Meet Wendy Walla, Owner/Operator

Wendy Walla

Owner/Operator

What year did you start working for McDonald’s?

McDonald’s was my first job when I was sixteen, in 1982. I left for a while to try other things, but inevitably came back in 1990 permanently. I became a McDonald’s Owner/Operator in 2001.

What led you to your current career at McDonald’s?

Honestly, I did not see myself at McDonald’s long-term. Someone else saw the potential in me and mentored me until I saw it in myself.

What is your current position and responsibility?

My current position is Owner/Operator.

I have two distinct sets of responsibilities. The first is to manage and oversee all aspects of the business to meet the requirements of my franchise agreement with McDonald’s.

My second set of responsibilities are self-imposed and more personal. I hold myself accountable to create a culture in my restaurants and organization that allows all my employees to feel appreciated, empowered, and respected. Additionally, I want my organization to be a place where entrepreneurship, creativity and ideas are valued. Lastly, it is important to me to be a boss my people want to work for.

Why do you work at McDonald’s?

First and foremost, I work here because of the people. I have met and created relationships with the most wonderful people over my career. McDonald’s people are the best kind of people. They have friendly, funny, creative, energetic, optimistic personalities that are a joy to be around. McDonald’s people value relationships, and that creates connections that are family like, both in the restaurants and the McDonald’s Corporation.

What is it like working in the Walla organization?

Supported is the first word that comes to mind. We are all individuals first, but we always move as a team. We champion each other’s successes and extend a hand when someone falters. We succeed together and we fail together. No one is left behind. We value people and relationships in this organization.

We truly enjoy each other’s company and like to socialize outside of work. I like to say; we take our jobs very seriously, but we don’t take ourselves very seriously. We like to laugh and give each other a hard time. We are a work family.

What is your go-to-meal at McDonald’s?

My usual is a cheeseburger, small fry, and either a bottle of water or a white milk. Sometimes I will have a chocolate shake instead, but I always have 1 BBQ sauce and 1 honey packet mixed together to dip my fries in.

How does your career at McDonald’s support your life outside of work?

One of the best benefits McDonald’s offers is flexible scheduling, and it’s available at all levels of the job. Because I’ve had flexible scheduling throughout my career, I’ve never missed an event, large or small, I wanted to be present for. Most of those events were planned, but in some cases they were not. Life is not always predictable, so having a flexible schedule makes unexpected surprises in my personal life more manageable and definitely less stressful. McDonald’s is very team orientated so someone always has your back.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I like to read, garden, travel, and spend time with friends and family. I also love to watch hockey, live preferably.