Interview with Texas Restaurant Association CEO Dr. Emily Williams Knight about the importance of education and advocacy in the restaurant industry, supporting women in leadership, and connecting with the next generation.
Key Takeaways
- The Importance of Education and Advocacy
- Supporting Women in Leadership
- Connecting with the Next Generation
In her recent appearance on Rooms for Seconds, powered by Craveworthy Brands, Dr. Emily Williams Knight, President and CEO of the Texas Restaurant Association, engaged in a powerful conversation with Gregg Majewski on the current state and future of the restaurant industry.
As a trailblazing figure, Dr. Knight shed light on pressing challenges, the importance of education, and the transformative leadership needed to propel the industry forward.
Advancing Through Advocacy and Education
One of the most urgent issues Dr. Knight addressed was the need for continuous education on topics such as wage legislation and tip credits. She described the pandemic as a wake-up call, reinforcing restaurant operators' need to stay informed and engaged.
"We have to do a tremendous amount of education," Dr. Knight stated, emphasizing the ongoing battle to safeguard tip credits and empower employees to protect their wages. “Education is key and you have to do it every single day, every single month, every single year.”
Highlighting the complex legislative landscape, she celebrates the victories while also calling for sustained vigilance as new political leaders come into power every few years.
Empowering Women to Lead
In a sector where staffing has been a persistent challenge, Dr. Knight stressed the importance of supporting women as they ascend into leadership roles. She lamented the high number of women leaving the industry due to obstacles like costly childcare.
"We’re losing too many women at that middle-tier management level because they’re having to make a choice," she explained, urging restaurant brands to provide better resources and support systems for working mothers. “Do I go back to work and pay $2,000 to put my child in childcare? Or I can't afford that because I'm just in the middle management.”
Dr. Knight called for meaningful change, encouraging companies to create environments where women can thrive at all stages of their careers—not just in top executive roles, but throughout the entire workforce.
Inspiring the Next Generation of Talent
Looking ahead, Dr. Knight believes that the future of the restaurant industry hinges on its ability to engage the next generation. Rather than solely focusing on marketing campaigns or trying to buy interest by allocating funds to marketing,, she advocated for building personal connections between students and industry leaders.
"We’ve got to get to the younger people," Dr. Knight said passionately. She championed the ProStart program, which connects high school students with opportunities in the hospitality industry, as a crucial pipeline for future talent.
“The only way I can imagine is starting with these 250,000 students that are already putting their hand up to learn about our industry (via ProStart). “ she explained. "Connect them to people like you. Connect them to your managers. Connect them to the brands. That’s where they say, ‘Oh, I’m in.”
Dr. Knight’s conversation on Rooms for Seconds was a powerful reminder of the impact that leadership, advocacy, and education can have on the restaurant industry. She called for a renewed commitment to investing in the next generation, supporting women, and continuing to advocate for policies that protect the workforce.
Her rallying cry? The future of the industry depends on its people—and by nurturing talent, advancing women, and educating employees, the restaurant industry can emerge stronger and more resilient than ever.
"The art of service, the art of creating a place for people to come and break bread, no matter their backgrounds. Everything, everything is neutralized when you’re around a table with food.”
Episode Links:
- Texas Restaurant Association Online: https://www.txrestaurant.org/
- Texas Restaurant Association Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/txrestaurants/
- Texas Restaurant Association YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TXRestaurants
- Dr. Emily Williams Knight LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-williams-knight-ed-d-111366/
About Dr. Emily Williams Knight
Dr. Emily Williams Knight is the CEO of the Texas Restaurant Association, where she leads an industry of over 50,000 restaurants employing 1.3 million Texans. Since taking the role in 2019, she has been a key figure in navigating the restaurant industry through the COVID-19 pandemic, securing vital state and federal support. With over 20 years of leadership experience, including senior roles at Study Group, Kendall College, and Laureate, Dr. Knight is a recognized advocate for education, workforce development, and the restaurant and hospitality sectors. Her career spans global initiatives in culinary education and partnerships with government and industry to address workforce challenges.
About Gregg Majewski
Gregg Majewski has a vast amount of experience as a corporate executive in the restaurant industry. As the former CEO of Jimmy John’s, he played a major role in expanding the franchise from 33 to 300+ stores in just 5 years by surrounding the company’s marketing strategy around the innovative approach of delivering sandwiches and being “freaky fast”. Majewski has worked to develop restaurant concepts over the last two plus decades, before starting Craveworthy Brands in 2023, which currently includes a growing portfolio of restaurant brands.
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