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A Chat with the Senior Vice President of Mastro’s, the Preferred Steakhouse of Celebs and Locals

After successful careers as the chief operating officer for the Prostate Cancer Foundation and a spokeswoman for the Walt Disney Company, this powerhouse of a businesswoman is now part of the Mastro’s franchise.

944: How did you come to work for Mastro’s?
DEBBIE BOHNETT: My former boss from the Walt Disney Company was responsible for putting together the deal to buy Mastro’s restaurants. I worked for him 12 years ago and jumped at the opportunity to work for him once again.

How has Mastro’s changed since you started?
The Mastro family did a brilliant job with the concept and execution of the restaurants. Our goal is to continue to enhance the brand, and create the finest dining experience for our guests by combining the highest quality steaks and seafood with exceptional service in a cosmopolitan and entertaining atmosphere.

What’s it like to work in a male-dominated field?
Well, I certainly hear more about college football than I do about fashion! Although women have definitely made strides in the career world since I began mine in the early 1970s, all of the executive teams have been male-dominated. One notable difference is that I was married and had my children in the 1970s when none of my female peers were having that same experience. I rarely talked about my sons when I was at work. What’s refreshing about today is that men do talk about their families and it’s not thought to be unprofessional.

How did working for the Prostate Cancer Foundation or the Walt Disney Company prepare you for the senior vice president position with Mastro’s?
Disney was all about guest service, synergy and maintaining a special brand. All of this translates to this business very easily.

What advice do you have for aspiring businesswomen?
It would be helpful for them to find a female mentor and learn from her experiences. And then, when they have been in the business world for a significant amount of time, they should themselves mentor young people coming into the workplace. The ability to build and maintain relationships is critical. I would remind all graduates that a career is about the quality of work, not quantity of time. I see so many young people expecting to be promoted just because they have held a position for a year.

Will there be a day when there is a Mastro’s in every major city?
We are looking to add two to three restaurants a year. There are currently three in Scottsdale and four in California.

Have your steak and eat it, too, at www.mastros.com