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MFHA Roundtables 2025


Purpose, People, and Profit: Using Cultural Intelligence to Drive Organizational Success

The restaurant, foodservice, and hospitality industry is built on the connection between purpose and people. These principles drive organizational profit and success. Today’s industry businesses must navigate workforce dynamics, leadership gaps, and increasing customer expectations to remain relevant. The 2025 MFHA Roundtable series will equip organizations with a roadmap to unlock their full potential and drive indispensability among employees and guests. This year’s Roundtable series will explore how cultural intelligence can build collaborative teams, enhance communication, and develop future-ready industry leaders. Designed for diverse industry stakeholders, each event will equip attendees with actionable insights and practical goals to maximize the human potential within their organization, ultimately promoting business growth and profitability.

Register now for the March Roundtable!

Objectives

  1. Recognize the connection between cultural awareness, employee engagement, and organizational resilience.
  2. Understand how cultural intelligence enhances collaboration, problem-solving, and leadership effectiveness.
  3. Develop strategies to enhance collaboration and drive innovation by embracing different perspectives and experiences.
  4. Develop skills to adapt communication and leadership styles across different cultural and social contexts.
  5. Gain tools to foster a workplace environment where all employees feel valued, respected, and motivated to contribute their best in a way that drives a positive guest experience.

Who Should Attend

  • Industry Executives who oversee key business functions and engage with external stakeholders:
    • Operations
    • Human Resources
    • Sales, Marketing and Communications
    • Customer Relations
    • Sustainability, Social Responsibility, or ESG
  • Restaurant Owners and Franchisees
  • Decision Makers for talent recruitment and employee learning & development
  • Leaders with team management responsibilities (Director and above)

MFHA Partner organizations: Free of charge Non-partners: $599/person

2025 Roundtables Schedule

Register now for the March Roundtable!

March 10-11, 2025: “Winning the War for Industry Talent” Texas Roadhouse Support Center, Louisville, KY Attracting and retaining top talent is one of the biggest challenges in the restaurant and hospitality industry. This session is focused on helping organizations create engaging workplaces that reduce turnover and empower employees. Discover practical solutions tailored for the restaurant and hospitality industry to cultivate a motivated and indispensable workforce.
June 16-17, 2025: “Developing Future-Ready Leaders” Ecolab, St. Paul, MN Leadership is the foundation of success in the fast-paced restaurant and hospitality world. This session equips senior leaders and executives with the cultural intelligence they need to lead diverse teams, navigate cultural dynamics, and foster innovation. Learn how culturally intelligent leaders can drive operational excellence and organizational performance.
August 11-12, 2025: “Harnessing Cultural Intelligence to Elevate Team Performance” Dine Brands, Pasadena, CA With diverse teams at the heart of the restaurant and hospitality industry, cultural intelligence is key to creating collaborative, high-performing workplaces. This session explores how understanding and leveraging cultural differences can enhance team cohesion, reduce conflict, and boost productivity in front-of-house and back-of-house operations.
November 5-6, 2025: “Connecting Customers, Communities, and Culture” The Coca-Cola Company, Atlanta, GA In the restaurant and hospitality industry, impact goes beyond great service—it’s about aligning brand purpose with customer engagement and community outreach. This session explores how cultural intelligence can expand your business’s influence by fostering authentic connections with guests and the communities you serve. Learn strategies to integrate cultural awareness into your brand, build loyalty, and create meaningful, purpose-driven outreach initiatives.

Roundtables Agenda

Schedule will be the similar for all events. DAY 1

5:30 – 7:00 pm
Welcome Reception Hors D’oeuvres will be served
DAY 2
9:00 – 9:30 am
Program Kickoff
9:30 a.m. – 10:30
Expert Exchange: Industry Panel 
10:30 – 12:00 noon
Strategic Dialogues: Roundtable Discussions
12:00 – 1:15 pm
Networking Lunch
1:15 – 1:45
Strategies for Success: Education Session 
1:45 – 4:15
Insights in Action: Roundtable Discussions
4:15 – 4:30
Closing 

Register now for the March Roundtable!