Bloomin’ Brands Leaders Complete McKinsey Black Leadership Academy Programs
Tampa, Fla. (Aug. 25, 2021) – Bloomin’ Brands, Inc. (Nasdaq:BLMN) is helping its Black leaders gain the skills they need to grow into senior leadership roles and prepare senior executives for the C-suite. Nearly 20 leaders, including early- and mid-career leaders as well as company officers, completed McKinsey Academy’s Management Accelerator and Black Executive Leadership Program, both part of their Black Leadership Academy.
“We saw this as an opportunity to enhance the capabilities of our Black leaders and support their career progression,” said Sheilina Henry, Senior Vice President, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Off-Premises Dining for Bloomin’ Brands. “This also aligns with our commitment to increase racial diversity in leadership roles in both our restaurants and our Restaurant Support Center.”
McKinsey’s Management Accelerator program focuses on helping high-performing early and mid-level managers build core management and leadership capabilities and cross-functional business knowledge. Seventeen Bloomin’ Brands team members completed a variety of digital courses, workshops, and small group activities in business strategy, problem solving and business fundamentals – more than 45 hours of advanced curriculum over a six-month period.
“This was an intense program that many of us referred to as a mini-MBA,” said Mohammed Barry, Joint Venture Partner for Outback Steakhouse, who completed the program. “The coursework helped me refine my leadership skills and the collaboration from the group projects allowed me to connect more deeply with other leaders in our company.”
“McKinsey proved to be something I didn’t realize I needed,” said Justin Fields, Director and Corporate Executive Chef for Bonefish Grill. “I had knowledge in the areas covered and I went into those toolboxes on a regular basis, but now I am reaching for the correct, most efficient tools in that box.”
Two senior executives also completed McKinsey’s Black Executive Leadership Program, a three-month program focusing on effective leadership, transformational change, sponsorship, and networking.
“It was uplifting to see people of color doing well in executive and C-suite positions,” said Kelia Bazile, Regional Vice President for Carrabba’s Italian Grill. “There was a sense of partnership from complete strangers who genuinely wanted to help one another along their career journey.”
The program participants will engage in a two-month post graduate exercise to share insights and learnings to help develop future leaders at Bloomin’ Brands.
About Bloomin’ Brands, Inc.
Bloomin' Brands, Inc. is one of the largest casual dining restaurant companies in the world with a portfolio of leading, differentiated restaurant concepts. The Company has four founder-inspired brands: Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill and Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar. The Company owns and operates more than 1,450 restaurants in 47 states, Guam and 20 countries, some of which are franchise locations. For more information, please visit bloominbrands.com.