Hear how Mike & Patty’s CEO, Justin Woo, shifted from juggling concepts to leading with clarity and purpose — with a mission to make 10 million people smile.
The Challenge
M&A Brands, the parent company behind Boston's favorite Mike & Patty’s, was juggling multiple food concepts across five locations. The team was stretched thin, roles overlapped, and priorities changed constantly.
Everyone was working hard but in different directions. Growth was slowing, momentum felt scattered, and culture was starting to fray.
“We had four food concepts and people helping each other out, but it wasn’t their main strength or focus.” — Justin Woo, CEO
Justin knew they needed clarity, structure, and a shared mission.
The Solution
Seeking a breakthrough, M&A Brands engaged in business coaching to address their structural and cultural challenges. The leadership team was guided through a process that emphasized clarity of mission, role refinement, and a shift from reactive problem-solving to proactive solution design.
- Focused on one core brand instead of multiple concepts
- Clarified roles and accountability across the team
- Shifted meetings to solution-first conversations
- Created a mission that guides decisions: Make people smile
- Elevated leadership capacity, especially for Justin as CEO
- Reinforced culture around purpose and experience
“It’s elevated me as a leader and as a person.” — Justin Woo
The Results
With structured coaching support, M&A Brands underwent a measurable transformation. The brand sharpened its identity, the team aligned around one direction, and leadership stepped into a new level of clarity and confidence.
Mike & Patty’s now operates with purpose and simplicity, centered on one mission and one guest promise: Make people smile.
They also set a bold goal: 10 million smiles by 2029.
“It changed our culture and our direction.” — Justin Woo
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