Eleni founded Gates Hospitality Group, which handles brand building, corporate communications, public relations and more for restaurants and other businesses, earlier this year. She was previously head of investor relations and corporate communications for East Manatee County-based First Watch Restaurant Group. On this episode Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon and Eleni talked about what she’s learned from some important hospitality mentors on company culture, motivating teams and more. They also talked about her big step in working for corporate brands to going out on her own and going back to school for her MBA.

3 Takeaways:

1. (05:50) Be intentional about how you communicate with specific audiences
2. (16:00) A leader is never above any work in the organization
3. (17:00) Be a human, not the boss

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing Eleni Gates, Founder and Principal, Gates Hospitality Group

(04:00) What is Gates Hospitality Group?

(06:15) Starting at First Watch

(08:20) Working for Chris Tomasso

(09:30) IPO-ing with First Watch

(13:00) Dealing with imposter syndrome

(14:30) Learning from Ken Pendery

(17:25) What is good leadership?

(19:00) Leadership advice

(20:30) Learning from her parents

(23:00) Storytelling in leadership

(24:20) Gates Hospitality Group in 2025

Join us every week as we interview business leaders to learn what makes them great, what they look for in growing leaders, and much more.

Visit businessobserverfl.com for more.

AG Lafley is the former CEO of consumer products giant Procter & Gamble, where he ran the company for 15 years over two different tenures. Since retiring and moving to Sarasota, he has worked with small businesses and nonprofits, and also led the development and operations at the Bay Sarasota. On this episode Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon and AG talked about how he overcame difficulties and challenges at P&G, and why leading with a customer-first mindset, even in such a large organization, was a priority. They also talked about why it was important for him to be a “say do” leader.

Key Takeaways:

(05:30) Crisis is opportunity

(05:45) Leadership is not genetically determined, it can be built

(12:35) Great leaders take accountability and create accountability

(17:30) Leadership is a navigation job

(19:40) Know yourself, be yourself, and play to your strengths

(20:40) Understand the art of going slow to go fast

(21:20) Leadership is thinking, decision making, and doing

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing AG Lafley, retired CEO, Procter & Gamble; founding CEO, The Bay Park Conservancy

(05:00) Keys to being a great leader

(06:30) Seizing leadership opportunities early in life

(09:00) Becoming CEO of Procter & Gamble

(12:00) Decisions made in the first 100 days of being CEO

(17:15) What is leadership?

(19:25) Leadership advice

(22:00) Learning to ‘go slow to go fast’ from the Japanese

(27:45) AG’s leadership legacy

(31:30) What is coming up at Bay Park Conservancy?

Join us every week as we interview business leaders to learn what makes them great, what they look for in growing leaders, and much more.

Visit businessobserverfl.com for more.

Darla has more than 20 years of experience in everything from corporate sales and operations to leadership development. She currently runs Darla Bonk Consulting, and, with her husband, Architectural Metal Flashings. Two more biographical nuggets: She’s a Fort Myers city councilwoman and she hosts a weekly podcast, “On Your Way.” On this episode, Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon and Darla talked about her diverse and winding career, what she learned from her parents about leadership — who have been married for 70 years — and how the power of being intentional in all her communications has helped be a better leader.

3 Takeaways:

1. (08:15) Listen for cues to get consensus
2. (14:00) Leaders need the ability to pivot
3. (15:30) Communication is everything

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing Darla Bonk, CEO and founder, Darla Bonk Consulting

(07:45) What did you learn about leadership being on the City Council?

(10:15) Learning from leaders in Darla Bonk Consulting

(11:30) Growing up as Darla Bonk

(13:50) What do you look for in leaders?

(15:25) Leadership advice

(16:00) Storytelling in leadership

(17:00) Balance short term wins and long term planning

(18:10) Imposter syndrome

(19:00) Lessons from her parents

(20:45) Darla’s leadership legacy

(21:30) Darla Bonk in 2026

Join us every week as we interview business leaders to learn what makes them great, what they look for in growing leaders, and much more.

Visit businessobserverfl.com for more.