Brandy Blackwell, VP of Marketing at Another Broken Egg Cafe, discusses her career journey, highlighting key experiences from her roles at Tijuana Flats, Focus Brands, and Duncan. She emphasizes the importance of cross-functional collaboration, seizing marketing opportunities, and understanding customer needs. Brandy shares insights on successful campaigns, the impact of digital transformation, and strategies for balancing work-life dynamics. She also talks about fostering a supportive workplace culture and the significance of mentorship in advancing women's leadership in the industry.

Background and Career Journey: With 17 years in the restaurant marketing space, Brandy's extensive experience began at Tijuana Flats and included roles at Focus Brands, Dunkin' Brands, and currently at Another Broken Egg Cafe. Her journey through diverse roles, from off-premises director to working on digital integration and launching delivery services, showcases adaptability and expertise across multiple facets of restaurant marketing.

‍Aligning Marketing and Cross-Functional Teams: We emphasize the importance of aligning marketing efforts with other departments, such as operations, HR, and IT, to ensure cohesive and effective campaigns. Brandy shares examples of how Another Broken Egg Cafe coordinates initiatives like Mother's Day promotions, illustrating the importance of collaboration and communication across teams to achieve common goals.

‍Test-and-Learn Approach and Data Utilization: Brandy highlights the value of a test-and-learn mindset and the use of data to inform marketing strategies. Another Broken Egg Cafe leverages customer feedback, regional preferences, and digital tools to tailor marketing efforts and improve the guest experience. By understanding and acting on data insights, the brand can make informed decisions and drive better results.

‍Women in Restaurant Leadership: We discuss Brandy's involvement in the Women in Restaurant Leadership Council and the importance of empowering women in the industry. Reflections on experiences at the inaugural conference emphasize the value of creating a supportive network for women to share challenges, seek advice, and advance their careers. Brandy's passion for mentorship and advocacy for women in leadership is evident throughout the conversation.