WOMEN AT
24
THE TOP
Jane Grote Abell
Chairwoman, Donatos Pizza
ibly principled, and passionately devoted
to their callings.
How has your life experience made
you the leader you are today? I
grew up behind my father’s first restaurant. Our front yard was the back of the
restaurant and customers spent almost
every night in our living room. Our customers became our family. I learned the
importance of hospitality at a very early
age. I grew up in this business, working
in the restaurants, bakery, and in the office. I was raised on the Golden Rule of
treating everyone the way you would like
to be treated. I try to live this important
value throughout my life, especially in my
leadership position at Donatos.
Advice for young female CEO aspirants: At Donatos, we have striven to
build a culture that not only celebrates
successful women, but also creates an
optimal environment for their success.
Forty-three percent of Donatos managers at the home office and in the stores
are female, and my hope is that these
women feel as though they work in a
business that is supportive and caring.
My advice for them is simply this: Stay
true to who you are. Your values and
principles are always the engines that
drive your performance.
Role models? I have been blessed to
grow up in an entrepreneurial family.
Starting when I was young, my father
always demonstrated to me the power
of positive thinking. He lived his values
out loud and grew a business based on
the Golden Rule. My mother started
her own business and continues to seek
knowledge and truth. She taught me the
value of courage, curiosity, and compassion in business. My brother started his
own business and taught me the value
of vision and forward thinking. I am
fortunate to be surrounded by people
in my life who challenge the norm and
always seek continuous improvement
in their lives.
Management gurus or books that
have deeply affected you: Principle-
Leadership style: For more than a
SYSTEM REVENUE: $141 million
NO. OF UNITS: 154
PUBLIC OR PRIVATE: Private
GROWTH PLANS: Modest store growth for
contiguous markets in Midwest and Southeast
FOUNDED: 1963
BEGAN FRANCHISING: 1991
YEARS WITH COMPANY: My whole life!
YEARS IN FRANCHISING: 23
INTERNATIONAL LOCATIONS: 0
Centered Leadership and The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen
Covey, A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle,
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill,
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel
Ruiz, Seven Acts of Courage by Robert
(Dusty) Staub, and Change Your Questions, Change Your Life by Marilee Adams.