Natasha Cox-Gopie
Natasha Gopie is an accomplished hospitality professional with over 20 years of experience at Sunshine Restaurant Partners – IHOP. Starting her career as a server, she worked her way up to Assistant Manager, demonstrating resilience, dedication, and a natural ability to lead teams. Natasha has managed multiple IHOP locations across Florida, including Pompano, Sunrise, and Rock Pond, gaining expertise in team management, customer service, and kitchen operations—even though she had no prior cooking experience before her managerial role. Her leadership is rooted in a genuine love for working with people and creating positive experiences for both customers and staff.
Throughout her career, Natasha has relied on her faith, perseverance, and the mentorship of supportive leaders like Regional Director Lisa Mendez and General Manager Catherine Eden. She thrives in high-pressure environments, often working long shifts of 10–16 hours when staffing challenges arise, and takes pride in maintaining morale, motivating her team, and ensuring guests enjoy exceptional service. Natasha credits her growth to learning through hands-on experience, embracing challenges, and applying lessons from what she describes as the “school of hard knocks.”
Outside of work, Natasha is deeply committed to her community and spiritual life. She has been a member of Path of Life Apostolic for over a decade and occasionally serves as a minister. She actively volunteers with organizations such as In Spite Of / I Choose to Love, focusing on homelessness outreach, and participates in SRP women’s manager initiatives. In her personal life, Natasha enjoys spending time with family and friends, visiting the beach, and reading, reflecting her balance of professional dedication and personal enrichment.
• Path of Life Apostolic (Pentecostal church)
• Inspite
• Homelessness
• Women in Distress
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to hard work, perseverance, and my faith in God. This industry can be demanding, with long hours and high stress, but I stay committed and trust that God provides the strength I need. Seeing clients return and express gratitude for my time and attention reminds me why I do this work and motivates me to keep pushing forward, day after day.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received came from a manager early in my career who said, “I think you can do it.” That simple expression of confidence gave me the courage to take on new responsibilities and step into leadership roles.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to keep pushing and believe in yourself. Leadership is not just a man’s role, and challenges are part of the journey. Find mentors or support networks you can rely on, ask questions, and never give up—even when the work feels tough. Early in my career, a manager told me, “I think you can do it,” and that encouragement, combined with my faith in the scripture “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength,” carried me through. Surround yourself with people who believe in you, and let that support guide your growth.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges in my field include high stress, long shifts—sometimes 10 to 16 hours—and staffing shortages when team members are unavailable. At the same time, there are opportunities to expand visibility through networking and external recognition, such as platforms that spotlight professionals and highlight our work.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide me in both work and life are faith, hard work, perseverance, and service to others. I also prioritize empathy and bringing positive energy to every interaction, whether with customers or colleagues, because I believe these qualities create meaningful connections and lasting impact.
Locations
Sunshine Restaurant Partners - IHOP
Leawood, KS 66206