The CEO of Slutty Vegan opens up about business lessons and growth as a Black woman restauranteur on the newest episode of ‘Masters of the Game’ hosted by Natasha S. Alford.
Pinky Cole doesn’t want to settle.
The successful founder and CEO of the $100-million-dollar Slutty Vegan restaurant brand was never one to accept a situation that didn’t make her happy or accept failure as a permanent situation.
Whether it was leaving her first teaching job that wasn’t a right fit or rebuilding after the fire that burned down her very first restaurant, Cole is always laser-focused on moving forward.
In an exclusive interview on TheGrio’s ‘Masters of the Game’ hosted by Natasha S. Alford, Cole shared insights on what it took to build and grow her plant-based vegan food empire, the lessons she’s learned along the way, and why consistency remains key to longevity.
“It’s easy to get [success],” Cole tells TheGrio. “Keeping it is the challenge because now you have to focus on policies, procedures, systems, [and] consistency in business, and that is oftentimes where we as entrepreneurs fall short.”
With Slutty Vegan in more than roughly a dozen locations with the most recent location expanding in her hometown of Baltimore, MD, Cole emphasized that maintaining quality and experience across every restaurant is her top priority.
“You can create something great. But if it ain’t consistent, then they’re not coming back,” she explained. “What I’ve learned as I’ve evolved as an entrepreneur is hospitality and consistency and quality are the things that will make for a thriving and scaling brand.”
Hard lessons in leadership
Cole candidly discussed some of the tough lessons she’s faced as a business leader, including learning when to let go of control of business operations and when to step in. “I do not care how big your brand gets. Don’t take your eyes off the prize,” she said, reflecting on moments when she stepped back and later realized she needed to be more hands-on with overseeing the business in multiple locations.
One of the biggest shifts in her approach has been how she builds her team. “Before, I used to hire loyalty, but loyalty don’t pay the bills,” Cole admitted. “You gotta get people that are extremely intelligent, extremely experienced in the field, [who] have something to offer and have the same alignment and ethos that you have.”
With these lessons in mind, Cole is taking Slutty Vegan into its next phase, focusing on finding the best talent to drive the brand forward. “Slutty Vegan 2.0, I’m looking for best in class. I want people that can teach me something.”
An evolving entrepreneur
Beyond business strategy, Cole spoke about personal growth through entrepreneurship. As a wife and mother, with a blended family of five children (three of whom she shares with her husband, fellow restaurateur, Derrick Hayes), her plate is always full. Cole has made peace with the constant stream of lessons, wins, and challenges alike that come with running a business.
“We evolve and we make it happen every single day, and I wouldn’t have it any other way because I learned so much about myself as an individual,” she said.
Now, as she continues to scale, her message to aspiring entrepreneurs is clear: “Focus on the things that matter. And what matters the most is the internal consumer and the external consumer—that’s your employees, and that’s the people who come and patronize your business every day.”
Watch a special preview clip from our interview in the video player above. For the full conversation, tune into TheGrio’s ‘Masters of the Game’ with Natasha S. Alford this Friday, March 28, at 8 p.m. EST on TheGrio Cable.
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