30 years. That's how long Jane McPherson has been shaping brands in the restaurant industry—and she's still innovating, still evolving, still pushing forward.
In this episode, I'm sitting down with Jane, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Penn Station Sandwiches, to trace her remarkable career journey across franchising, the sandwich category, and multiple periods of massive industry transformation. We talk about what it means to play the long game—to lead with strategy, patience, and a commitment to building something that lasts.
Jane brings deep expertise in unit expansion, systemwide sales growth, and franchise partnership. But what makes her story really compelling is how she's remained relevant and forward-thinking across three decades of change. She's watched the industry transform from pre-digital to tech-enabled, and she's adapted every step of the way.
We dig into the pivotal moments that shaped her career, the trends she's witnessed, the lessons from leading across nationally recognized brands, and how she's now focused on enhancing customer experience through technology-driven solutions at Penn Station as the brand approaches their 500th location.
You'll hear about her philosophy on supporting franchisees, balancing growth with culture, and what it means to lead with both strategic depth and human awareness across an entire era of restaurant business.
This is the story of a leader who knows that real success isn't about quick wins—it's about playing the long game.
