She Realized CEOs Can’t Stay Quiet. Now Her Voice Is Helping Shape the Next Era of OpenTable

Debby Soo, CEO of OpenTable, uses social media to stay close to the restaurants and diners who rely on the platform every day. As a leader who believes in openness, she treats online feedback as essential fuel for shaping the company’s future.

Watch now to learn about the value of showing up online, the feedback that reshaped OpenTable, and why Debby Soo believes restaurants will always survive and evolve.

Sponsored by:

• TOAST AllIn1 Restaurant POS

Chapters:

[05:12] - Why CEOs Must Be Visible

[10:06] - How Her Team Pushed Her Online

[12:57] - Why Restaurants Need to Tell Their Story

[32:56] - OpenTable’s AI Concierge

[53:02] - Why She Believes in Restaurants

SPONSORS:

RESTAURANT INFLUENCERS IS PRESENTED BY TOAST —

Restaurant Influencers is brought to you by Toast, the powerful restaurant point of sale and management system that helps restaurants improve operations, increase sales and create a better guest experience.

• Toast AllIn1 Restaurant POS

Episode Links:

Debby Soo LinkedIn

Debby Soo Instagram

OpenTable Instagram

OpenTable LinkedIn

OpenTable TikTok

OpenTable Facebook

OpenTable YouTube

Open Table Concierge

Key Takeaways:

Visibility Builds Trust: By showing up consistently on social media, Debby Soo uses direct feedback from operators and diners to steer OpenTable’s product decisions and strengthen relationships across the industry.

Every Restaurant Needs a Story: Debby encourages operators to share who they are, what they stand for, and what makes them unique, believing storytelling is essential for discovery, connection, and long-term success.

Technology Should Serve Hospitality: From large-party tools to OpenTable’s AI Concierge, Debby prioritizes technology that removes friction for restaurants so teams can focus on service, guests, and community.

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ABOUT DEBBY SOO —

Debby Soo is the CEO of OpenTable, appointed in August 2020. Born and educated in the San Francisco Bay Area and a graduate of Stanford University, she built her career in travel, technology, and product leadership before taking over the restaurant-reservation platform. At OpenTable she drives operator-focused innovation, including large-party tools and AI features like Concierge, while championing a future built on connection, feedback, and strong restaurant partnerships.

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 Shaquille O’Neal, Rob Dyrdek, Emeril Lagasse, Mayim Bialik, Jon Taffer, Robert Irvine, Toast co-founder Aman Narang, 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