“Who you are now isn’t who you’re going to be, ultimately, and you need to take steps toward your goals. That’s what you know and that’s how you are, both. So what you know is studying books, studying how to invest, studying stocks.”
– Damola Adamolekun, Breakfast Club Interview
The Spokane NAACP has announced that Damola Adamolekun, current CEO of Red Lobster and former CEO of P.F. Chang’s, will serve as the keynote speaker for the 2025 Freedom Fund Gala on Saturday, November 15, beginning at 7 PM (social hour at 6 PM) at the Spokane Convention Center.
At just 36 years old, Adamolekun’s rise from high school waiter to corporate trailblazer is a story of persistence, intellect, and innovation. “I started by waiting tables when I was young, when I was in high school,” he shared during a February interview on The Breakfast Club.
Born in Nigeria and raised in Maryland, he went on to play football at Brown University while interning at Goldman Sachs at just 19. “That’s really where I got my start in finance,” he said, describing how his passion for business was sparked after winning a $10,000 speech contest in high school and deciding to invest it.
After several years in finance, he worked for a hedge fund and suggested buying P.F. Chang’s. When COVID-19 struck, the restaurant industry suffered massive losses, but Adamolekun stepped in as CEO to save the brand. “It wasn’t easy, but we got through it and turned it into a good deal,” he said. That experience prepared him for his next challenge–revitalizing Red Lobster after its bankruptcy.
As CEO, he has launched what he calls Red Carpet Hospitality. “You have to lean into what made it successful in the first place–great food, great service, and a feeling of hospitality,” he explained on The Breakfast Club. “Red stands for Recognize, Engage, and Delight.”
Adamolekun’s journey from waiting tables as a teenager to leading one of America’s most iconic restaurant chains exemplifies tenacity and progress–resonating with the purpose of the annual Freedom Fund Gala, a night dedicated to celebrating leadership and self-determination.
Tickets for the Spokane NAACP Freedom Fund Gala are available now at naacpspokane.com.