Obsessed with the success of independent hospitality brands.
We continuously seek and implement cutting-edge technology to provide independent restaurants and spirits brands with the most effective tools for success.
We operate with honesty and transparency, ensuring our clients receive genuine value and trustworthy support.
We believe in the power of teamwork, both within our organization and with our clients, to achieve shared goals and create a supportive community.
We are committed to delivering the highest quality services and support, striving for excellence in everything we do to elevate our clients' businesses.
Our clients' needs and success are at the heart of our business. We tailor our solutions to meet their specific challenges and objectives, ensuring personalized and impactful results. Solving the problem will always be the direction of our products and services.
We embrace change and are agile in our approach, ready to adapt to the evolving needs of the hospitality and spirits industries.
We promote sustainable business practices that benefit not only our clients but also the broader community and environment, supporting long-term success and responsible growth.
We are dedicated to learning and growing, constantly enhancing our coaching, strategy, systems, and support to better serve independent restaurants and spirits brands.
We aim to empower our clients with the knowledge, tools, and support they need to independently drive their businesses forward, fostering a culture of self-reliance and innovation.
We provide insightful and actionable strategies to help our clients navigate their business challenges and achieve their goals effectively.
Our commitment to ongoing support ensures that our clients always have the assistance they need to implement and sustain our solutions successfully.

Welcome to another episode of the Hospitality Strategy Lab Podcast, where science meets service! Today, host Jason Littrell sits down with Felicia Shakiba, founder of CPO Playbook, a consultancy specializing in leadership development and human capital for emerging brands. Together, they unpack the challenges and triumphs of scaling restaurant businesses—diving into real-world examples like Portillo’s, where building a strong internal culture powered unprecedented growth and retention.
Get ready for an insightful conversation on what great leadership really means in hospitality, how to design onboarding strategies that set teams up for long-term success, and why aligning your company mission is essential for consistency across multiple locations. Plus, Felicia Shakiba shares her approach to leveraging customized survey tools and even AI to collect meaningful data, drive continuous improvement, and foster memorable guest experiences.
If you’re a bar owner, restaurant manager, or hospitality operator aiming to grow and create habit-forming experiences for your guests, you won’t want to miss the actionable tips and big-picture strategies in this episode.
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Felicia Shakiba is the founder of CPO Playbook, a leadership and human capital consultancy specializing in executive coaching and leadership development. Through her firm, Felicia partners with organizations to tackle the complexities of human capital—from succession planning and training to HR and people analytics, as well as compensation and total rewards planning. With a passion for helping companies scale by developing strong leadership and effective talent strategies, Felicia guides clients through the nuanced world of people management with expertise and enthusiasm.
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00:00 "Succession Planning Success"
05:54 "Leadership Drives Workplace Culture"
06:50 Leadership Through Shared Responsibility
12:06 "Prioritizing Guest Experience Alignment"
14:54 "Aligning Vision and Consistent Behavior"
16:24 Feedback and Improvement Through Communication
22:28 Balancing AI With Human Insight
24:31 Scaling Leadership with Technology
27:08 Restaurant Accelerator & Expert Advice
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restaurant culture, leadership development, executive coaching, human capital consultancy, succession planning, HR analytics, people analytics, compensation planning, total rewards, employee retention, onboarding strategy, guest experience, stakeholder management, hospitality industry challenges, internal leadership programs, training and development, organizational alignment, mission and values articulation, behavioral leadership, staff engagement, continuous learning, feedback mechanisms, data-driven decision making, survey tools, custom assessments, AI in hospitality, technology for scaling, organizational consistency, servant leadership, customer experience measurement, employee churn rate

With over two decades of experience in the hospitality industry, Jason Littrell has established himself as a leading consultant and strategist, specializing in helping bars and restaurants maximize their efficiency and profitability. His expertise spans a wide range of essential areas, including operational management, staff training, customer experience, and technology integration.
Jason is the founder of Kinetic Management Systems, a cutting-edge suite of tools designed to automate and optimize the day-to-day operations of hospitality businesses. Through his systems, Jason offers solutions for everything from staff recruitment and onboarding to customer retention and feedback management. His approach combines innovative technology with proven strategies to deliver results that are both measurable and scalable.
A passionate educator and speaker, Jason regularly hosts workshops and seminars, sharing his knowledge on how to leverage AI and automation to thrive in a competitive market. His insights are rooted in practical experience, having worked on the ground in various capacities within the industry—from bartender to manager, and now, consultant.
Jason also manages a vibrant online community, "Bar Teams," where he fosters discussions and collaboration among hospitality professionals. Here, members gain access to exclusive content, including training sessions, industry news, and peer support.
His commitment to excellence and innovation in hospitality has not only transformed the operations of numerous establishments but has also inspired many to pursue and achieve greater success. Jason's work is driven by a core belief: that the right mix of people, processes, and technology can turn any hospitality business into a thriving, profitable enterprise.