Shawn Walchef is the founder of Cali BBQ Media and a leading voice in the Business Creator Economy. He teaches restaurant owners, tech founders, and hospitality leaders how to thrive in the digital age through Smartphone Storytelling and his Digital Hospitality framework.
As host of Restaurant Influencers (produced by Cali BBQ Media and published by Entrepreneur Media), Shawn has built one of the most impactful shows in the hospitality industry. The podcast and video series has been viewed more than 71 million times and features top executives, operators, and innovators shaping the future of restaurants.
Shawn is also the owner of Cali BBQ, a restaurant brand in San Diego that has grown from a local hotspot into a national example of how hospitality can thrive by embracing technology and storytelling.
A keynote speaker at leading restaurant and technology shows, Shawn has partnered with Toast, Uber Eats, Pepsi, US Foods, Restaurant365, and Google to create authentic content that drives awareness and growth. His mission: help businesses stop being invisible online by teaching them to "Be The Show, Not the Commercial."
More From Shawn P. Walchef
This ‘Chopped’ Champ Beat Cancer 6 Times, Lost Nearly 200 Pounds and Found Power in Presence
How a ‘Finance Guy’ and ‘Restaurant Guy’ Joined Forces to Invest in Over 55 Companies
How a Jersey Kid Grew His Restaurant Business Into a West Coast Powerhouse
Most Creators Are Doing Brand Deals Wrong — And This Sponsorship Expert Has Some Advice for Them
This Chef Is Convinced One Cuisine Will Be the Next Big Thing in Fast-Casual Dining: ‘I’m Betting My Career’
How This General Store Turned NYC Hotspot Earned Michelin’s Attention
A Long-Time Google Exec Shares the Secrets to Helping Customers Find Your Restaurant
This Hospitality Lawyer Has Worked for Big-Name Brands — And She Says This Is the Biggest Mistake Restaurant Owners Make
This Chef Built a Meatball Empire, Lost Millions and Came Back Stronger with a Pizza Revolution
This Chef Uses Memes to Call Out the Restaurant Industry — and He’s Turning Online Influence into Real-World Change
Your Guests All Want the Same Thing, Says This Hotel Food and Beverage Consultant — Here’s What
To Make the Perfect Cocktail, You Need Collaboration. It’s the Same When You Own a Restaurant.
His ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’-Themed Pop-Up Restaurants Bring the Classic Video Game to Life — and Feature the Beloved Character’s Favorite Food
This NYC Man Is Revitalizing the Famous Bar From ‘Goodfellas’ As It Approaches Its 200th Anniversary
Embracing Fear Fueled this Michelin-Rated Chef’s Comeback
How These Entrepreneurs Turned a Seasonal Venue Into a Nightlife Powerhouse
The Army Was Tough, But Restaurants Made Her Cry — Lessons From the Drive-Thru From a Former KFC Exec
When Shaquille O’Neal Wanted to Start a Restaurant, This Is Who He Approached
He Discovered His Favorite Sandwich Shop in College. Now He Runs It – and Has 155 Locations.
This Chef Went From Dreaming of Michelin Stars to Building an Audience as a YouTube Star
Her Restaurant Business Is Worth $100 Million — Here’s Her Unconventional Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
After Co-Founding a Successful Restaurant Group, He Turned to Tech to Simplify the Checkout Experience
He Was Once Head Writer of ‘The Simpsons.’ Now, He’s the Gordon Ramsay of Fast Food — Here’s How This TV Exec Found an Unlikely Career as an Influencer.
This Chef’s Unfiltered Approach to Food Found Success Online. Now, Her Grocery Store Brings Her Brand to Life: ‘I Don’t Want to Live on the Internet.’
How This Michelin-Starred Chef Overcame Loss and Hardships to Achieve Stardom
How This Beverage Industry CEO Used His Passion for Hip-Hop to Build Partnerships With Jay-Z, Rick Ross and More
This Food Network Mainstay Feeds His Passion for Fast-Paced Restaurant Life in Just 3 Days a Month
These Husband-and-Wife Co-Founders Started a Food Brand to Share Chinese Culture — Then a Smart Rebrand Took Their Company to the Next Level