Being a great chef doesn’t automatically make someone a great manager.
That’s one reason American Express and Resy are launching a new national leadership academy designed to help restaurant owners and managers build stronger teams, improve profitability, and navigate an increasingly complicated industry.
Announced Monday, the new Restaurant Academy is being created in partnership with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation and will bring together 30 restaurant leaders from across the country for a four-month leadership development program beginning this fall.
The launch comes at a time when restaurant operators face pressure from nearly every direction.
Food costs remain elevated, labor remains difficult to find in many markets, and consumers are becoming more selective about where they spend their dining dollars.
For many independent restaurants, success depends as much on managing people and finances as it does on serving great food.
Follow the leader
While culinary schools teach aspiring chefs how to cook, there are far fewer opportunities for restaurant owners and managers to learn the business skills needed to run a successful operation.
Amex’s Restaurant Academy aims to fill that gap.
The program will focus on some of the challenges restaurant operators deal with every day, including hiring and retaining employees, improving the guest experience, and strengthening financial performance.
Participants will receive training on everything from onboarding and employee development to cash flow management, labor costs, vendor relationships, and profit-and-loss statements.
Future-focused topics such as artificial intelligence (AI) and its role in restaurant operations will also be part of the curriculum.
“The Restaurant Academy extends American Express’ long-standing investment in developing leaders—building on the impact of our Leadership Academy and bringing that model to one of the most dynamic and essential sectors of the economy,” Jennifer Skyler, chief corporate affairs officer at American Express, said in a statement.
Why restaurants matter to Amex
For American Express, the academy is another way to deepen its relationship with restaurants, a key part of its broader dining ecosystem that includes Resy, premium card benefits, dining experiences, and merchant partnerships.
The company has increasingly positioned itself as more than a payments provider, investing in programs and services designed to support the businesses that make up its network.
Restaurants represent a particularly important category, serving as both merchants and destinations that help drive value for card members.
“At Resy, we have a front-row seat to how great restaurants evolve—and it always starts with strong teams,” said Pablo Rivero, CEO of Resy and senior vice president of American Express Global Dining. “Restaurant Academy is an opportunity to support the operators behind those experiences, helping them build resilient teams and continue delivering standout dining for their guests.”
Big names on board for recruitment efforts
To help attract applicants, the inaugural program will feature several high-profile names from the hospitality industry.
Participants will have opportunities to learn from James Beard Award-winning chefs Mashama Bailey, Gregory Gourdet, and Nok Suntaranon, along with acclaimed sommelier and restaurateur Victoria James.
Bailey, chef and co-owner of The Grey in Savannah; Gourdet, the chef behind Portland’s Kann; and Suntaranon, owner of Philadelphia’s Kalaya, have each built nationally recognized restaurants while navigating many of the same challenges facing operators today.
The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation sees the program as part of a larger effort to strengthen career pathways across an industry that remains one of the country’s largest private-sector employers.
“Restaurants are one of the most powerful leadership incubators in America,” said Michelle Korsmo, the nonprofit’s CEO. “This program creates new opportunities to strengthen leadership at every level, equipping today’s managers and owners and powering the next generation of restaurant leaders.”
The Restaurant Academy will run from September through December and will include virtual sessions, peer networking opportunities, and an in-person gathering with industry leaders.
Applications are now open for the inaugural class. For an industry known for long hours, tight margins, and constant turnover, organizers are betting that better leadership may be one of the most valuable ingredients for long-term success.