandland, Jon Taffer, and more, about their secrets to Smartphone Storytelling, marketing, branding, and how to show up where customers are engaging online.

Published by Entrepreneur Media

Produced by Cali BBQ Media

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