Mandy started her career at Darden as a server in one of Olive Garden’s Oklahoma City restaurants at the age of 19. After two years on the job, her Service Manager felt she was ready to be a Certified Trainer, a position Mandy wanted, but feared she wasn’t ready for due to her shyness. She admits that at the time she simply wasn’t comfortable telling people what to do, preferring to lead by example. But her Manager saw the potential in Mandy and encouraged her to take the position. Before long, her shyness gave way to quiet confidence. A couple of years later, her Director acknowledged that all her hard work and skill as a trainer had demonstrated real leadership potential. He wanted Mandy to interview for a management position. In 2004, Mandy was promoted to Sales Manager for the opening of a new restaurant in Oklahoma City. She subsequently worked as a Service Manager and then as a Culinary Manager. Having learned all aspects of managing an Olive Garden, Mandy was promoted to General Manager of a new Olive Garden that opened in Casper, Wyoming in 2010. As General Manager, she oversees the entire Casper operation. One of her many job responsibilities is to speak in front of large groups of employees, a task that would have been impossible earlier in her career, but now she does with ease. Mandy credits the confidence and encouragement of her many bosses with helping her overcome her shyness, and allowing her to grow both personally and professionally. She readily acknowledges that Darden’s commitment to leadership training and its focus on offering employees’ opportunities to advance were responsible for her success. For Mandy, Olive Garden and Darden are family, and she can’t image working anywhere else.