The restaurant industry is under pressure: rising costs, labor challenges, tighter margins, and more data than ever before. But what if some of the tools meant to help are stripping away what matters most?JOY

In this episode of The Business of Joy, Lisa W. Miller sits down with restaurant industry leader Melissa Doolin Koehne to explore the tension operators are facing right now: how to protect culture, people, and purpose while navigating an unforgiving business environment.

Melissa brings decades of experience - from her early days at Carl’s Jr to leadership roles at Black Box Intelligence, launching her own company Elevate 4, and serving as Chairman of the Board for the Texas Restaurant Foundation.

Together, they dig into: • How cost-cutting can unintentionally erode brand soul • Why “back to basics” may not be enough anymore • The role of data - when it helps and when it hurts • Why youth should be viewed as the future pipeline, not a labor problem • What truly drives retention, confidence, and long-term leadership in restaurants

This is a candid conversation for operators, executives, and anyone thinking about the future of hospitality.

THIS podcast conversation is one you won’t forget!

I met Arshay in 2019 through my rowing team. He is an entrepreneur and speaker who shares his message around the world. His full-length documentary, A Most Beautiful Thing, tells the story of growing up on the West Side of Chicago and how rowing and an entrepreneurship class changed his life. Since it debuted in March of 2020, it’s been a joy to watch all his success!

5 years later, he has a second book titled Let Me Be Real with You, which hit #1 on the USA Today best seller list, and he founded a non-profit organization to introduce rowing to youth!

We dove deep into stories he doesn’t often share - the gift of his entrepreneur class, how his culinary degree shaped his future, and the power of hope.

Rowing introduced him to teamwork, peace, belonging, and the chance to reinvent his future. This is a story about resilience, leadership, and the hope we give and receive.

For Toni Ronayne, her journey started as a 13-year-old coat check girl… staying up late, learning the value of tips, hospitality, and connection long before she ever stepped into the C-suite.

Today, Toni is the Founder & CEO of The C Society, and her story is one of courage, reinvention, and leading with authenticity in an industry that’s changing faster than ever.

A few of my favorite insights about Toni’s story:

💡Her superpower: being an “accidental executive”

💡Why restaurants are her true calling

💡The loneliness no one talks about when the title goes away (that is so real!)

💡How to scale without losing your soul

💡The win/win opportunity for fractional leaders

One of my favorite moments was when Toni said: “At the end of the day, I want people to say I lived my life true to who I am.”

Authenticity as a legacy! WOW! It is so fitting!

If you’re a leader navigating change, a brand builder, or an executive rethinking what’s next in your career… you’ll want to dive into this one 🔥