Women in Restaurant Leadership (WiRL)

What Women in Restaurant Leadership (WiRL) does

Women in Restaurant Leadership (WiRL) is a private U.S.-based networking and professional development organization founded in 2023 and operated by Arrowfly LLC. WiRL serves women across all ranks of the restaurant industry — from C-suite executives to entry-level operators, spanning quick service, full service, chains, and independents — through an annual in-person summit (the WiRL Together Summit) and a year-round digital media platform. The organization is co-created and backed by QSR and FSR magazines, which provide established editorial reach and advertiser relationships; Arrowfly LLC handles event logistics, registration, and operations.

The platform's core products are the annual WiRL Together Summit (a sold-out three-year-run event drawing 500+ attendees from 300+ companies), the WiRL Awards (Rising Star, Trailblazer, Community Champion), a digital media layer (weekly newsletter, biweekly podcast, monthly webinars, #WiRLPowerHour virtual happy hours), and a 6-month structured mentorship program delivered in partnership with GLEAM Network. Underlying infrastructure is light: a WordPress/Elementor website, Cvent ticketing, and outsourced event management — WiRL is a community and media business, not a technology product.

WiRL generates revenue through two primary streams: conference registration fees across tiered pricing ($399 Early Bird, $599 Regular, $799 Late/On-Site) and multi-tiered corporate sponsorships (Marquee, Platinum, Gold, Silver) from restaurant industry suppliers. The go-to-market is event-and-community-driven, amplified by QSR/FSR media channels and a 30+ executive advisory board. The customer base is bifurcated: individual women operators (B2C, ticket-paying attendees) and B2B restaurant-industry suppliers (sponsors). The organization operates with a lean 19-person team and has not disclosed external funding.

Name

Women in Restaurant Leadership (WiRL)

Legal name

Arrowfly LLC

Website

https://womenleadrestaurants.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Women in Restaurant Leadership (WiRL) is a private U.S. networking and professional development organization founded in 2023 that serves women across all ranks of the restaurant industry through an annual in-person summit, a year-round digital media platform, an awards program, and a structured mentorship program — backed by QSR and FSR magazines.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Networking and Events

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Food, Beverage & Hospitality Trade Shows Organizers (THAHABAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums (MPAGAGAK)

Keywords

• Women leadership networking
• Restaurant industry conferences
• Hospitality professional development
• Executive mentorship programs
• Events and community management

Headquarters

HQ city

Scottsdale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Conference Registration Fees: Revenue from ticket sales for the annual WiRL Together Summit. Tiered pricing model with early bird, regular, and late/on-site registration options ranging from $399 to $799 per attendee.
2. Sponsorship Revenue: Corporate sponsorships from restaurant industry suppliers and brands. Multiple sponsorship tiers including Marquee, Platinum, Gold, Silver sponsors. Sponsors gain visibility through event marketing, signage, digital channels, and on-site experiences with access to top-level networking opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Women in Restaurant Leadership (WiRL) operates a national networking, education, and recognition platform for women in the restaurant industry. Its anchor product is the annual Together Summit conference (500+ attendees, sold out for three consecutive years), supplemented by the WiRL Awards recognition program, a year-round digital media platform (weekly newsletter, biweekly podcast, monthly webinars, and #WiRLPowerHour virtual happy hours), and the 6-month WiRL x GLEAM structured mentorship program in partnership with GLEAM Network. Revenue is generated through tiered conference registration fees ($399-$799) and multi-tier corporate sponsorships from restaurant suppliers and brands.

Product overview

Women in Restaurant Leadership (WiRL) is a national networking and professional development organization, not a unified software product. Its core offerings consist of the annual WiRL Together Summit conference, the WiRL Awards recognition program, and a year-round digital media platform (newsletter, podcast, webinars, virtual happy hours). Additional offerings include the WiRL x GLEAM Mentor Program and pre-conference workshops. The organization operates as a media and events platform serving women in restaurant leadership across all segments of the restaurant industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Together Summit: WiRL's signature annual event bringing together women from across the restaurant industry for connection, mentorship, and career advancement.

Products and services

• WiRL Together Summit Annual in-person flagship conference for women in restaurant leadership, featuring executive keynotes, candid leadership conversations, peer-to-peer roundtables, and actionable breakout sessions, with tiered registration at $399-$799. Attendance has sold out for three consecutive years and has drawn representation from 300+ restaurant companies.
• WiRL Awards Annual awards program recognizing women who are driving progress in the restaurant industry, featuring categories such as Rising Star, Trailblazer, and Community Champion, with the inaugural awards dinner held during the 2026 summit.
• WiRL x GLEAM Mentor Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 500+ attendees per annual summit, sold out for 3 consecutive years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• QSR MagazinecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerQSR Magazine is a co-creator and media partner of WiRL, providing established restaurant industry media reach and credibility. QSR is one of the leading publications covering the quick service restaurant segment.
• FSR MagazinecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFSR Magazine is a co-creator and media partner of WiRL, providing established restaurant industry media reach and credibility. FSR covers the full service restaurant segment.
• GLEAM NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGLEAM Network (Giving, Leadership, Empowerment, Advancement, Mentorship) is a key partner for WiRL's mentorship program. The partnership includes a 6-month WiRL x GLEAM Mentor Program offering structured mentorship opportunities for attendees.
• CHART (Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHART is an organization dedicated to hospitality training and advancement that partners with WiRL on educational content. They lead sessions including the Live Ask My Peers (LAMP) forum.
• The Giving KitchenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerESG partner featured at WiRL events discussing how to elevate careers by elevating others. The Giving Kitchen provides emergency financial assistance to restaurant workers in crisis.
• CORE (Chef's table)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerESG partner featured at WiRL events. CORE is an organization focused on restaurant industry sustainability and social impact.
• Alex's Lemonade StandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerESG partner featured at WiRL events discussing how to elevate careers by elevating others. Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation fights childhood cancer.
• WORTHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing guidance on navigating in-person events and overcoming biases. WORTH supports women in business and professional settings.
• Arrowfly LLCcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArrowfly LLC manages event logistics and operations for WiRL, including registration, hotel booking, and event coordination. Copyright holder (2026 Arrowfly LLC). Contact: [email protected].

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Women's Foodservice Forum: Long-standing professional development and networking organization for women in the foodservice industry. Highly comparable to WiRL in mission (advancing women in restaurant/foodservice leadership), programming (mentorship, summits, awards), and target audience (women operators across QSR and FSR).
• MUFSO (Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators Conference): Annual leadership conference for multi-unit restaurant operators featuring keynotes, workshops, and networking. Directly comparable to WiRL's Together Summit in audience (senior restaurant operators), format (multi-day in-person event), and sponsorship model.

Broad incumbents

• National Restaurant Association Show: The flagship annual trade show for the US restaurant industry, organized by the National Restaurant Association. Comparable to WiRL's Together Summit as a B2B restaurant industry event, but far broader in scope and not women-specific.
• Nation's Restaurant News: Major US restaurant industry media brand covering operators, trends, and leadership. Comparable to WiRL's media partner QSR/FSR as a restaurant-industry B2B publication with overlapping audience and event extensions.
• Restaurant Business: Leading B2B restaurant industry media outlet publishing news, research, and operator profiles. Comparable to QSR/FSR as restaurant industry media with overlapping audience and DEI/leadership content.

Others

• Catalyst: Global nonprofit advancing women in business through research, advisory, and events. Comparable to WiRL in mission and event-driven community model, though operating across all industries rather than restaurant-specific.
• Lean In: Women-focused leadership and professional development organization founded by Sheryl Sandberg. Comparable to WiRL's mission of advancing women in the workplace and use of community-driven content and events.
• Cvent: Enterprise event management platform that WiRL actually uses (cvent.me registration link). Comparable as the underlying event infrastructure provider, not a direct competitor but a relevant ecosystem participant.
• Winsight: The parent media company of QSR and FSR magazines — and effectively the parent of WiRL's brand ecosystem. Comparable as the broader media platform under which WiRL operates, rather than a competitive peer.
• International Women's Forum: Global membership organization for accomplished women leaders across industries. Comparable to WiRL in advancing women in leadership through member events and peer networks, though broader than restaurant-specific.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/QSRmagazine
• Facebookfacebook.com/QSRmagazine
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/qsrmagazine
• Instagraminstagram.com/qsrmagazine

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Women in Restaurant Leadership (WiRL)