--- title: "How Doinita Leahu is Transforming Vicious Biscuit’s Culture" url: https://burnaze.com/article/d0a604e5-e71d-4a40-9ab8-105a4238c47a source: "QSR Magazine" original_url: https://www.qsrmagazine.com/growth/fast-casual/how-doinita-leahu-is-transforming-vicious-biscuits-culture/ author: "Ben Coley" category: "Bakery & breakfast" industry: "Restaurants" segment: "Bakery & breakfast" published: 2026-04-30T01:41:52.000Z modified: 2026-10-31T13:17:45.767Z image: https://www.qsrmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/doinitaviciousbiscuit.jpg --- # How Doinita Leahu is Transforming Vicious Biscuit’s Culture **TL;DR:** Doinita Leahu, director of training and development at Vicious Biscuit, is transforming the brand's culture and corporate education initiatives with her background in banking and international hospitality. Leahu's leadership style emphasizes empathy, investing in oneself and others, and building a strong team that can succeed without her presence. *By Ben Coley, originally published in QSR Magazine on 2026-04-30. [Read the original](https://www.qsrmagazine.com/growth/fast-casual/how-doinita-leahu-is-transforming-vicious-biscuits-culture/).* ## Key facts - Doinita Leahu leads training at Vicious Biscuit - She emphasizes empathy and practical training - Leahu values mentorship and clear development pathways ## Story Working in a large banking organization in Romania taught Doinita Leahu that leadership wasn’t just about position, but rather contribution. Although she was just starting her career, she felt her natural inclination to training and development take root—whether it was explaining the art of financing or how invoices were mapped in a system, she discovered she loved helping others. When she emigrated to the U.S., she needed to learn English quickly. So she started working in restaurants, interacting with customers and connecting with others while building a new life for herself and her family. The restaurant became her classroom. While that was her initial reason for pivoting into the industry, the people she met and the sense of purpose she garnered made her stay and continue climbing from store manager of a local restaurant to director of operations at Chick-fil-A, leveraging her background in finance with her newfound passion for people leadership. “Because of my background, I approach leadership with a lot of empathy. I know what it feels like to start anew, in a place with a new culture and language and build confidence step by step,” Leahu says. “I know how it feels at the beginning of your career. I know how to walk beside people step by step in their journey, because I lived it when I was in their shoes.” ## Leadership style She moved quickly from operations leadership to shaping training and development across a rising brand’s whole system. Leahu assumed the role of director of training for the rapidly growing Charleston-based brunch brand, Vicious Biscuit, in 2021. Throughout this transition, one principle guided her growth: invest in yourself just as much as you invest in others. As she climbed the ranks, one formative experience shaped her approach to leadership. When the brand opened its first restaurant in Neptune Beach, Florida, Leahu had to build a strong team for the first time on her own while protecting the brand’s reputation. “I was far away from headquarters, so I really had to rely on my judgement and instincts,” Leahu recalls. “I learned quickly that leadership can’t rely on control. You have to be able to build a team that can succeed without you in the room. That restaurant has been open since 2023, and we have the same people working there now that I hired on day one … one of our original team members is now a general manager.” She often pulls from her own boots-on-the-ground experience to design training programs. She understands the daily pressure of running a restaurant—staying consistent while managing labor costs and leading a team of different personalities, all while solving problems in real time and handling unexpected challenges. In her view, the restaurant’s four walls are a stage, and the manager is the lead actor. “When I design training programs, I make them practical and realistic, not theoretical, not something that looks good only on paper. Training should prepare leaders for the real moments they face on the floor, making quick decisions and supporting their team under pressure,” Leahu says. “Leadership is not about having all the answers … it’s about showing up every day with consistency and accountability, even when the ticket time is high, or you have unhappy guests.” ## Team development In many ways, Leahu considers herself fortunate to be surrounded by so many strong, intelligent women who are leading teams, solving problems, and driving results with professionalism and calm, confident energy. This visibility is everything when building a strong pipeline of future leaders. “As a director of training, you have to make sure that everyone can see what growth looks like, and that they can believe it’s possible for them. It has to be visible, with clear steps to development and pathways from one role to another,” Leahu says. “But we also focus on building confidence. I truly believe that talent exists everywhere, but many individuals need someone to recognize their potential and empower them to find their voice.” Mentorship has played a huge role in her journey—Leahu has had many leaders within both Chick-fil-A and Vicious Biscuit who have recognized her early potential and encouraged her to grow. These lessons inform how she leads Vicious Biscuit today. She believes sometimes the most powerful thing someone can say to others is, “I believe you can do it.” “I was foreign and didn’t speak English. It was hard for me to comprehend everything that came at me. But so many times, I had people sit down and tell me I had more in the tank,” Leahu says. “They taught me how to successfully run a business while developing others. I try to bring that same mindset to my team today, continuously learning and leading with humility and intention.” ## Growth strategy As Vicious Biscuit barrels through 2026 with a wave of new-market openings and aggressive growth goals, building a team with culture as the competitive advantage remains paramount. The brand continues to invest in its executive foundation with a heavy focus on leadership development, training infrastructure, and the systems needed to support long-term growth. Leahu stands at the center of these priorities, working alongside leaders like Katie DePoppe, who was named director of people & culture in October 2025. “Retention doesn’t come from one specific strategy. It comes from an environment that leaders create every day, working alongside their teams, listening to them, and giving them the tools they need to succeed before holding them accountable for results,” Leahu says. “Before expecting great performers, leaders need to ensure their team has clarity and structure. This builds trust, and when trust exists, people feel valuable and want to stay.” The same goes for franchise partners, who benefit from clarity, collaboration, and trust in the same way that employees do. Leahu spends a lot of time out in the field, building relationships with franchisees and understanding the gaps in their training programs. “Our franchise relationships are so critical. When our partners feel respected and like their voices are heard, they are much more open to new ideas and implementing best practices,” Leahu says. “Our franchisee training platform was built from feedback gathered from our first franchised stores, and seeing that come to life made them feel empowered and connected to the culture of Vicious Biscuit.” Starting in male-dominated businesses in Romania and now being in the U.S. for over a decade, Leahu is inspired by the number of young women coming up through the ranks and asking for more, leading with integrity and curiosity. Asking about the mission behind the vision. And she urges current leaders to answer those questions and navigate them in the right direction. “Lead from the heart. The next generation needs someone empathetic, someone who won’t hold their hand but will give them constructive feedback throughout their journey. They are hungry for more, I see it every day in our organization,” Leahu says. “We need more servant leaders who can show the next generation how to care for their neighbors, for themselves, for the guests, and for their colleagues.” ## Entities - Restaurants (sector) - QSR Magazine (publication) - Ben Coley (person) - Chick-fil-A (company) - leadership development (topic) - team building (topic) - training programs (topic) - franchise relationships (topic) - Vicious Biscuit (company) - culture transformation (topic) --- Originally reported by Ben Coley, QSR Magazine (https://www.qsrmagazine.com/growth/fast-casual/how-doinita-leahu-is-transforming-vicious-biscuits-culture/). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/d0a604e5-e71d-4a40-9ab8-105a4238c47a).