Red Lobster CEO Inspires at Teach to Fish Summit Finale
The City of North Miami’s 4th Annual Teach to Fish Business Summit concluded its three-day run with a sold-out Luncheon and Keynote Conversation featuring Damola Adamolekun, chief executive officer of Red Lobster, in dialogue with Vice Mayor Kassandra Timothe.
Held at Florida International University’s Kovens Conference Center, the closing day offered attendees a master class in leadership, resilience, and strategic growth from one of corporate America’s youngest chief executives.
Adamolekun, a Harvard Business School graduate and former PF Chang’s chief, spoke candidly about steering iconic restaurant brands through crisis and renewal. “In both cases — PF Chang’s during COVID and Red Lobster through bankruptcy — it came down to clarity and speed,” he said. “You have to decide fast, communicate honestly, and celebrate the small wins along the way”
He urged entrepreneurs to ground their decisions in transparency and team alignment. “You can’t fix a business overnight,” Adamolekun told the crowd. “People need to understand the plan, believe it’s possible, and see progress along the way.”
When asked how small businesses can scale successfully, Adamolekun offered a note of caution and encouragement: “Be sure you want to grow — because growth comes with problems,” he quipped, drawing laughter. “But when you do, expand intelligently — in ways that feel natural and cohesive to your core mission.”
The discussion also touched on his Nigerian heritage and its influence on his leadership style. “Nigerian parents don’t allow excuses,” he said. “They teach you to be excellent — to figure it out, to do better. That mentality stays with you.”
Adamolekun highlighted the importance of authentic partnerships and cultural connection in brand building, referencing recent collaborations with the Big 3 Basketball League and HBCU Battle of the Bands. “Partnering with the right people lets you borrow credibility from each other,” he said. “It helps shape how you’re perceived and who you reach.”
In closing, he left attendees — including college students, entrepreneurs, and small business owners — with a final lesson: “The pursuit of excellence is how we move forward. If you improve yourself, you improve your community.”
The session marked a fitting finale to a summit that featured three days of panels on funding, marketing, and procurement — all designed to equip North Miami businesses with the tools to grow and thrive.
