Red Lobster’s 37-year-old CEO waited tables before joining the C-suite—he says it was a crash course in managing ‘difficult people and situations’

Fortune·July 19, 2026

AI Summary

Red Lobster's CEO Damola Adamolekun credits his early experience as a server with teaching him valuable management skills in handling challenging interpersonal situations. The executive, who is leading the restaurant chain's recovery from bankruptcy, has also incorporated artificial intelligence into his strategy while drawing on lessons from industry figures like Warren Buffett.

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Red Lobster’s 37-year-old CEO waited tables before joining the C-suite—he says it was a crash course in managing ‘difficult people and situations’

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