Amy Mashaw Foskey
Amy Foskey’s career is a powerful reflection of her passion for developing people and building strong, purpose-driven teams. She began her professional journey at just 15 years old, working in entry-level roles and quickly rising to a supervisory position by the age of 18. After earning her degree, Amy spent eight years as an elementary school teacher, where she honed her natural ability to coach, motivate, and inspire growth in others. Although she loved the classroom, she ultimately felt called to return to the business world to continue teaching and influencing leaders in a new and broader capacity. Today, Amy serves as Executive Director of Human Resources and Leadership Development, where she oversees approximately 100 employees and plays a key role in shaping culture, hiring leaders, and guiding strategic decisions. Known for her proactive leadership style, she focuses on using customer-experience data and structured coaching to strengthen performance and deepen team engagement. Drawing on her background in education, Amy designs practical, lesson-plan-style leadership systems that emphasize measurable milestones, accountability, and continuous personal development. Her days are centered on one-on-one mentorship, team empowerment, and cultivating an environment where excellence and service go hand in hand. Among her proudest accomplishments is the creation of two innovative leadership training programs that have been adopted by multiple locations across the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex. These initiatives, including a guided internal leadership development framework and a comprehensive 90-day training program for external candidates, have helped transform how emerging leaders are prepared for long-term success. Grounded in faith-based, people-first values, Amy is deeply committed to helping individuals realize their potential while strengthening organizational culture. Through her work, she continues to demonstrate that meaningful leadership is ultimately about investing in people and building systems that allow them to thriv
• National TESOL Certification
• ServSafe: Food Protection Manager Certification
• EC-6 State of Texas Teaching Certification
• Kennesaw State University- B.S.
• Special Olympics fundraising and support
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my passion for people and my willingness to step in and create solutions when I see a need. From starting at Chick-fil-A at 15 to teaching for eight years and now leading HR and leadership development, I’ve stayed driven by empathy, strong work ethic, and a commitment to building culture and meaningful guest connections. I also credit my success to continuously developing others—coaching leaders, creating training systems, and helping teams grow in ways that strengthen both performance and community impact.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
When asked about the people who have most inspired and influenced my life, I always begin with my mother, Rhonda Mashaw. I truly believe she is a saint and one of the most biblical women I have ever known. She lovingly pushed me to grow, always wanting what was best for me and teaching me what it would take to be successful. For her, not going to college was never an option, and her constant encouragement helped shape my drive, my faith, and my commitment to becoming the best version of myself. I am deeply grateful for her guidance, unconditional love, and unwavering support.
I would also highlight Dan Cathy, the former CEO of Chick-fil-A, who was my Sunday school teacher when I was young. The Cathy family has always been incredibly generous and intentional in investing in others. Dan would invite us into his home for Bible studies, create opportunities for us to grow in leadership within our church community, and spend Sunday evenings pouring into our lives—taking us places, encouraging us, and helping us develop as individuals. I am profoundly thankful for the leadership lessons I gained through his mentorship and for the confidence and encouragement he has given me throughout my career.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
In everything you do, do it with excellence. Maintain your long-standing reputation for outstanding performance. I think that sometimes we get desperate, and sometimes we make decisions that are truly not the best for ourselves or for a business. When you lower that bar of excellence, there's a snowball effect on everything else. Your culture gets lowered, your standards get lowered, and you make rash, uncalculated choices. So if you just have the patience and never lower that bar of excellence, you're worth it. The people that you're bringing those efforts to are worth it. People feel it when you're putting your full energy and your best forward.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges—and opportunities—in my field right now is building and scaling effective leadership development pathways. By creating clear, standardized programs, we can ensure consistent results, sustain our culture, and maintain an exceptional guest experience across all locations.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are service, compassion, faith, and a deep commitment to community. My husband and I are especially passionate about supporting the Special Olympics, raising funds and advocating for individuals who may face greater challenges, because we believe in celebrating every person’s potential and worth. I also value meaningful relationships and connection, and I strive to live a life that reflects empathy, generosity, and a genuine love for people in everything I do.