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Dawn Sweeney

National Restaurant Association, Former President and CEO
EPISODE 92

Speaking Up When Something Can Be Better

Today’s guest is Dawn Sweeney, the former President & CEO of the National Restaurant Association. Steve Jobs used to say of Apple: “Excellence is the price of admission.” What he meant by that was that excellence was standard operating procedure. It’s what was expected. In an environment like this,

colleagues push each other to make things better. They push the boundary of what’s possible, and if someone feels like a project or an idea can be better, they speak up!

Dawn Sweeney, and the great leaders I know, do this very same thing. They speak up when something can be better. They don’t accept the status quo, but instead have the courage to push for making everything the best it can be. This, my friends, is what it looks like to strive for excellence. And doing things with excellence is the mark of a great company.

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More from Dawn Sweeney

Prioritize self-awareness, humility, and hard work
There’s no one “right” way to be a great leader. But these three leadership qualities are vital for anyone who wants both success and fulfillment.

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Short (but powerful) leadership advice from entrepreneurs and CEOs of top companies like JPMorgan Chase, Target, Starbucks and more.

Clips

  • When you know a decision is wrong, say so
    Dawn Sweeney
    Dawn Sweeney
    National Restaurant Association, Former President and CEO
  • Make a job pivot for impact, not income
    Dawn Sweeney
    Dawn Sweeney
    National Restaurant Association, Former President and CEO
  • Support employees’ decision to move on
    Dawn Sweeney
    Dawn Sweeney
    National Restaurant Association, Former President and CEO
  • Innovation is more than dressing up an existing idea
    Dawn Sweeney
    Dawn Sweeney
    National Restaurant Association, Former President and CEO
  • Show up, speak up, and deliver results
    Dawn Sweeney
    Dawn Sweeney
    National Restaurant Association, Former President and CEO
  • Give women honest, sincere, direct feedback
    Dawn Sweeney
    Dawn Sweeney
    National Restaurant Association, Former President and CEO
  • Be self-aware, humble, and work hard
    Dawn Sweeney
    Dawn Sweeney
    National Restaurant Association, Former President and CEO

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