182. Visionary Celebrity Chef, Restaurant Group Owner, and Reality TV Star, Gocha Hawkins

05/14/24 • 32 min

Gocha Hawkins, visionary celebrity chef, innovative entrepreneur, and owner of Gocha’s Restaurant Group, providing upscale, tantalizing Southern cuisine that promises an unparalleled dining experience.

Having conquered the beauty industry and collaborated with A-list celebrities, including her role on WE tv’s “L.A. Hair,” Gocha added restaurateur to her resume, drawing inspiration from her grandmother's kitchen. Gocha’s Restaurant Group aims to redefine comfort cuisine, blending the warmth of Southern flavors with progressive cooking. Gocha’s Breakfast Bar recently earned The Golden Spatula Award from Atlanta News First, emphasizing their commitment to top-notch quality. This rare award is reserved for restaurants achieving a perfect score of 100 on their health inspection.

Instagram: @GochaHawkins

Instagram: @gochasbreakfastbar

Gocha talks:

Building an Empire: Gocha has built her restaurant chain from the ground up, with three thriving locations. She can share valuable insights from her book, "Gocha’s Blueprint to Business 101," delving into key themes essential for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Culinary Expertise: Gocha has a hands-on take with her restaurants, actively involved in day-to-day operations, and personally curates recipes in the kitchen. Gocha can discuss how her culinary journey as a celebrity chef began in her grandmother’s kitchen.
From Curls to Cuisine: Gocha's transition from a celebrity stylist to a successful restaurateur is a fascinating journey. After nearly 30 years in the beauty industry, fueled by unwavering determination, she created Gocha’s Restaurant Group from the ground up.
Reality TV Show: Gocha is a cast member of WE tv’s "Bold and Bougie," celebrating life, friendship, and the power of self-discovery. The show showcases Gocha’s vibrant personality and entrepreneurial spirit. www.emilyjaenson.com instagram.com/emilyjaenson instagram.com/leadershipisfemale

Instagram: @GochaHawkins

Instagram: @gochasbreakfastbar

Gocha talks:

Building an Empire: Gocha has built her restaurant chain from the ground up, with three thriving locations. She can share valuable insights from her book, "Gocha’s Blueprint to Business 101," delving into key themes essential for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Culinary Expertise: Gocha has a hands-on take with her restaurants, actively involved in day-to-day operations, and personally curates recipes in the kitchen. Gocha can discuss how her culinary journey as a celebrity chef began in her grandmother’s kitchen.
From Curls to Cuisine: Gocha's transition from a celebrity stylist to a successful restaurateur is a fascinating journey. After nearly 30 years in the beauty industry, fueled by unwavering determination, she created Gocha’s Restaurant Group from the ground up.
Reality TV Show: Gocha is a cast member of WE tv’s "Bold and Bougie," celebrating life, friendship, and the power of self-discovery. The show showcases Gocha’s vibrant personality and entrepreneurial spirit. www.emilyjaenson.com instagram.com/emilyjaenson instagram.com/leadershipisfemale

Previous Episode

undefined - 181. Slaying Dragons with Susan Combs, youngest National President of Women in Insurance & Financial Services and Founder of Pancakes For Roger Inc.

181. Slaying Dragons with Susan Combs, youngest National President of Women in Insurance & Financial Services and Founder of Pancakes For Roger Inc.

Susan is the youngest National President of Women in Insurance & Financial Services in the over 80 year history of the organization, a “4 Under 40” by Advisor Today, and one of the “Women of Influence” by New York Business Journal.

She’s also the founder of Pancakes For Roger Inc.,a not-for-profit corporation that unites veterans with opportunities to help address the unique challenges they face during and after their service...and she does that by asking folks to enjoy a simple pleasure in life...eating pancakes.

Here’s the backstory: Susan was extraordinarily close with her father, Major General Roger Combs, a Vietnam War veteran who was diagnosed with throat cancer due to Agent Orange exposure, and had to be put on a feeding tube.

One fateful morning, Roger expressed a simple wish: he wanted to have pancakes for breakfast, but couldn’t, due to his physical condition and limitations.

After having a pancake breakfast with her family in her father’s memory, Susan decided that she would create a movement to honor and give back to the brave men and women that serve their country.

It started with a grassroots effort. Then it became a best-selling book. Now it’s a global endeavor that’s making a big difference.

For every pancake picture posted or tagged on social media with the hashtag #PancakesForRoger, Susan’s non-profit makes a donation in Major General Combs’ name to the Veterans Clinic at the University of Missouri in his hometown.

Learn about:

Women 101: Breaking the Code on Gender Balance
Business 101: Award Winning Strategies Working now for Business Owners
One Mentor is no Longer Enough: Create Your Personal Board of Directors
How Mutual Mentorship can Change your Career
Tipping Points: How Life’s Decisions Affect Your Path

Next Episode

183. How to Achieve Customer Satisfaction & Record Setting Results with Meagan Murray, Sodexo Live! General Manager - T-Mobile Park

Meagan Murray is Sodexo Live!'s District Manager who oversees hospitality operations at T-Mobile Park.

We talk:

Food offerings at T-Mobile Park,

What goes into these massive feeding operations,

Meagan's career journey.

An Award Winning Facility

How to Customer Service

Meagan can speak to all the fan experience and food operations that go into feeding Seattle Mariner fans and guests at T-Mobile Park (which just hosted the 2023 MLB All Star Game)!

www.emilyjaenson.com

instagram.com/emilyjaenson

instagram.com/leadershipisfemale