Conscious Leadership: Andy Shallal on the Courage to Scale a Business, Learn From Mistakes, and Change Your Mind

Listen ON: Apple podcasts · SPOTIFY · AMAZON MUSIC | VIEW TRANSCRIPT

Founder/CEO Anas Andy Shallal shares his most valuable lessons learned as an artist and social entrepreneur who “didn’t have a pro forma, business plan, excel sheets, or big decks,” yet managed to launch and successfully scale Busboys and Poets, a group of culturally conscious restaurants that also function as bars, bookstores, coffee shops and event spaces in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area.

With refreshing candor, Andy opens up about hard decisions and growing pains, how to learn from mistakes, and let go of preconceived notions on leadership or success. He tells us why it’s so hard, yet so crucial, for founders to be able to allow space for people with differing opinions. Finally, he offers perspective on finding the balance as a founder and lifelong activist: that we don’t have to lead a “double life” - our work and personal beliefs can be intertwined.

Accessible American Sign Language (ASL) Video Version

Accessibility services coordinated by a Deaf coordinator melissa kelley colibri.
ASL Interpretation by darryn rousseau hollifield and Stephanie Chao.
Executive Producer: Vanessa Shiliwala of Thrive Spice Media.

About Andy

Anas Andy Shallal is an artist and social entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of Busboys and Poets, a group of restaurants in the Washington Metropolitan area where art, culture, and politics intentionally collide over mindfully sourced, food, drinks, and programming that feeds the mind, body and soul.

With nine locations in and around D.C., including the latest locations and Anacostia and Columbia, Maryland Busboys and Poets has become home for progressives, artists and intellectuals, including such notables as the late Howard Zinn, Cornell West, Alice Walker, and Nikki Giovanni. Busboys and Poets is a member of the Restaurant Opportunities Center, focusing on the system on sustainable business and employment practices. Busboys and Poets has also been at the forefront of environmental stewardship, being one of the first businesses in Washington, D.C., to be 100% wind powered and are at the cutting edge of the local and sustainable food movement, winning many awards locally and nationally for its innovative conscious cuisine.

Shallal has received numerous awards, including the Mayor's Art Award, Employee of the Year from the Employment Justice Center, the Mayor's Environmental Award, Washingtonian of the year from Washingtonian magazine, and the D.C. Hall of Fame. He holds an MBA from the Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland.

Explore the #BeTheBossNow Series