09/01/2025
Julia Stewart’s Career Full-Court Press: Snubbed for CEO, Then Bought Applebee’s
Julia Stewart’s journey isn't just inspiring—it’s cinematic. Once president of Applebee’s, she rescued the brand from the brink and doubled its stock value. But when she pitched for the CEO role? Her boss told her “No, not ever.”
Rather than fold, she pivoted to IHOP, transformed that brand, and then led the bold $2.3 billion acquisition of Applebee’s—becoming the CEO of the merged Dine Brands Global. In one dramatic move, she fired the very person who denied her the top job earlier.
Talk about taking lemons—and building an empire.