When Ashley Lamothe first started her job at Chic-Fil-A at age 15, she had no idea the journey would lead to her becoming the company’s youngest owner at age 26 when opening in 2011, according to Black Business.
It turns out that Lamothe ended up liking the job so much that when the time came for her to move off to college, she decided to work at another one of the chain’s locations, just outside of Spelman College’s campus, as a director on the leadership team.
“At the time, I thought it was just a great job to have while pursuing my degree in theatre,” said Lamothe, reports Black Business.
The job would soon become more after her restaurant Operator approached her about her long-term goals, ultimately recommending a career in leadership.
“I’d never considered,” Lamothe said, according to Black Business. “Sometimes you just need someone to help you see your potential.”
After considering the Operator’s advice, she adjusted her plans at school and switched her major to economics to begin her pursuit to someday owning her own Chick-Fil-A restaurant.
In 2011, Black Business reports that dream came true just five years after she graduated from Spelman.
With her first restaurant housed right across the street from the University of California, it was only right that her second restaurant would be located just up the street in downtown Los Angeles
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Today, she says what she’s most passionate about is pouring into her team.
“I want to help them get to where they want to go, whether it’s a career with Chick-Fil-A, or studying law or medicine, or anything,” expressed Lamothe. “I want to help them make that next step, just like so many have done for me.
Black Business reports the young history maker was recently awarded the company’s Symbol of Success, an honor set aside for Chick-Fil-A Operators whose businesses experience high sales growth.
