By sharing what she learned, this Yum! PR director is making an impact across the organization

Lori Eberenz is second from left. Image provided by Yum! Brands.

Every year since 1991, employees across the foodservice industry attend the Women's Foodservice Forum Leadership Conference to be inspired by a roster of executives, celebrities and motivational speakers. Yum! Brands is an active partner, having Chief Operating Officer & People & Culture Officer Tracy Skeans as a former board chair and Pizza Hut Global President Shannon Garcia currently serving as a board member, and the company regularly sends a cohort of leaders to WFF each year.

One of those chosen to attend the 2026 conference was Lori Eberenz, Yum!'s director of Public Relations & Global Storytelling. She says that what makes WFF feel special is the "collective effervescence," or the energy created through shared experience, purpose and connection. Surrounded by talented women and allies, that energy was undeniable, she said.

March 2026 was her second time attending, having first gone in 2018.

"It was just as powerful the second time around," Eberenz said. "It was equally energizing, empowering and full of practical, actionable insights I brought back to my work, my team, my family and my life."

Here are six that Eberenz took home with her (in her own words).

"Your future self will figure it out."

Monica Rothgery is the former chief operating officer of KFC U.S., the first woman to ever hold that title. She retired from KFC in 2022 and is now an author and speaker, having recently penned "Lessons from the Drive-Thru: Real Life Wisdom for Frontline Leaders."

At WFF, Monica shared insights from 30 women leaders, along with some from her own experience, one of which was "your future self will figure it out." This simple reminder resonated with me deeply. It's easy to feel like we need to have everything mapped out, but growth doesn't work that way. Looking back, my future self has always figured things out. Trusting myself allows me to take bigger, dare I say, braver, steps forward.

Yum! employees at WFF 2026.

The power of choice. "A single moment can re-write your story, but your choices can re-write it again!"

Melissa Stockwell is a former Army officer and the first female American soldier to lose a limb in active duty in Iraq after an IED hit her convoy during a mission in 2004. She has since become a paralympic medalist in triathlon, a paratriathlon World Champion and Ironman.

Melissa's story is a reminder that we have the power to choose our next move. She shared how every year she celebrates "Little Leg's Birthday," the anniversary of the injury that led to her amputation. It was a powerful reminder that while we don't always choose our circumstances, we can choose our response.

That perspective hit home for me as I am a breast cancer survivor. Each year on April 10, I celebrate my survivor-versary with my family. We choose to celebrate the grit and resilience it took to get through that time. We choose to pause to reflect with gratitude on the tremendous amount of support we received that carried us through that time, and we choose to focus on finding joy and living life to its fullest.

"Bravery is an acquired behavior."

Nicole Bianchi, author of "Five Tough Talks: How to Lead Brave Conversations for Exceptional Results," told us that you don't need to trudge down the yellow brick road looking for the wizard to find your courage. Courage is something you build - "bravery is an acquired behavior."

Like a muscle, it strengthens with use. Do one small brave thing each day. Over time, those small moments build the confidence you need to manage bigger challenges.

When the "how" feels hard, refocus on the "why."

Ben Nemtin is cofounder of The Buried Life movement, which began as a personal quest to complete a list of "100 things to do before you die." Alongside his friends, he turned that idea into a hit MTV show and a global platform focused on mental health, purpose and goal setting.

We all face moments where the path forward feels unclear or difficult. In those moments, reconnect to the "why." Purpose fuels perseverance and often, it's what makes the impossible feel possible. (A good second learning from Ben: make a list of things you want to do before you die and start doing them NOW!)

Eberenz (far right) with Yum! colleagues at WFF 2026.

"Mattering matters."

People want more than to belong; they want to matter. That distinction is powerful, according to clinical psychologist, author and performance strategist Elizabeth Lombardo. When we feel like we matter, we are more engaged, connected and fulfilled. As leaders, we have an opportunity to create environments where people feel seen, valued and missed when they're not there.

"Don't hog your journey. It's not just for you."

I love Hoda Kotb, the former Today Show host, and everything about her platform, "Joy 101." I learned a lot from her keynote, but in particular, the importance of sharing our journeys. We are a connected community. Our experiences, especially the hard ones, aren't just ours to carry. They can inspire, support and guide others. Sharing our stories creates connection, and often, it gives someone else exactly what they need in that moment.

Bringing it back

Experiences like WFF are a powerful reminder of the importance of continuous learning and leadership development. I'm grateful to work for a company like Yum! Brands that invests in these opportunities and prioritizes growing its people.

I left WFF not just inspired, but equipped with practical tools, a renewed perspective and a commitment to keep growing, learning and sharing along the way.

Like Hoda said: don't hog your journey. The lessons we learn are meant to be shared.

When we bring these lessons back into our teams, work and homes, and share them openly, we help others grow, too. And that's where real impact happens.