Jolena H., graduated at the top of her class, immersed in academics, National Honors Society, and student council. For most of her life, she thought she was going to become a nurse, but the universe had other plans.
“My boyfriend (now husband) worked at Taco Bell. So when I turned 16, I decided to apply and got hired as a Service Champion. When I turned 18 during COVID, my General Manager asked if I wanted to become a Shift Lead. I was immediately promoted and continued growing from there, eventually becoming an Assistant General Manager. This was while I was still attending college with the intention of becoming a nurse.”
About four months of being in that role, Jolena realized how much she loved the restaurant. She decided to pause college and take what she thought would be a gap year to continue growing at Taco Bell. Her career took off from there.
“Six months into the role at 19, I had the opportunity to help open my first restaurant in Michigan. I then served as a Restaurant General Manager for four and a half years. From day one, I told myself I wanted to become an Area Coach within five years. I manifested that goal, even when it felt ambitious. I completed training classes, passed exams, built my network, and made sure my name was known.”
Then came the opportunity to partake in a stretch assignment covering an Area Coach role from August through October. That eventually led to a full-time role as an Area Coach.
From receiving a piece of recognition from the former COO for her leadership, plus being named General Manager of the Year for her market and attending her first Annual Operations Conference with equity Above Restaurant Leaders, her hard work had clearly paid off. With each milestone;however, came new expectations and moments of self-reflection.
“When you step into a manager role, there’s a certain level of ‘street credibility’ you’re expected to have. I truly believe respect is earned. I was a 19-year-old General Manager managing people older than me. So naturally, people questioned it. But once I showed them what I was capable of, running strong shifts, understanding the numbers, leading people effectively, that doubt began to fade.”
What helped Jolena get to where she is meant battling that imposter syndrome and remembering that perception is reality.
“You can teach skills, but behavior is what defines you. How you treat people, how you speak, how you influence others, that’s what lasts. It only takes one moment out of character for someone to form a lasting perception, and reputation isn’t something you can fix as easily as a bad sales day. From day one, I made it a point to lead with kindness and respect, to be intentional about every interaction, and to end even hard conversations on a good note. Being young in leadership meant I had to own my training. I asked hard questions, sought honest feedback, and prepared myself more than I realized at the time. Over time, I learned the difference between simply doing the job and truly influencing change. Even when I felt moments of imposter syndrome, I powered through by leaning into my operational knowledge, my financial understanding, and the relationships I built with my teams. I’ve opened stores, closed stores, worked late at night, and that experience is what built my confidence. That's what ultimately led me to the Area Coach position.”
She also had the support of some pretty incredible people, including Area Coach Ashley G.
“Ashley has been my Area Coach since I was a Shift Lead and supported me all the way to becoming an Area Coach myself within five years. She has been my cheerleader, giving me direct feedback and putting my name out there. She has always pushed me to improve at every level.”
Jolena’s journey from Service Champion to Area Coach reflects not only her work ethic, but the power of development within the Taco Bell system. It’s no doubt that Jolena represents the next generation of leadership... and the future looks bright.