---
title: "Fast Casual: Female Franchise Leaders Share Lessons Learned On Their Journey to the Top"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/b39ce6dc-708d-4dcd-8c4c-a2ac27fd1ac0
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/fast-casual-female-franchise-leaders-share-lessons-learned-on-their-journey-to-the-top-11096
category: "Fast casual"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Fast casual"
published: 2017-03-15T19:14:05.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T03:01:32.876Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/3c43532a595c604d8c70ff7c2e79ca5d8206.jpg
---

# Fast Casual: Female Franchise Leaders Share Lessons Learned On Their Journey to the Top

**TL;DR:** The number of female-owned restaurants has increased by 40 percent in the last decade, with half of all U.S. restaurants owned or co-owned by women. Female franchise leaders, including Heather Ricks, a McAlister's Deli franchisee, share lessons learned on their journey to the top.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2017-03-15. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/fast-casual-female-franchise-leaders-share-lessons-learned-on-their-journey-to-the-top-11096).*

## Story

Today, the number of female-owned restaurants has increased by 40 percent in the last decade. And half of all U.S. restaurants are either owned or co-owned by women. According to National Restaurant Association President Dawn Sweeney, these are sure signs that the industry is making headway in closing the gender gap.

Fast Casual recently spoke with a handful of leaders within the restaurant segment to learn about their journey to the top, and the lessons they learned along the way.

Heather Ricks has been a McAlister’s Deli franchisee since 2010, and she currently owns two units. Her third is slated to open this summer. Her advice to other women? Find your voice, and don’t be afraid to use it.

“Find your voice and use it to ensure that your brand is open and fair to all, and it’s a brand you are proud to be a part of and lead. Being a strong and positive role model for our team, guests and children is as easy as getting out of bed each morning and going to the restaurant or office. It has to be a part of who you are,” Hicks told Fast Casual.

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- Restaurants (sector)
- restaurant industry (topic)
- franchise leadership (topic)
- McAlister's Deli (company)
- National Restaurant Association (company)
- female ownership (topic)

---
Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/fast-casual-female-franchise-leaders-share-lessons-learned-on-their-journey-to-the-top-11096). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/b39ce6dc-708d-4dcd-8c4c-a2ac27fd1ac0).