Restaurant Bytes: Mimi Somerman

Welcome back to Restaurant Bytes! This is a short, virtual program that asks restaurant executives questions about the issues they are facing today. Restaurant Bytes is hosted by Tom Spry (Principal of Tom Spry Executive Search) and Harri’s own Jacqueline Farmer (Enterprise Sales Executive). This episode catches up with Mimi Somerman, a Senior Marketing Executive, to discuss industry-wide career pivots and how they can benefit both employees and employers.

Mimi started her career working for Pepsi Co., but has since crossed industries to work with restaurants, health care, retail, and more! As someone who has pivoted from different industries, she faced the challenge of gaining acceptance in new industries. 

However, Mimi’s biggest piece of advice is to “think of it as an opportunity.”  She notes how businesses tend to be open-minded when facing a new, fresh perspective. Candidates need to show how their skills are a perfect match for the role and the values of the company — and how that fresh perspective is an additional benefit to the business.  After all, businesses can’t do the same thing and expect different results. This holds true in the hiring process.

Mimi gives great advice on how “skillset transcends industry.” It’s not about industry or candidate experience (or the lack thereof), but the skills they are looking for in those positions.

Highly transferable skills

• Brand expertise
• Strategic skills
• See the big picture to understand brand essence and brand positioning
• Strong communication skills

Mimi has worked across industries and has great success in the process. Her recipe for success is spending time with people in the industry of all levels. It’s all about “understanding and learning.” 

To that point, Mimi encourages staying in touch with people you know in all industries, especially those that you’re trying to break into. It is an opportunity to discuss challenges and best practices, which can be leveraged to help your company move forward, get results, and better represent the consumer. Benchmarking is key.

She encourages people to identify the S.W.O.T of their business and know the situation competitively. Find out where you are from a positioning perspective and your “opportunity to shine.”

“[There] is a nimbleness”, she says, about crossing over multiple industries. There is a common misconception that, for example, if you work in restaurants now, you can only work in restaurants moving forward.

However, this could not be further from the truth — if you have an open mind. Mimi says it’s about “recognizing that what really matters is fit, skill, set, and the ability to contribute and make a difference.”

For access to the full interview, click here.