Executive Chat with Michelle Korsmo, President & CEO of the National Restaurant Association - Part I
Leading the NRA into Its Next Era
As President & CEO of the National Restaurant Association, Michelle Korsmo is guiding the $1.1 trillion restaurant industry and its nearly 16 million workers through rapid change shaped by technology, a shifting labor market, and persistent cost pressures. In this conversation, she shares the core themes of her leadership: building a future-ready workforce, unlocking efficiency, and influencing policies that help operators thrive.
Q: Looking back at your tenure, what are you most proud of, and how does it reflect your vision of making the Association an indispensable partner to the industry?
Michelle: The success formula for restaurants has not changed: great food, welcoming hospitality, and efficient operations. What has changed is the focus. The restaurant industry is going through the same kind of transformation that every other industry is experiencing, with rapid change in the global environment, supply chain, and technology, as well as evolving workforce expectations. Technology now touches everything, from how we train a younger, digital-native workforce to how we find breakthrough efficiency across menu, inventory, and scheduling. Our focus is to simplify that complexity for operators and help them get future-ready, so they are solving tomorrow’s problems before they arrive.
“Our focus is to simplify that complexity for operators and help them get future-ready, so they are solving tomorrow’s problems before they arrive.”
Q: What stands out to you in addressing the needs of the workforce?
Michelle: Sixty percent of restaurant workers are under the age of 35, which means most are digital natives. They grew up in an environment where everything is digital. Restaurants need to think about how technology can solve problems in ways that meet the expectations of this younger workforce. They also know that the skills they have today will be outdated in five years, so constant learning and improvement are part of their mindset. We need to ensure that we are training our workforce to use new tools, meet market needs, and succeed in evolving restaurant operations.
Q: Which NRA initiatives are having the biggest impact right now?
Michelle: Advocacy always comes first. We have been pushing for a competitive policy environment with wins such as bonus depreciation that help restaurants reinvest to stay current. We are also focused on employee tax relief, such as no tax on tips or overtime, and on educating policymakers about tariff impacts that raise consumer prices. Immigration reform is another priority. Our industry often has around a million open jobs, and stronger visa and guest-worker pathways for roles that do not require prior skills would help restaurants meet demand.
“We exist to be the industry’s indispensable partner. That means embracing uncomfortable conversations about change so operators can anticipate and act.”
- Michelle Korsmo, President & CEO of the National Restaurant Association
Q: What are the biggest challenges operators face, and how is the NRA helping them navigate?
Michelle: The volume of change. Global supply dynamics, cost inflation, and fast-moving technology require clear priorities. We help members see what “future-ready” looks like for talent and where to unlock efficiency, then advocate to ensure they have the freedom and tools to execute.
Q: The NRA’s Educational Foundation impacts hundreds of thousands each year. What excites you most about its next era?
Michelle: People make restaurants special. Our Foundation prepares new entrants through programs such as ProStart’s career and technical education in high schools, Restaurant Ready and HOPES for first-job skills and justice-involved populations, and apprenticeships. Many do not realize the breadth of opportunity. We track 57 distinct career paths in restaurants. Helping people see that future and equipping them to achieve it is the exciting work ahead.
Q: You have added new leaders including the Chief Product Officer, COO, and CMO. What stands out about this team?
Michelle: Respect. They respect the Association and Foundation’s work, our state partners on the front lines, and the people of this industry. They lean into hard problems, define the challenge, align on what success looks like, and chart the path there. That mindset positions us for the next era.
Q: What is one takeaway you would leave our readers about the NRA’s mission and impact?
Michelle: We exist to be the industry’s indispensable partner. That means embracing uncomfortable conversations about change so operators can anticipate and act. If we help you solve problems early, we are doing our job.
Do not miss the next installment of Executive Chat when we switch gears. In Part 2, Michelle shares the person behind the leadership, including daily rituals, favorite restaurant memories, and the book she is annotating like a college text.
Do you need to recruit top leadership talent for your restaurant team? Contact Rebecca at rebecca@wraysearch.com.
