The Rebekah Panepinto Project

Disney Magic to Red Lobster Red Carpet: Crafting Hospitality that Lasts with Shawn Harrs

Episode Notes

In this conversation, Rebekah Panepinto interviews Shawn Harrs, who shares his journey from Disney to Red Lobster, emphasizing the importance of customer experience, teamwork, and creating memorable brand interactions. Shawn discusses the significance of the 'red carpet experience' at Red Lobster, employee engagement strategies, and the five C's of a high-performing IT team. He also draws parallels between leadership lessons learned from scuba diving and business management, highlighting the need for planning and adaptability.

Takeaways

• Customer experience is about creating memories, not just dining.
• The red carpet experience starts from the moment guests arrive.
• Creating a great workplace attracts top talent.
• Plan the dive, dive the plan is key in leadership.
• Curiosity helps challenge the status quo.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to the Guest: Shawn Harrs
• 01:20 Shawn's Career Journey and Achievements
• 02:19 Lessons from Disney: Creating Exceptional Experiences
• 11:37 Red Lobster's Red Carpet Experience
• 16:01 Personal Passions and Professional Alignment
• 23:06 Leadership Lessons from Scuba Diving
• 30:21 Conclusion and Future Outlook