You know how sometimes someone seems to have it all figured out early? That’s Damola. He’s just 36, and already the boss of Red Lobster, a multi billion dollar restaurant chain in America but how did a Nigerian child grow up to run one of the country’s top seafood brands? Let me tell you.
Damola was born in 1989 in Nigeria, spent his childhood in Zimbabwe and the Netherlands, then moved to the United States at age nine ,at high school, he was already working as a waiter, saving small money and even opening a stock portfolio at 16 ,by the time he graduated from Brown University, he was president of the investment club and a football team member.
After Brown university, Damola earned his MBA at Harvard, then joined Goldman Sachs and later private equity.That's when he saw an opportunity which turns around to be restaurants. First, he helped acquire P.F. Chang’s and by 31, he became its first Black CEO, steering the restaurant through COVID Era and making it profitable again.
Under his leadership, P.F. Chang’s sales jumped over 30%, topping $1 billion . That’s not easy at all , Then came Red Lobster, then in 2024, the chain slid into bankruptcy with over $1 billion in debt . Fortress Investment bought it, and Damola was appointed CEO in August , making him the youngest ever to hold that role. He’s already bringing in value menus, changing service with his “Red Carpet Hospitality” style, and improving the ambiance with better music and lighting.
Damola’s story shows that starting young can give you a beginning ,but it's what you do with your start that counts. From working as a waiter to leading billion dollar companies, he built wealth, influence, and impact one smart move at a time and building wealth isn’t just about money. It’s about opening doors for new ideas, representation, and young leaders who don’t look like the old CEOs. Damola's success is an example for young Black professionals and children in the diaspora everywhere, that your background isn’t your limit. You can use that little cash that you get and put it in investment account in college or university, to plant seeds for something greater.
So, if you’re thinking, “Maybe I’m too young to start building” remember this, Damola was in his teens and 20s when he made moves. He used his head and his heart. He learned. He adapted and when opportunity came, all through COVID and even bankruptcy, he showed that he was ready.
You don’t have to wait. You can start now, grow steady, and create something meaningful just like Damola did.