Settle In with PBS News — "Inside Red Lobster's Comeback" (December 30, 2025)

Episode Overview

In this episode of "Settle In," host Jeff Bennett sits down with Red Lobster CEO Demola Adam Malaikin to discuss the storied company's dramatic turnaround. Malaikin—one of the youngest leaders in the restaurant industry and a veteran of high-stakes corporate transformations—shares his origin story, leadership approach, and vision for reviving Red Lobster. The conversation covers cultural adaptation, the art of navigating crisis, honoring nostalgia while innovating, and building opportunities for others.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Demola Adam Malaikin's Multicultural Roots and Leadership Philosophy

• Cultural Adaptability and Empathy
  • Malaikin credits his upbringing—across Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Amsterdam, and the U.S.—for instilling adaptability and a nuanced understanding of people.
  • "I think for me there's a lesson in adaptability... and being able to observe a new environment and find a way to thrive... you learn to read people... understand... how people behave across cultures."
    — Demola Adam Malaikin [01:06]
• Core Values from Family
  • Hardened work ethic, pride in doing things well, integrity, and authenticity all trace back to his parents.
    "No matter what you do, small things or important things, try to do them to the best of your ability."
    — Demola Adam Malaikin [03:36]

2. From Finance to Hospitality: The Draw of Tangible Impact

• Choosing Hospitality
  • Malaikin describes his love for consumer businesses: “A lot of these companies exist to serve joy and experience… an escape for people.” [02:22]

3. Lessons from Crisis Leadership at P.F. Chang's (COVID Turnaround)

• Managing Numbers & Morale
  • The pandemic forced rapid learning: "Morale and psychology within the organization is equally important."
    — Demola Adam Malaikin [04:49]
  • Open town halls, transparency, and focus on mindset helped drive recovery.
• The Compressed School of Crisis
  • "Crisis compresses leadership lessons… one year of that might be 10 years of normal operating."
    — Demola Adam Malaikin [04:49]
• Numbers vs. Culture: Not Either-Or
  • "Understanding the numbers...but then also understanding the psychology and the mindset of the people...is equally important." [06:09–07:20]
  • Malaikin's rare blend: natural people skills plus rigorous financial training.

4. Navigating Visible Leadership as a Young, Black CEO

• High Stakes of a Turnaround
  • "I took Red Lobster out of bankruptcy… so it's very high stakes and it's very high risk."
    — Demola Adam Malaikin [08:52]
  • Malaikin frames his role as “not about me, it's about the business… and the people that work for us,” while acknowledging media scrutiny.

5. Balancing Nostalgia and Innovation at Red Lobster

• Honoring the Past, Inviting the Future
  • "I like to start with the core… make sure your customers today are very happy… and then you expand the tent."
    — Demola Adam Malaikin [10:33]
  • Classic items (cheddar bay biscuits) are retained, quality improved; new products (seafood boil) introduce younger audiences.
  • "You have to do both. And I start with the core..." [10:33]

6. Operational Excellence and Menu Consistency

• Simplicity and Training
  • Simplifying kitchen processes and cascading training ensure consistency:
    "A simple process will help you maintain consistency..."
    — Demola Adam Malaikin [12:05]

7. Shifting Brand Occasions—From Milestones to Everyday

• Expanding Occasions
  • Traditionally, Red Lobster is “birthday, date night, anniversary”—but the goal is daily relevance.
  • "The way traffic gets built over the long term is people coming frequently... even just normal Wednesday night dinners."
    — Demola Adam Malaikin [13:48]
  • Menu variety, value pricing, and refreshed marketing are methods to achieve this.

8. Social Media, Brand Hope, and Personal Impact

• Community Support & Brand Rediscovery
  • Malaikin notes a social media surge, as customers “hope it can come back and be as good as they remember.”
    — [15:22]

9. Mentors and Lasting Lessons

• Dedication, Conviction, Humanity
  • Names John Paulson as an ideal—both for decisiveness and connecting with people.
    "He does a tremendous job, not just as an investor, but as an important person dealing with other people and making them feel special."
    — Demola Adam Malaikin [16:12]

10. Creating Opportunity and Defining Success

• Jobs, Opportunity, and Longevity
  • Success means building a profitable, sustainable business that creates jobs and growth.
  • “Good numbers mean you can hire more people.” [17:48]
• North Star Metrics
  • "Guest score and guest frequency are the two most important metrics to me."
    — Demola Adam Malaikin [18:43]

11. Personal Favorites and Habits

• Go-to Menu Item:
  "The Mariner seafood boil. Extra, extra spicy." [19:06]
• Routine:
  Daily morning workouts for discipline and starting the day with energy [19:25]

12. Deepening Motivation

• Early career was about achievement; now:
  "A lot of people are watching and taking inspiration... so that sense of impact... becomes more of the calculus for me."
  — Demola Adam Malaikin [20:20]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Crisis Leadership:
  "Crisis compresses leadership lessons… one year of that might be 10 years of normal operating."
  — Demola Adam Malaikin [04:49]

• On Reviving a Classic Brand:
  "You have to do both. And I start with the core... then bring folks in as you can go along."
  — Demola Adam Malaikin [10:33]

• On Personal Impact:
  "What I have represented to these people is hope that [Red Lobster] can come back and be as good as they remember."
  — Demola Adam Malaikin [15:22]

• On Defining Success:
  "The best way to make a positive impact... is to run a business that is profitable and sustainable and that can last long into the future and grow."
  — Demola Adam Malaikin [17:48]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:06] – Childhood, Cultural Roots, and Leadership
• [02:22] – Move from Finance to Hospitality
• [04:49] – Lessons from the COVID-19 Crisis at P.F. Chang's
• [06:09] – Balancing Numbers and People
• [08:52] – Visible Leadership & Red Lobster’s High Stakes
• [10:33] – Balancing Tradition and Innovation at Red Lobster
• [12:05] – Ensuring Consistent Quality Across Locations
• [13:48] – Making Red Lobster Relevant for Day-to-Day Dining
• [15:22] – Social Media Support and Customer Hope
• [16:12] – Mentorship and Leadership Lessons
• [17:48] – Creating Jobs & Sustainable Success
• [18:43] – North Star Metrics (Guest Score, Frequency)
• [19:06] – Favorite Menu Item & Personal Routines
• [20:20] – What Motivates Present-Day Malaikin

Takeaways

This episode offers a masterclass in modern leadership, blending cultural humility, financial discipline, and brand stewardship. Malaikin’s journey from international childhood to boardroom, through financial upheaval and into the heart of Americana, charts not just a company’s return, but a vision for inclusive and adaptive leadership in challenging times.

If you want to understand what it takes to revive an iconic brand and steer an enterprise through volatility—while remaining attuned to both its heritage and the evolving consumer—this conversation is a must-listen.