🧠 “I knew right away I wasn’t going to be happy just executing someone else’s plan.” -Mark Brezinski

That mindset shaped decades of restaurant innovation, from the King Solomon Burger at age 16, to concepting Velvet Taco, Pei Wei, Tin Star, EatZi’s, and more.

This week’s episode of the Business of Joy features Mark Brezinski, restaurant conceptor, consultant, & author of Food Fight!


In our conversation on The Business of Joy, we talk about:


🍴 His surprising first jobs (and first off menu item)


🧭 The equation he teaches young leaders: 1/3 of your time controls the other 2/3

⭐️ Why BBQ is the perfect fast casual North Star


📉 The personal bankruptcy that taught him more than any success ever did


📚 What his book revealed to friends who thought they knew him


🔥 Why “authentically good” matters more than “authentic” or “good” alone

Check out Oak'd BBQ: https://www.instagram.com/oakdbbq/?hl=en

#businessofjoy #RestaurantIndustry #HospitalityLeadership #BrandBuilding #RestaurantInnovation

What’s the mistake too many young leaders make?

🚫 Skipping steps. 🚫 Skipping the struggle.

This week’s episode of The Business of Joy podcast features Andrew K. Smith, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Savory Fund!

From cleaning kennels at 14 to co-founding a $500M fund, his story is a playbook for gritty, joyful leadership.

We talked about:

💸 The truth about today’s fundraising climate—and where opportunity still lives

🔄 What legacy brands can learn from emerging ones

🌟 “Don’t be a know-it-all. Be a learn-it-all.”

🌱 How restaurants (and leaders) can be the light others lean toward

💡 Why he believes positivity breeds success

What struck me most? His ability to dream big and stay grounded.

🎧 One of my favorite conversations yet. Packed with perspective, wisdom, and unforgettable one-liners.

And BTW—we even talk favorite bands and music. So cool.

Here were two of the bands that Andrew mentioned:

Zola Blood: https://www.youtube.com/@ZOLABLOOD/videos

Washed Out: https://www.youtube.com/@realwashedout/videos

❌ Innovation by committee.

❌ Waiting for approval.


❌ Endless alignment meetings.

It’s not working. And Rita McGrath, C-suite strategist, professor at Columbia Business School and Founder of Valize, says it’s time to stop pretending it is!

In our latest Business of Joy episode, she breaks down what happens when teams go permissionless—and why it leads to:

✅ 75% faster execution


✅ Smarter, more motivated teams


✅ Strategy that actually keeps up with reality

We also dug into Gen Z, leadership blind spots, and how small changes (just 2% better!) lead to big reinvention.

If you're clinging to hierarchy, you’re already behind!

Rita's Website: https://www.ritamcgrath.com/

Her Thought Sparks Podcast: https://www.ritamcgrath.com/podcast/

Velize: https://velize.com/

Rita's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/rgmcgrath

Her Current Bedside Book: https://www.amazon.com/Wiring-Winning-Organization-Slowification-Simplification/dp/1950508420