Episode #11 | FEBRUARY 05, 2025 | All Episodes

Operational Excellence Meets Passionate Leadership

with Kyle Gordon, Co-Founder and CEO at Dillas Quesadillas

Building a restaurant brand from scratch requires grit, vision and a commitment to people-first values. At Dillas Quesadillas, success is fueled by a strong culture, innovative leadership and a willingness to embrace new challenges.

We're joined by Kyle Gordon, Co-Founder and CEO at Dillas Quesadillas, to hear his insights on what it takes to thrive in the competitive restaurant industry. Kyle shares his journey of building a successful restaurant brand, the importance of a people-first culture and leveraging technology to scale operations. With 11 locations and plans for expansion, he explains how Dillas prioritizes culture, leadership and innovation to stay competitive in the quick-service restaurant industry.

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Key Takeaways

(03:03) The key to success lies in making one impactful decision, like prioritizing culture, which can guide growth and establish a strong foundation.

(06:03) Early sacrifices are often unavoidable but recoverable with a robust culture.

(10:40) Internal promotions are ideal, but a mix of external hires brings fresh ideas and challenges existing processes.

(16:09) Technology should simplify operations, enabling general managers to focus on team leadership and customer satisfaction without added friction.

(23:50) Onboarding at Dillas combines personal, face-to-face interactions with consistent technology-driven processes, creating a balanced employee experience.

(27:21) Acting like a large, established brand from the beginning sets the tone for consistency, culture and operational excellence during growth phases.

(29:33) Culture thrives when leaders are empowered to make decisions and when accountability and support coexist, fostering a sense of belonging.

(34:10) Achieving long-term goals starts with focusing on small, impactful daily choices that build momentum and ensure sustainable progress.

(37:47) "Focus on what you can control" is a mantra that emphasizes the the importance of mindset, personal choices and showing up prepared every day.
importance of mindset, personal choices and showing up prepared every day.