241: Leaders with Heart are Pizza Guys

Subscribe to the Leadership with Heart Podcast:

Shahpour Nejad immigrated from Iran to the USA at 16 years old where he attended high school and college. During his college years, he began working at a local pizza restaurant, where he gained a passion for the pizza business. Although Nejad earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, he decided to pursue his love for pizza and opened Pizza Guys with his partner, Reza Kalantari. The company has grown from a single-store operation that opened in 1986 to over 80 locations in three states.
hhh
Key Takeaways
  • He began working in a pizza shop out of economic necessity but soon realized it was his passion
  • Shahpour Nejad grew up in a family of entrepreneurs
  • It's important to stay up-to-date with content and all aspects of your business
  • Nejad had to tweak his recipe and menu items to cater to the California public
  • He quickly realized that the Cleaveland taste for pizza is very different from the California taste
  • When you know and understand how to operate your own business, your employees trust you and your guidance
  • Shahpour believes the current workplace is missing two-way communication between leaders to their employees

Shahpour Nejad's Bio

Shahpour Nejad grew up in Iran and immigrated to the United States when he was 16 years old. After graduating from high school, he attended college at Cleveland State University. He immigrated to the US comfortably, with parents who could help him financially, but then things turned, and he had to begin working. While earning his degree, he began working at a local pizza shop. There, he helped the owner increase sales and the customer experience. Although Mr. Nejad graduated with a BS in Mechanical Engineering, he realized the pizza business was his passion. In 1986 he opened his own pizza restaurant, Pizza Guys, with a partner and has since grown it into a successful franchise.

The Listening Guide

Create a listening culture that elevates the employee experience with The Listening Guide.

Through this guide, Heather uncovers how you can ensure those you lead feel heard by taking 3 approaches to listening inside an organization.

  • Understand why listening is the key to employee engagement
  • Learn how the Cycle of Listening contributes to strong workplace relationships
  • Get a practical framework for creating a listening culture that is bidirectional, responsive, and supportive

Download it here.


Mentions

Connect with Shahpour Nejad on LinkedIn

Subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts

Listen to the podcast on Spotify

Leave a Comment

podcast

Leadership With Heart With Heather R Younger

“Heather’s courage and vulnerability to share her authentic self are truly inspiring. She shares the most cutting-edge leadership strategies on topics like emotional intelligence and employee experience. If you’re looking to sharpen your leadership skills, this podcast is for you.”

Heather is a Workplace Culture Expert

She's...

CEO of Employee Fanatix

A leading workplace culture and employee engagement consulting & training firm.

A highly sought-after keynote speaker

Bringing the best insights from over 25,000 employee stories to the stage.

A top company culture strategist

An expert in creating spaces for these vital conversations.

A contributor to leading news outlets

A trusted expert for stories on workplace culture, customer and employee engagement, and employee retention.

Heather_Younger_The_Cycle_of_Active_Listening_Guide

The Cycle of Active Listening

Create a listening culture that elevates the workplace experience for everyone.

Through this guide, uncover how to ensure those in your care at work feel heard and valued, resulting in increased loyalty and satisfaction.

  • Understand why listening is the key to improved engagement
  • Learn how the Cycle of Active Listening contributes to strong workplace relationships
  • Get a practical framework for creating a listening culture that is bidirectional, responsive, and supportive

Contact Heather Today!
720-295-1194

Contact
Contact

I'm really interested in...

(select all that apply)*

I can be reached at...

Additional Comments