Portillo's CPO on Leadership Transformation

CPO PLAYBOOK with Felicia Shakiba

Ever heard of the Ignite Program? It's a leadership development initiative launched by Portillo's Chief People Officer Jill Waite. The program tackles managerial retention and addresses skill gap by promoting internal talent for leadership roles and fostering critical leadership skills like communication, relationship building, and accountability. Designed to preserve Portillo’s company culture across all locations, Ignite has significantly boosted employee retention, increased engagement scores, and supported the company’s successful expansion beyond Chicago. Jill shares how developing high-performing leaders through structured development plans and continuous learning for leaders ensures ongoing growth within the organization. Discover how the Ignite Program is building a strong company culture and transforming leadership at Portillo’s. Don't miss this deep dive into the benefits of promoting talent from within!