Commentary

Cottage Inn exec: 'Female leaders ask the right questions'

Deborah Masse has led Cottage Inn to double-digit sales growth by rolling out a new branding initiative and through the introduction of digital and social marketing.

March 23, 2017 by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Editor's note: In honor of International Women's Day and Women's History Month, FastCasual interviewed several female leaders in the restaurant industry to learn about their success and how they feel about leading in a male-dominated industry. To read the entire series, click here.

Although Deborah Masse, SVP of Cottage Inn, is proud to be a female leader, she doesn't think about it often.

"I truly do not even see myself as a woman, but just another person," said the exec who joined Cottage Inn five years ago. "I am no less and no more important than anyone else out there trying to make their way in this world."

Masse, who oversees the business operations of the corporate office, including human resources, has led Cottage Inn to double-digit sales growth by rolling out a new branding initiative and through the introduction of digital and social marketing.

Got her start in the biz
Masse began in a resort environment in 2007 and transferred to the pizza industry in 2012.

On why women make great leaders
"Most women that I have met since I have been in the industry are organized, efficient and great listeners. We find different characteristics with the men in the industry. Action is great, but in order to take the right action, you need to ask the right questions and make decisions based on the information.

"I find in the industry that making quick decisions is imperative but in some cases no decisions are needed. In the restaurant industry there is a certain level of drama that exists. You have to be able to identify a real problem from a sensationalized issue. Maybe being a mother does give you some intuitiveness to identify real problems from perceived problems. There are times when inaction is the best action."

Advice to women looking to lead
"Do not be afraid to go in and tear it apart and build it back up. Learn everything: operations, sales, customer service — start at the bottom if you have to and work your way up! Receiving input and feedback from all ranks of the organization can give you insights that cannot be achieved from behind a desk. Get out in the field and talk to employees at all levels and your customers. Don't do it if you are not sincere. You have to want to engage and learn from your conversations."

Franchising Staffing

About Cherryh Cansler

Cherryh Cansler is VP of Events for Networld Media Group and publisher of FastCasual.com. She has been covering the restaurant industry since 2012. Her byline has appeared in Forbes, The Kansas City Star and American Fitness magazine, among many others.

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