Kathleen Wood Partners

09/12/2025

Why Tacomasa's Founder built a debt-free company
Ivan Flores’ story with Tacomasa is more than tacos—it’s a masterclass in building a debt-free, faith-driven, people-first company. From growing deliberately without lenders to leading with values and vision, his journey shows founders how to scale smart, stay grounded, and create businesses that last.

Tacomasa isn’t another taqueria; it’s a redefinition of what a taqueria can be. Founders will be inspired to think bigger about their own industries and to ask, “Am I just running a business—or am I reshaping the space I’m in?”

Read the full blog here - https://www.fastcasual.com/articles/how-tacomasas-founder-built-a-debt-free-company/

09/10/2025

Two Founders. Two Brands. One Empire.

Pinky Cole Hayes and Derrick Hayes have cracked the code on resilience, reinvention, and scaling with purpose.

Hear their story, lessons learnded—and their systems—live at the Founderology Growth Summit 2026.

Founders, request your invitation today: https://founderologysummit.com/

Read our newsletter- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/power-couple-pinky-cole-derrick-hayes-ignite-growth-summit-wood-yqnqc

09/08/2025

Happy Monday!

09/04/2025

3 Insightful leardership Lessons That Changed the Game for These Founders
After talking with inspiring restaurant Founders, some leadership truths came through loud and clear.

Here are 3 lessons they didn’t just say — they lived.

1. Let go to grow
One Founder admitted holding onto control slowed their company down. The turning point? Hiring leaders better than them and trusting the team to run the play.

2. Culture is your greatest product
A few Founders built performance-driven teams without ever saying “performance.” They nurtured trust, gave second chances, and led with care — and it changed everything.

3. Your story is your strategy
Every Founder who broke through shared their roots. One started in a garage, another rose from bankruptcy, and one turned a cousin chat into a franchise. Their story became their brand.

These aren’t fluff lessons. These are playbook shifts.

Which one are you living out right now?

Subscribe to our podcast:
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38V-oP1014k&list=PLiEjLDxAuXuSU3yInnjjxE3T5xCuECwEM
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2JVSrCqQbrpieCKYnj55v9
Forum: https://www.fastcasual.com/series/founderology-forum/

09/03/2025

The restaurant industry is no longer competing on price or product alone.

We are competing on experience.

My definition of hospitality is simple: Hospitality is taking a transaction and transforming it into an experience.

That transformation is happening through the blending of physical and digital touchpoints—the phygital experience.

In my latest blog, I share why phygital is the next competitive advantage for founders, how it is reshaping guest expectations, and the steps you can take today to stand out.

Read the blog here- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/from-transaction-transformation-phygital-advantage-founders-wood-nlq4c

09/02/2025

Derrick Hayes is Breaking Boundaries—And Building a Movement

He started in a gas station.

Now he’s turning Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks into a purpose-driven powerhouse with national momentum.
In this episode of Founderology – Built to Breakthrough, Derrick Hayes shares the real story: the loss that
lit the fire, the promise that drives every decision, and the leadership mindset fueling unstoppable
growth.

Inside this conversation:
– How to condition yourself for the long game and run your own race
– Why knowing your numbers, your culture, and your vision transforms leadership
– How purpose creates unshakable momentum
– The power behind building your own table—and then opening the doors for others
– Derrick’s 20% financial focus factor that rewrites the playbook

This isn’t just inspiration. This is ignition to pivot with purpose.

Ready to lead with purpose and build something unstoppable? Listen now → https://youtu.be/LCoFqGZTxZQ

Story: https://www.fastcasual.com/podcasts/breaking-boundaries-derrick-hayes-on-purpose-power-building-big-daves-cheesesteaks/

08/27/2025

Every Founder I’ve met has a story filled with grit, bold moves, and late nights—the kind of stories that remind us why we chose this path in the first place.

That’s why I’m so excited to share our latest Built to Breakthrough newsletter. It’s not just a recap—it’s a collection of breakthrough truths from visionary Founders who are proving every day that the impossible is absolutely possible.

If you’ve ever wondered “Am I crazy for chasing this?”—this is your reminder: you’re not crazy, you’re building your breakthrough.

👉 Read the full newsletter and let these lessons fuel your journey forward.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/built-breakthrough-life-leadership-lessons-from-founders-wood-kbcgc

08/22/2025

How do you lead when everything is on the line?

Pinky Cole Hayes, Founder of Slutty Vegan, turned a $20M setback into a $100M comeback — in just 43 days. That’s not luck. That’s Founder power.

In one of the episodes of Founderology – Built to Breakthrough, Pinky shares her “PhD lessons” on making impossible decisions, restructuring with courage, and transforming failure into a foundation for growth.

If you’ve ever carried the weight of payroll, battled sleepless nights over strategy, or stared down the fear of losing everything you built — this conversation is for you.

In this episode of "Founderology – Built to Breakthrough," Pinky Cole Hayes shares her “PhD. lessons” and mindset that fueled her comeback.

08/20/2025

The Courage to Be a Founder

Founding a business isn’t a job—it’s a calling that demands vision, passion, and above all, courage.
- Courage to bet on yourself when no one else will.-
- Courage to pivot when the path forward isn’t clear.
- Courage to rebuild, restart, and rise again—stronger than ever.

In this blog, I share stories of Founders who embody that courage:
✨ Pinky Cole, who lost her business overnight and bought it back 43 days later.
✨ Sabin Lomac, who risked it all for one pitch—and built a national brand.
✨ Joe Fontana, who opened Fry the Coop with everything on the line.
✨ Héctor Barraza, who rebuilt his restaurant and community after historic floods.
✨ And yes, my own pivot from corporate safety to launching Kathleen Wood Partners 20 years ago.

Every Founder reaches a moment when the dream collides with reality. What happens next? That’s where courage lives.

You don’t have to do this alone. That’s why we at KWP are creating and growing unity through community:
Founderology: Built to Breakthrough – Podcast with real stories and real breakthroughs
Founderology – The playbook for growth from vision to impact
Founderology Growth Summit – February 2026, Austin, TX
Founders Forum – Where connection becomes action
Founders’ Collaborative – Coming soon: the ultimate virtual gathering space

Read the full blog here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/courage-founder-kathleen-wood-psaac

08/19/2025

From Maine to Milan: The Global Journey of Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls

What does it take to build a breakthrough brand that spans continents—without losing its soul?

In this new Founderology: Built to Breakthrough podcast episode, I talk with Dan Beck, Founder
and CEO of Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls, about how he grew a one-location concept into a
40+ unit brand now expanding across Europe. No hype. No shortcuts. Just vision, values, and
relentless operational discipline.

This episode we discuss:
- Growing without debt
- Franchising with integrity
- Expanding internationally while staying rooted in quality
- Choosing smart money over fast money

Dan’s journey is a great illustration that Founders can scale and stay grounded at the same time.

Listen to the full episode here: https://youtu.be/Ismb1yZQ8sU
Read the full blog here: https://www.fastcasual.com/podcasts/from-maine-to-milan-the-global-journey-of-masons-famous-lobster-rolls/

This is one of the most interesting conversations I’ve had with a Founder who is walking the
walk and rolling it across the globe—one famous lobster roll at a time.