At Diversified Restaurant Group (DRG), we pride ourselves on being at the forefront of all the latest innovations in the QSR industry. So it comes as no surprise that our very own Communications & Media Manager, Sierra Burk, recently embarked on a trip to Chicago, IL to attend The 2025 Digital Transformation in Fast Casual & QSR Summit.
The gathering was hosted by Industry Now, a community-driven corporate events business that brings together hospitality leaders from across the country. Sierra had the incredible opportunity to learn about groundbreaking technology, marketing best practices and more.
We sat down with Sierra upon her return to hear more about her experience.
Key Takeaways
Sierra shared that the conference was centered around growing the QSR industry from a digital perspective. Specifically, Sierra focused on learning about the various tech tools that other QSR franchisees have in their portfolio and how they’re using them to boost revenue.
Sierra plans to use the insights gathered to influence the way our marketing team makes business decisions.
The Panel
Thanks to her specialized experience and perspective — and the fact that she leads our Women in Leadership Network (WLN) — Sierra was also invited to speak on a panel at the conference! The conversation was titled Innovating Beyond Boundaries — How Women in Leadership Are Shaping The Future in Fast Casual & QSR and featured female leaders from franchisees across the country.
This panel was, by far, Sierra’s favorite part of the conference. The speakers focused on highlighting the unique skills that women in QSR can lend, whether that’s listening, mentoring, or focusing on inclusivity. She found it incredibly helpful to chat with the other panelists about the challenges the QSR industry presents and share solutions-based strategies with each other.
“In times of change, you’re going to see women leaders who are thinking differently. We bring different skills to the table.” – Sierra Burk, Communications Manager
Looking Ahead
When asked what’s next for women in QSR, Sierra was excited to share that the third annual WLN Workshop is scheduled for October. The Workshop is a DRG-driven event where WLN members from across the country gather at the Restaurant Support Center (RSC) to learn, grow and connect!
“The fact that we’re still talking about women in leadership means there’s still progress to be made,” she shares. “I hope we can influence other companies to bring programs like ours in-house to spark innovation and discussion — and to recognize the powerful perspectives and leadership capabilities women have.”
We want to extend a huge congratulations to Sierra for her panel inclusion — as well as a thank you for representing DRG in such an impactful way. We can’t wait to see what you’ll accomplish next!
