Next-Gen Leadership in Action
What McDonald’s young managers can teach us about real-world leadership
At just 23 years old, some Restaurant Managers at McDonald’s are leading teams of up to 120 employees and managing operations with an annual turnover of $AUD8 million.
That might sound like the profile of an emerging tech entrepreneur - but it’s the reality for many young leaders in one of Australia’s largest youth employment ecosystems.
These managers are responsible for hiring, coaching, performance, customer experience, operational efficiency - and doing it all while leading peers, many of whom are teenagers themselves. It’s high-stakes, high-pressure and incredibly fast-paced. And they do it daily.
It’s easy to underestimate the complexity of leadership in environments like this. But next time you visit a McDonald’s, look a little closer. You’ll see leadership in motion: calm decision-making, team motivation, conflict resolution, adaptability and accountability - all in real time.
To say I didn’t have those skills at that age is an understatement!
The Programme Behind the Performance
We’ve had the privilege of working with the senior leaders who guide and grow these remarkable restaurant managers - thanks to Laurie and Anthony Nigro for the opportunity.
Together, we’ve been exploring a dynamic development framework that blends Situational Leadership with Social Style and Versatility, helping leaders refine both what they do and how they do it:
- Situational Leadership® equips leaders to diagnose development needs and match their leadership approach accordingly.
- SOCIAL STYLE® & Versatility helps leaders understand their own behavioural style, read others, and flex communication for greater impact and buy-in.
This combination is powerful: it gives young leaders the structure to lead effectively and the emotional agility to build influence and trust - core capabilities in any leadership context.
Why It Matters
Developing leadership at this stage of a person’s career builds habits that last. These young leaders aren’t just running restaurants - they’re building resilience, clarity, emotional intelligence and performance mindsets that will shape how they lead for decades to come.
We’re excited to keep supporting their growth - and to see where this next generation of high-capability leaders takes their skills next.
