She Was Denied the CEO Seat — So She Bought the Entire Company and Seized Control Against All Odds!
Ever wonder what it really takes to turn a “no” into a multi-billion-dollar “heck yes”? Julia Stewart, a dynamo with decades strapped to the helm of restaurant giants, just flipped the script on leadership moves that most only dream about. At 70, she’s not just keeping the fires burning—she’s setting the whole damn grill ablaze. After crushing it at Taco Bell and skyrocketing Applebee’s sales as president—only to be denied the CEO spot she’d earned—she didn’t throw in the towel. Nope. She pivoted smartly to IHOP, took the reins, and later pulled off one of the slickest business comebacks when IHOP acquired Applebee’s. If you think getting “ghosted” on a promotion means game over, think again. Julia’s story is a masterclass in grit, hustle, and owning your power move with style and courage. Ready to dive into how she did it?
Serial entrepreneur and longtime restaurant group chief executive Julia Stewart, 70, is going viral this week for making one of “the best moves in leadership” when it comes to business deal comebacks.
After seven years as a senior leader at Taco Bell, Julia Stewart joined Applebee’s as president in 1998. She left after three years when she was denied a promotion to CEO, she says, despite being promised and earning the role — during her tenure, company and franchise sales skyrocketed, and so did the stock price, per Fortune. Soon after the snub, she joined IHOP as chair and CEO in 2001, per LinkedIn.
After about six years in the role, in November 2007, IHOP acquired Applebee’s for $2.1 billion, and Stewart had a phone call to make.
“I called the chair and CEO of Applebee’s, and I said, ‘Just wanted to say hi.’ And he said, ‘I was expecting this call,'” Stewart recently told The Matthews Mentality Podcast. “And I said, ‘As you know, this morning, we announced that we have purchased, for $2.3 billion, the company, and we don’t need two of us, so I’m gonna have to let you go.”
@kylematthewsceo Replying to @Lindsay The best do ever do it… Julia Stewart. Episode 59 of The Matthews Mentality Podcast #f#fypp#podcastclipsp#plottwistp#powermove ♬ original sound – Kyle Matthews | Sales Tips
Stewart would continue to serve as the chair and CEO of the parent company, Dine Brands Global, for another decade.
And at 70, Stewart is still working. She’s currently a board member at Bojangles, among other places, and the founder of a wellness app.
Related: Airbnb’s CEO Says He Personally Manages 40 to 50 Employees as Direct Reports: ‘A Lot of Work’
Serial entrepreneur and longtime restaurant group chief executive Julia Stewart, 70, is going viral this week for making one of “the best moves in leadership” when it comes to business deal comebacks.
After seven years as a senior leader at Taco Bell, Julia Stewart joined Applebee’s as president in 1998. She left after three years when she was denied a promotion to CEO, she says, despite being promised and earning the role — during her tenure, company and franchise sales skyrocketed, and so did the stock price, per Fortune. Soon after the snub, she joined IHOP as chair and CEO in 2001, per LinkedIn.
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