Fiorella Merlos
Fiorella Merlos is the General Manager at Sushi Maki, where she oversees all aspects of restaurant operations, from staff leadership to customer experience, inventory, and scheduling. She began her journey at Sushi Maki as a cashier and quickly advanced through multiple roles—including server, Manager on Duty, and assistant manager before becoming General Manager in October 2024. Known for her hands-on leadership, Fiorella actively works alongside her team on the floor, at the sushi bar, and in the kitchen, ensuring that every guest enjoys a seamless and memorable dining experience.
Graduating in 2021 during the pandemic initially left Fiorella uncertain about her career path. While she had considered working with children, her interest in business fostered through the NAS magnet program in high school—ultimately guided her toward hospitality and management. She immersed herself in learning every aspect of restaurant operations, demonstrating initiative, versatility, and a commitment to excellence that propelled her rapid career growth. Her experience across all stations gives her a unique perspective on both front-of-house and kitchen operations, allowing her to lead with insight, empathy, and authority.
Committed to her professional development, Fiorella is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain Project Management at Miami Dade College, making education a top priority even while managing full-time responsibilities. Her leadership philosophy emphasizes empowerment, trust, and accountability, fostering a culture where employees take initiative, solve problems proactively, and deliver exceptional results. With a combination of operational expertise, team development skills, and dedication to guest satisfaction, Fiorella continues to make a meaningful impact in the restaurant industry.
What do you attribute your success to?
I would say my biggest strength is my determination and how much I care. Some people say you're not getting paid enough for this, but I think if you constantly work to improve yourself and put out work that speaks for who you are as a worker, it pays off. I'm not perfect - there are days where I hit walls, but it's about using those moments to learn. Sometimes guests leave upset, and afterwards I think about what I could have done differently. You live and you learn, and I apply those lessons to the future. I've been with my company for five years, and I would say every single day I'm learning something new. My determination and willingness to learn from my mistakes and keep improving is what has driven my success and helped me advance from cashier to general manager.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
When highlighting people who have inspired Fiorella, she mentioned being inspired by her favorite singer Olivia Rodrigo, Motivates and inspires Fiorella through her beautiful expression and songs. She feels that Olivia is able to tell stories through her song writing and connects with such a wide array of listeners, which is incredibly inspiring. She also feels that her own perseverance is what pushes her forward, and that she is able to find the light within herself and within her faith to continue her path and to persevere regardless what comes her way.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
What I would say is, go with what feels right. There's gonna be a lot of people telling you to not do certain things, that it's not good for you, but if you feel like in that moment it's what's right for you and your career, just go for it. If it's not right for you, I wouldn't say it's a waste of time - it's a lesson in what you like now, what your strengths are. I see a lot of people where they switch around jobs very frequently, and I wouldn't do that, because how would you learn your capabilities if you don't give it a real chance? That said, I'm not saying to stay in a very toxic environment either. But I think it's about taking commitment in what you do, even if in the long run you don't see yourself doing this. At least there you'll know, and then you will learn something. Every day you learn. I've been in this company for five years, and every single day I'm learning something new. So commit to the position you're in, give it a chance to grow and gain knowledge, and take the good from every experience to apply to where you want to go next.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Fiorella will be jumping in to add more detail regarding what has inspired her throughout her career and keeps her determined, What her goals are for the future as she focuses on her education and opportunities that will arise, her interest in hobbies outside of work, The people who have helped impact her career and inspired her journey, How she would like to connect with other incredible women for opportunities in the future, and how she would like to inspire our readers.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I think faith is most important to me. I'm very religious, but it's also about having faith in your work. Even if you're disappointing yourself one day, there are other days where you realize that because you learned from a mistake, now you already know better. It's having faith in the process, trusting the process. There are rough days, but that doesn't mean every single day is gonna be like this. You just have to keep going. There's no going back to the past, so you have to keep moving forward. Faith guides me both spiritually and in believing in my own growth and ability to improve.
Locations
Sushi Maki
Miami, FL 33155