Whataburger CEO Debbie Stroud on the benefits of leading like a family

In this episode of Take-Away with Sam Oches, Sam talks with Debbie Stroud, CEO of Whataburger, a 76-year-old company that now has more than 1,000 locations across 17 states. Debbie spent more than 30 years as an executive at McDonald’s and Starbucks before joining Whataburger in 2023 as COO. She was named CEO in 2025, and she’s earned a reputation as a warm and personable leader who is often found in restaurants listening to team members about how the company can improve. That’s a great fit for Whataburger, which is still partially owned by its founding family and which calls its 50,000-plus team members “family members.” Sam recently sat down with Debbie in a brand-new location outside Raleigh, NC, for an episode of the Signature Series, powered by The Coca-Cola Company, and talked about how she’s setting the tone for a family-like company culture — and about how Whataburger is tapping into its rabid fan base to expand its footprint.

In this conversation, you’ll find out why:

• An aligned team empowered to do the work can accomplish great things
• Leaders create the conditions for success
• Data tells a story — and it should guide your decision making
• Brands should embrace the authentic relationship their guests have with them
• Curiosity plus diversified experience makes for a strong future leader

Have feedback or ideas for Take-Away? Email Sam at sam.oches@informa.com.