It’s no simple feat for women to reach the top of the corporate summit. But the ascent’s smoother when they work in a culture that promotes career advancement, work-life balance and support for other females each step of the way.
In the foodservice industry in America, women are lacking in leadership roles. According to a study by McKinsey & Company, women represented only 24% of vice presidents, 22% of senior vice presidents and 18% of C-Suite executives. Not only do women face the challenge of climbing the ranks in their company, but they often have to determine how to balance responsibilities at home, too.
But at Twin Peaks, many talented females have worked their way up to the executive level and are one of the driving forces moving the brand forward. In addition to its all-female wait staff, women play key parts in roles throughout the brand’s operations, like management, training, marketing and finance.
Here are three female leaders making a difference at Twin Peaks
LEXI BURNS – Vice President of Human Resources and Learning & Development
After joining the Twin Peaks team as director of training, Burns has been a leader of the company for over 10 years. Having been with the brand since its early stages, Burns had the opportunity to develop the systems and tools needed to be successful while starting out. Now, as vice president of human resources and learning & development, she’s responsible for HR-related processes and polices, talent acquisition, operating polices, the development of training curriculum for all roles to include new store openings and spearheading the importance of female leadership within Twin Peaks.
A mother of three children, Burns believes balance is the key to being a full-time working mom. With a leadership team that’s adamant that every employee take care of their families first, Twin Peaks’ company culture promotes work-life balance.
DESTINEE ROLLINS – Vice President of Marketing
One of Twin Peaks’ longest standing employees, Rollins began working for the brand as a Twin Peaks Girl 13 years ago. After three years working in the restaurant, Rollins joined the company’s marketing department as a marketing coordinator and has since worked her way up to vice president of marketing. In this role, she leads an all-female team, some of whom worked as original Twin Peaks Girls from the brand’s first location in Lewisville, Texas. Rollins is responsible for developing and implementing a cohesive marketing plan to increase brand awareness, conducting market analysis, and executing national and local promotions and events. Overall, she’s charged with ensuring every consumer experience with the brand is consistently top notch.
With two children, Rollins is proud to work at a company that encourages its employees to spend time with their families and be present at their kids’ practices, games and competitions. For Rollins, creating structure has resulted in the most impactful time spent with her family and colleagues, from time watching her daughter on the bars in gymnastics and under the Friday night lights supporting her son in the marching band, to one-on-one meetings with her team members. Rollins’ motto: Get it on the calendar!
HOPE BARNES – Vice President of Finance
Barnes joined the Twin Peaks team five years ago as senior director of finance before being promoted to vice president of finance. She’s responsible for overall financial planning, budgeting, forecasting and analysis for the company. Her team provides business reviews and daily and weekly sales and traffic results to franchisees and shares their analytical tools with them so they can keep a close eye on their location’s performance. Barnes and her team set standards for financial operations for each department that guides Twin Peaks’ successes.
Barnes has one child who’s now an adult, but when he was young, she made a point to be at every activity he was participating in. Holidays are also very important to her family, and they travel annually to spend more time together. She’s fortunate that Twin Peaks stresses the importance of work-life balance. With encouragement from her company and the flexibility of technology in the workplace, she’s been able to give her all to both.
Throughout their careers, Burns, Rollins and Barnes have learned that to gain a leadership position, women must believe in themselves, be confident in their opinions and learn from others around them. The strongest teams are diverse ones, and women bring a unique, different perspective to the table. They’ve also learned that support from each of their teams, and Twin Peaks’ company as a whole, has made being a successful working mother possible.
Led by CEO Joe Hummel, Twin Peaks is “One Team.” Hummel has made it his mission to instill energy and compassion to be a team player within all employees, and it continues to show as he leads, shapes and takes charge of the brand with the many women in leadership positions at his side. Women have reached the peak at the ultimate sports lodge, and they’ll continue to be power players behind the brand’s success long into the future!