Podcast: Laura McLand — How an Arby's Job Led to a 30,000-Person HR Career

In this episode, we talk with Laura McLand, Vice President of Human Resources at Sun Holdings, the second-largest franchise organization in the country. Sun Holdings operates 13 brands, including Burger King, Popeyes, Arby's, IHOP, Applebee's, Golden Corral, and Taco Bueno, across more than 1,250 restaurants and retail locations in 32 states. Laura's team of three fields more than 8,000 applications a week and fills the average open role in two days. We talk about why she hires for passion over experience, why she asks every candidate what they want to be when they grow up, and how her own path, from a $5.00/hour, server job at Arby's to running HR for more than 30,000 employees, shapes the way she leads.

Sep 2, 2026
# mins
Podcast: Laura McLand — How an Arby's Job Led to a 30,000-Person HR Career

Podcast: Laura McLand — How an Arby's Job Led to a 30,000-Person HR Career

In this episode, we talk with Laura McLand, Vice President of Human Resources at Sun Holdings, the second-largest franchise organization in the country. Sun Holdings operates 13 brands, including Burger King, Popeyes, Arby's, IHOP, Applebee's, Golden Corral, and Taco Bueno, across more than 1,250 restaurants and retail locations in 32 states. Laura's team of three fields more than 8,000 applications a week and fills the average open role in two days. We talk about why she hires for passion over experience, why she asks every candidate what they want to be when they grow up, and how her own path, from a $5.00/hour, server job at Arby's to running HR for more than 30,000 employees, shapes the way she leads.

Podcast: Laura McLand — How an Arby's Job Led to a 30,000-Person HR Career

Podcast: Laura McLand — How an Arby's Job Led to a 30,000-Person HR Career

In this episode, we talk with Laura McLand, Vice President of Human Resources at Sun Holdings, the second-largest franchise organization in the country. Sun Holdings operates 13 brands, including Burger King, Popeyes, Arby's, IHOP, Applebee's, Golden Corral, and Taco Bueno, across more than 1,250 restaurants and retail locations in 32 states. Laura's team of three fields more than 8,000 applications a week and fills the average open role in two days. We talk about why she hires for passion over experience, why she asks every candidate what they want to be when they grow up, and how her own path, from a $5.00/hour, server job at Arby's to running HR for more than 30,000 employees, shapes the way she leads.

Podcast: Laura McLand — How an Arby's Job Led to a 30,000-Person HR Career
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