Real Talk. Real Growth. Real Results in the Mid-Market
Jane Gentry consulted in enterprise for 20 years. And, after being a CEO in a mid-sized company, she realized why they say it is loneliest at the top. Mid-market CEOs learn their craft through trial and error or by reaching outside their organization for help. She launched CEOs Unscripted as a bi-weekly podcast by mid-market CEOs for mid-market CEOs. Our purpose is to provide insight into the unscripted, unfiltered journeys of CEOs and Founders as they talk about their wins, losses, lessons and playbooks for growing and scaling their organizations. There is no better forum than learning from your peers.
All content for CEOs Unscripted is the property of Jane Gentry and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Real Talk. Real Growth. Real Results in the Mid-Market
Jane Gentry consulted in enterprise for 20 years. And, after being a CEO in a mid-sized company, she realized why they say it is loneliest at the top. Mid-market CEOs learn their craft through trial and error or by reaching outside their organization for help. She launched CEOs Unscripted as a bi-weekly podcast by mid-market CEOs for mid-market CEOs. Our purpose is to provide insight into the unscripted, unfiltered journeys of CEOs and Founders as they talk about their wins, losses, lessons and playbooks for growing and scaling their organizations. There is no better forum than learning from your peers.
From Crisis to Comeback: Leadership Lessons from the Fast-Food Industry with Doug Augustine
CEOs Unscripted
50 minutes
8 months ago
From Crisis to Comeback: Leadership Lessons from the Fast-Food Industry with Doug Augustine
#001: From Crisis to Comeback: Leadership Lessons from the Fast-Food Industry with Doug AugustineTurning setbacks into success, the power of vulnerability in leadership, and building a thriving company culture.Imagine stepping into a struggling business at just 26 years old, facing financial turmoil, and being told by corporate leaders that you should walk away. That was the reality for Doug Augustine when he unexpectedly took over his family’s Taco Bell franchise after his father’s sudden passing.Instead of giving up, Doug leaned in—transforming his struggling locations into award-winning stores and scaling the business from seven to 33 restaurants.
In this episode, Doug shares his remarkable journey of resilience, the leadership lessons he learned the hard way, and why vulnerability and asking for help are crucial for any CEO. He also dives into the importance of disciplined execution, people development, and how to create a performance-driven culture without sacrificing your team’s well-being.
Episode Highlights: (7:03) How Doug took over a failing business at 26 and turned it around (8:43) The mindset shift that transformed his leadership style (10:45) Why vulnerability makes you a stronger CEO—not a weaker one (17:41) The key to scaling a business without losing its culture (33:22) What leaders often get wrong about accountability and performance (40:25) Why his book, When Pigs Fly, is more than just a memoir—it’s a leadership playbookDoug’s story proves that success isn’t about avoiding failure—it’s about learning how to navigate it. If you’ve ever felt stuck or unsure about your next move as a leader, this episode will challenge you to rethink how you approach obstacles and opportunities.
CEOs Unscripted
Real Talk. Real Growth. Real Results in the Mid-Market
Jane Gentry consulted in enterprise for 20 years. And, after being a CEO in a mid-sized company, she realized why they say it is loneliest at the top. Mid-market CEOs learn their craft through trial and error or by reaching outside their organization for help. She launched CEOs Unscripted as a bi-weekly podcast by mid-market CEOs for mid-market CEOs. Our purpose is to provide insight into the unscripted, unfiltered journeys of CEOs and Founders as they talk about their wins, losses, lessons and playbooks for growing and scaling their organizations. There is no better forum than learning from your peers.
