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Kelli Valade

Chief Executive Officer & Director, Dennys

Search every verified Kelli Valade interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Kelli Valade, president and CEO of the Women's Foodservice Forum, appeared on two podcast episodes in early 2026. In the episodes, she discussed her career trajectory, which began with a job at Big Boy at age 16, and her subsequent leadership roles at brands including Chili's and Denny's. Valade stated that the restaurant industry can teach accountability skills to young people and that it offers a path for advancement. She also recounted an instance where she acknowledged being wrong about a decision, telling the CFO, "Where's my $10 million?" after realizing her approach was "textbook by the book correct" but "in reality, I was wrong." Valade also spoke about the importance of investing in people early in their careers and helping them see what is possible. She noted that many hospitality CEOs share similar origin stories of starting in entry-level restaurant jobs. Valade described her interest in human resources as stemming from a fascination with how people shape culture and align toward common goals, rather than from a primary focus on liking people.

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