say86 Hospitality Podcast

From Operator to Owner Mindset - with Mike DeJong

In this episode of the say86 Hospitality Podcast, Tim is joined by entrepreneur, keynote speaker and author Mike DeJong for a wide-ranging conversation around leadership, business ownership and the realities of scaling companies in today’s challenging operating environment. Drawing from more than 30 years of experience across multiple industries, including franchising, Mike shares the lessons learned from building businesses, turning around struggling operations and helping leaders create stronger, more sustainable organisations. The discussion explores one of Mike’s core philosophies — the difference between simply owning a business and genuinely developing an owner’s mindset. Mike explains what he calls the “operator trap”, where founders become consumed by day-to-day operations without ever creating the systems, structure and leadership required for long-term freedom and scalability. The episode also dives into why growing too quickly can often damage businesses, how effective leaders build accountable teams and why systems are ultimately what allow companies to scale successfully. Although many of the themes discussed apply across all industries, the conversation is particularly relevant to hospitality operators navigating operational pressure, staffing challenges, supplier complexity and rapid market change. Packed with practical insights, leadership lessons and real-world experience, this episode offers valuable perspective for entrepreneurs, founders and operators looking to build stronger businesses without losing control in the process.

Leadership, Trust & AI: Navigating Modern Business with Zaher Ibrahim, CEO of Aklarity

In this episode of the say86 podcast, Tim is joined by Zaher Ibrahim, CEO & Founder of Aklarity, a leadership advisory business focused on helping organisations navigate complexity, culture and decision-making more effectively. The conversation explores how leadership is evolving in a world increasingly shaped by pressure, uncertainty, generational change and artificial intelligence. Zaher shares his own journey from civil engineering into leadership development and executive coaching, discussing why many leaders struggle not because they lack skill, but because fear, pressure and self-worth begin to influence judgement and behaviour. The discussion also looks at trust within organisations, workplace culture, burnout, communication, team dynamics and why human judgement is becoming more valuable as AI continues to advance. Although not purely hospitality focused, many of the themes discussed are highly relevant to hospitality operators, founders and senior leadership teams navigating today’s fast-moving business environment. The episode offers a thoughtful insight into modern leadership, organisational psychology and the challenges businesses face in building strong, resilient teams.

Restaurant Growth, Scaling & Hospitality Leadership

In this episode of the say86 podcast, Tim speaks with Jeff Tonidandel and Jamie Brown, founders of the Tonidandel-Brown Restaurant Group, about building and scaling a successful hospitality business. From starting with a single 11-table restaurant to creating multiple award-winning concepts including Supperland, they share their journey through over 15 years in the restaurant industry. We dive into the realities of restaurant growth, multi-site expansion, and what it takes to operate in today’s challenging hospitality environment. The conversation covers everything from opening your first restaurant, managing costs and margins, and building sustainable concepts, to marketing, social media, and the operational challenges that come with scaling a restaurant group. As a husband and wife team, Jeff and Jamie also offer a unique perspective on leadership, teamwork, and building a strong company culture across multiple locations. This episode is packed with practical insights for restaurant owners, hospitality operators, and anyone looking to grow a business in the food and beverage industry.

Kendall Peterson: Leadership, Purpose & Building High-Performance Teams

Kendall Peterson joins the say86 podcast for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, performance, and what it really takes to build and scale effective teams. Now leading Fugoid International [chatgpt://generic-entity?number=0], Kendall works as an executive coach and transformation specialist, partnering with leaders to grow their businesses while sharpening their professional edge. With over 25 years in senior leadership roles across global organisations including NextEra Energy [chatgpt://generic-entity?number=1], Subway [chatgpt://generic-entity?number=2] and Verizon [chatgpt://generic-entity?number=3], Kendall brings a grounded, real-world perspective on what high performance actually looks like. In this episode, the conversation explores the role of mission statements in shaping culture, the difference between managing and leading, and why clarity of purpose is often the missing piece in underperforming businesses. Known for his ability to simplify complexity and drive meaningful change, Kendall shares practical insights on building strong teams, addressing underperformance, and leading with intent. Alongside his professional work, he remains deeply committed to family life and community, offering a balanced view of leadership that extends beyond the workplace and into how people live and show up every day. You can download Kendall's eBook HERE. [https://www.elementalstrat.com/_files/ugd/919707_e0638e6147d748ff8698b78b420670e0.pdf]

From Restaurants to Storytelling with Courtney Kocak

On this edition of the say86 podcast, Tim sits down with Courtney Kocak, writer, podcaster and comedian, to talk about her journey from working in restaurants to building a career in storytelling. Courtney gets into what it really means to be an author, comedian and podcast host, beyond the surface level. The reality of the work, the pressure to create, and what it takes to build something that people actually connect with. She shares how she found her voice, how she thinks about storytelling across different formats, and what separates content that cuts through from everything else. A great conversation on creativity, persistence and understanding people, and why those things matter whether you are building a career, a brand or a business.