Damola Adamolekun to Keynote Teach to Fish: A Masterclass in Disciplined Growth
By: North-Miami Vice Mayor Kassandra Timothe
Teach to Fish prioritizes substance over showmanship. That is why Damola Adamolekun is a smart choice for this year’s keynote. As CEO of Red Lobster, he is guiding a household name out of crisis and back to basics: a menu that matches what guests actually want, service people can feel from the first hello to the check, and value that makes sense.
He is 36, Nigerian-American, and one of the very few Black CEOs running a major American dining brand. That matters. It widens who we picture at the helm and how legacy companies evolve without losing who they are.
The context is straightforward. Red Lobster filed for Chapter 11 on May 19, 2024, after a tough run that included a $76 million net loss in 2023, with $11 million tied to an “endless shrimp” offer that got away from the economics. The company exited bankruptcy on September 16, 2024, with Adamolekun stepping in as CEO and a plan to keep 544 restaurants open, protect about 30,000 jobs, and fund the reset with more than $60 million in new investment. Those are hard numbers and a real platform to build from.
Adamolekun’s approach is straightforward. Cut promotions that don’t pencil out. Put fan favorites back at the center. Make hospitality visible again—faster greetings, smoother turns, cleaner execution. Then back it up behind the scenes with training that sticks, schedules that support service, and smarter buying that protects quality. Fewer gimmicks, more common sense.
He didn’t appear out of nowhere. He started in finance, then chose the harder road of hands-on restaurant work. The habit stuck: look at the numbers, then watch how guests actually move through a meal. Address what people feel first, then build the systems that keep the change in place. Before Red Lobster, he helped steady another national chain with the same kind of practical moves—cleaner menus, refreshed stores, and standards teams could hit on a busy night. Not a stunt. Steps that add up.
It’s a national brand’s turnaround, with steps any small business can use. If you run a shop, a studio, a truck, or a kitchen, the core is the same. Your price has to match your product. Your promise has to match the experience. Your team has to know what “good” looks like every day. That is how you earn the second visit.
Early targets at Red Lobster point the same way. As the reset takes hold, the company is aiming for profit in fiscal 2026 and about 43% growth in operating earnings from fiscal 2025 to 2027. The timeline is ambitious, and the logic is clear: clean execution, clear value, repeat business.
Adamolekun’s keynote is an invitation to lead with clarity and courage. He reminds us that turnarounds are built the same way strong businesses are built: one honest decision, one trained shift, one satisfied guest at a time. Come ready to raise your standard. Say what you will deliver, deliver it, and repeat until the market believes you—then keep going.
