Women’s History Month is a time to uplift, recognize, and honor the many contributions women have made throughout history and continue to make every day. At Inspire, we’re proud to highlight our business resource group (BRG), Champions of Women Leaders (COWL), and the work they do to empower women all year long.

Staci Johnson is the Director of Consumer Experience for SONIC Drive-In at Inspire. She’s also the COWL Oklahoma City Support Center Lead.

Staci joined SONIC in 2016 as an associate brand manager and received a promotion to brand manager just two years later. Since then, Staci experienced Inspire’s acquisition of the brand and has continued to grow her career, most recently moving to the Brand Strategy team as a director in 2021.

Staci joined COWL when it was formed four years ago, after “I had a mentor who encouraged me to be a part of it,” says Staci. “It was important to me to make relationships with the other women in the organization.”

Since joining the BRG, Staci has attended various events around women’s leadership through her membership in COWL. Her favorite is still the Women’s Foodservice Forum (WFF) Annual Leadership Development Conference, where she had the opportunity to hear Michelle Obama speak in 2018. “I wouldn’t have been able to attend without the support of the mentors I found within COWL,” Staci shares.

As a member of the SONIC Marketing team, Staci loves that she has the opportunity to work with a “smart, strategic, and creative” team with strong female leadership. “I learn something new from them every day,” she says.

Now as the COWL Oklahoma City Support Center Lead, Staci has become a mentor herself for other women within the BRG. “It’s exciting to connect with more women across the organization,” says Staci. “I look forward to continuing to grow alongside all the talented women leaders we have here at Inspire.”

This story is part of an ongoing series that celebrates Women’s History Month at Inspire through the stories of our corporate and franchise team members, as well as franchisees. Click here to read other stories like this.

To learn more about career opportunities at Inspire, visit careers.inspirebrands.com.