At Inspire Brands, our greatest resource is our people. Guided by our values and behaviors, we strive to be a company that embraces inclusion and diversity in gender, race, background, thinking, and perspective.

In 2021, we rolled out People First @ Inspire, an initiative to ensure we attract, develop, and retain the best possible talent. Part of the People First initiative is Upward Mobility in Restaurant Operations, which involves showcasing team member success stories across our family of brands.

Today, we’re highlighting Bobby Pancake, Owner of High Five Hospitality, an operating partner for Buffalo Wild Wings.

When did you decide this was the career for you?

I don’t think there was ever a particular point when I decided this was going to be a career. I always wanted to be a franchisee and entrepreneur, but I think getting promoted through the ranks – being a District Manager by the time I was 23 years old and then Director of Operations before I was 30 – I think all of those things led to “I can make a career out of this!”

If you could talk to your younger self, what advice would you give?

I would tell my younger self that nothing happens in a day. It takes 20 years to become an overnight success. And I’d tell myself to be careful – you may be the youngest guy in the meeting room now, but once you blink, you’re suddenly the oldest.

What is your best piece of advice for a young employee who wants to advance with Buffalo Wild Wings?

We conquer by continuing. If that’s your goal, don’t stop. Don’t quit. Keep going after it and look for mentors. Ask questions. Be the one who pushes the envelope – not the one that necessarily goes against the rules, but the one who questions the rules.

Watch the video below to learn more about Bobby and the most important lesson he’s learned as an entrepreneur and what he loves most about his job.

This story is part of an ongoing series that highlights the stories of our team members and their career growth as part of People First @ Inspire.