Adaobi Gwacham is the newest Owner/Operator of Chick-Fil-A in Pasadena, CA. Still in her twenties, the Nigerian born entrepreneur gives insight on the highly competitive and selective process and her journey from collegiate team member to franchisee.
Annually, an estimated 30,000 people express interest in opening a Chick-Fil-A restaurant. Less than one hundred people are selected to become franchisees of the immensely popular eatery. Adaobi Gwacham is one of the latest proud owners of a recently built Chick Fil-A restaurant on East Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena, CA; centrally located across from Pasadena City College. Gwacham began her career with Chick-Fil-A as a team member when she was eighteen and a student at California Baptist University. She soon received the opportunity to travel with the corporate office to other locations and train new team members. That task sparked Gwacham’s interest in growing with the company and learning the steps to become a franchisee.
Eleven years later Gwacham stands out front of her business welcoming guests to experience the actualization of her dream. Gwacham’s mother is a nursing assistant and longed for her eldest of five to become a nurse. During Gwacham’s junior year, she decided she wasn’t passionate about pursuing a career in the medical field. “I was doing my clinicals and I realized nursing wasn’t for me. I wanted to be able to provide instant help for the patients but talking to the doctors and learning certain patients didn’t have long to live or that they’d been in the hospital for an extended period of time; I didn’t see myself being in that environment for the rest of my career.” She continues, “I was so scared when I told my mom, ‘I don’t want to be a nurse, I want to sell chicken for the rest of my life!’ (laughs). At first, she didn’t understand but now she does. She says ‘as long as it makes you happy, then I’m happy.”
Many young adults take on part-time fast food jobs while in school pursuing other careers. When asked what was it about Chick-Fil-A that resonated with her for more than a part-time position Gwacham says, “The people that I’ve been able to meet along my eleven years truly care about you and want to see you succeed. I looked at being an owner/operator as an opportunity to make an impact and be an influence on peoples lives.” She adds, “The food is great but I am in it for the people I get to serve and interact with on a daily basis.”
The process to open her restaurant began in 2010 and Gwacham was told the opportunity to be in Pasadena wasn’t available. She recounts, “There’s a lot of litigation and regulations for fast food restaurants coming into the city. Even though I was working for the corporate office in a different capacity I had to go through the extensive process just like everyone else.”
The selection process included phone interviews, one on one interviews and background checks. “[Chick Fil-A] wants to make sure everyone they go into business with has the character, the chemistry and competence that they’re looking for. Thankfully I was able to wow them and I was offered the opportunity to open this location. I am truly blessed.” On what kept her patient and hopeful during the application process, Gwacham comments, “My mom reminded me that GOD has a plan for me. I just needed to stay humble and prayerful. My faith helped me to endure the long process; I was very at peace about it. Over the course of two years, I prayed about it and trust that if this was what I’m truly supposed to do, it would happen.”
With Gwacham’s youthful and vivacious appearance, one would assume she was one of the collegiate team members. She is extremely hands on with her restaurant; greeting customers, taking orders and maintaining the cleanliness of the dining area. She is a phenomenal role model for her team members who respect her immensely. On her experience with Chick-Fil-A and with Gwacham as her boss, manager Dorcas Astacio comments, “She’s amazing. Adaobi treats you with dignity and respect everyday. For her, it’s not solely about running a business and making money, she values you as a person. She’s always happy. I like to be around her. Working for her has been an unbelievable experience.
Gwacham gives insight on some of her responsibilities as an owner/operator. “I have eighty-nine people on staff. I interviewed, hired and trained every person. I have the passion to be here for my team. I have such a high degree of responsibility, I want to make sure things are done right. I want to make sure that my team knows my expectations.”
Outside of Chick-Fil-A, Gwacham has several upcoming speaking engagements in the community including the African American Conference for high school students at Pasadena City College and with the Step Ahead Leadership program also for high school students where she will share her story and words of encouragement. “You have the option to make something out of your life, you just have to work at it. You have to put in the time and the effort and greatness will happen.”
One of Gwacham’s ultimate career goals includes being the first woman multi-unit operator (franchisee that owns more than one restaurant) in the state of California. Out of the nearly 1,800 Chick-Fil-A locations, less than ten percent of the owners are African American women. For those interested in pursuing corporate opportunities with the company Gwacham says “I don’t look at the numbers as a disadvantage by any means, if you believe you have what it takes to run a business why not go for it? Do what you need to do to be able to achieve those goals.”
In July 2014, The Sentinel highlighted Gwacham’s colleague Ashley Derby who is another African American woman franchisee. She is the owner/operator of the USC In-Line location. Gwacham says, “Ashley and I are here because of the hard work that we’ve put in. It’s about your diligence and your ability to make sacrifices. Ashley moved from Atlanta to Los Angeles to be a franchisee. I move from L.A. to Atlanta to work in the corporate office for five years. That was a sacrifice that I made in order to reach my ultimate goals.”
