First Watch exec dishes on how the company maintains top-tier culture

Karen Sainsbury is an accidental restaurant industry executive — so much so that, before she landed her first job, at a Chili’s in Colorado, she applied for a position at a Blockbuster video across the street. 

The Blockbuster wasn't hiring that day, back in 2001. The Chili’s was. But when the then 18-year-old Sainsbury told the restaurant manager that as a high school cheerleader she couldn’t work nights or weekends, he balked. “He just looked at me, started laughing, and he said, ‘here's the thing, you have a great personality, but in restaurants, when are restaurants busy? Nights and weekends. If your availability changes, let me know.’ 

Her availability didn’t change. But a few hours later Sainsbury got a phone call from a different Chili’s manager, asking her to come back in. That manager interviewed her, too, and the next day, while the first manager she spoke with was on vacation, the second one hired her. Not to spite the other leader, but by mistake: That manager was supposed to call a different candidate, with better availability.