Amanda McCollum

I attribute my success to a pivotal moment during COVID in the summer of 2021. I went on vacation with a big group of friends right after COVID, and so many of them had gone from working in offices to working remote. I saw them working by the pool, and when they told me they were getting paid to do that, I was like, wait, you're getting paid right now? That was the realization that there are bigger and better things that I can get into and dedicate my time and brain to than what I was doing. It was that spark of curiosity that led me to want that freedom for myself. Through my experience in retail and understanding the restaurant industry from all my previous work, it kind of led me to Popmenu, and all of it just fell into place. If it weren't for COVID and for that trip, I wouldn't have ventured into this path. COVID made all of us think about the quality of life that we wanted to live if we were going to have to work.

Remain curious and never stop learning. Growth often comes from asking questions, exploring new opportunities, and being willing to step outside your comfort zone when new possibilities arise.

Say it with your chest. That would be my advice. Don't be afraid to share your opinions in rooms that you might not feel so welcome in. Be loud, have follow-through. And if you have a good idea, say it with your chest. Don't hold back from speaking up and making your voice heard, even when the environment feels challenging.

The biggest challenge right now is the economy. We work with small businesses and mom-and-pop restaurants, and you can have the best product in the world, the best client feedback, and the most loyal clientele, but if their business fails because there aren't enough people going out to eat, or food prices get too high, or inflation makes landlords increase their rent to a point where they can't afford it, then we don't have businesses to work with. It's all intertwined in a vicious cycle. It's incredibly difficult and pretty rough on small businesses, which makes it hard for any business that works with small businesses. As for opportunities, I think a huge one is figuring out what things we need to keep with people as everyone rushes to adopt AI as quickly as they can. We need to do market research to figure out how we can keep from having to lay off as many people, keep AI helping us with productivity, but also understand where customers and clients would like to see a more human experience. I think that's a big opportunity that we're kind of skirting over with the race to AI. We need to balance AI-powered tools with maintaining human connection.

Integrity is most important to me. I think taking pride in the quality of work that you do is very important, and that applies to my work professionally, but also to the quality of time you spend with your loved ones and the undivided attention that you give them when you're with them. Curiosity and teamwork are also core values that guide me in everything I do.