Cherie was hand-picked to take part in the McDonald’s inaugural LEAD (Leadership, Experience, Accountability and Development) Program.

The initiative gives high performing restaurant crew and managers the chance to help solve challenging and business-critical briefs for the business.

“When I heard that I’d been selected to take part in McDonald’s first LEAD Program, I was really happy,” Cherie said.

“Having worked at McDonald’s Port Macquarie Highway restaurant for four years, I was excited to have the opportunity to develop my skills and get a deeper understanding of the wider business.”

Cherie recently attended the program’s launch in Sydney and met her mentor, a McDonald’s corporate employee who will help her develop deeper insight into the business.

While in Sydney, she also received her first business brief, beginning a process that will see her apply the skills and knowledge accrued in the Port Macquarie Highway restaurant as she helps McDonald’s Australia solve a current business challenge.

McDonald’s Australia chief people officer Jennifer St Ledger said the LEAD Program was designed to help McDonald’s continue to bring opportunities to its crew and managers who over the last year had continued to excel and always brought with them an appetite for learning and success.

McDonald’s Port Macquarie Highway licensee Jacqui Jones says Cherie is well-deserving of this opportunity and was nominated due to her outstanding contribution to the running of the restaurant.

Cherie met other like-minded LEAD participants from across the country, McDonald’s Australia senior management and the CEO during the first workshops.

“My team and I have been given a business brief to work on the over the next six months,” she said.

“At the end of the six months, we will present business-solution ideas to senior management who will then decide whether they can implement them into the business.”

A mentor will help guide Cherie through the process.

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