Member of the Week for November 21, 2022 Lisa W. Miller

About Lisa W. Miller NSA-North Texas Member of the Week for November 21, 2022

Lisa Miller is president of a marketing, strategy and innovation practice that unlocks growth opportunities for her clients. She has over 30 years of experience including working as Vice President Innovation at Brinker International, parent company of Chili’s and Maggiano’s and Vice President Insights at Frito Lay/PepsiCo.

As a change agent that anticipates macro trends, Lisa is a trusted advisor to guide and transform companies and their capabilities.

Lisa partners with C-level executives, board of directors and private equity firms for many well-known and trusted global brands such as Walmart, Applebee’s, IHOP, Kimberly Clark, 7- Eleven and American Heart Association.

Lisa’s speaks about getting back to the business of joy. Her Journey Back to Joy research became a leading indicator of restaurant and retail sales and traffic during the pandemic. Lisa has been featured nationally on NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, the Wall Street Journal and Nation’s Restaurant News, and more.

What audiences you speak for?

Lisa’s speeches are focused for business leaders who are interested UNLOCKING their organizations’ business GROWTH through deeper understanding of customers’ needs and wants. Lisa MOTIVATES teams to stay CURIOUS and INNOVATIVE.

What led you to this career?

I have always been a very curious person and love turning data into stories.  Over the years in my corporate roles, I had many opportunities to speak in front of large audiences and management teams.  I discovered that I enjoyed speaking.  During covid, I started a passion project that has grown into something so much bigger. This project turned into a platform opening the doors for significant media exposure and speaking opportunities.

What’s one professional skill you’re currently working on?

Writing a book that will be published in Spring of next year.

What’s your go-to productivity trick? 

Exercise. Helps clear the mind.

Who has influenced you most when it comes to how you approach your work?

My parents. The path to get here has been a winding road with a few speed bumps along the way.  As a child growing up in Texas, my parents always taught me, “The answer is no, unless you ask.”  It’s a life lesson I’ve shared with my own children, yet looking back, that one little statement shaped many facets of my own life including my career. I think it created the fire in my belly and insatiable curiosity to ask a lot of questions, probably much to the chagrin of my parents when I was a kid.

What’s a mistake you made early on in your career, and what did you learn from it?

When I was working at Frito-Lay, I had made a research presentation that didn’t go as well as I had hoped. The key stakeholder didn’t act on the insights and recommendations. I was venting to my boss about the meeting and basically putting it all on the stakeholder for lack of action. My boss let me finish and politely told me that I needed to take more ownership of the outcome. He basically was saying it was on me that I didn’t convey the insights in a way that she understood. That really made me pause. It was hard to hear, but my boss was so right! Since then, I’ve been perfecting the art of storytelling with data.  

What’s a work-related accomplishment that you’re really proud of?

Since joining NT-NSA, I have been booked to speak for 2 of the 3 largest restaurant industry conferences.

What being a member of NSA-NT means to you (testimonial) 

It’s been an incredible experience since joining NT-NSA in Feb. 2022. The people of NT-NSA have been so welcoming and supportive.  I have been blown away with how much I’ve already learned - very actionable insights that have helped me grow by consulting business and my speaking business.   

Something personal you want us to know- can be about family, a vacation, a favorite food- anything you care to share.

My husband recently earned his Distinguished Toastmaster designation. I’m a proud mother of three grown children.  A couple of fun facts, I’m a competitive rower, a former competitive ice skater, former drill team dance that can still do the splits!

Contact info and Social Media info:

• LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-w-miller-5a53a86/
• TWITTER: @lwmassociates