At the end of March, alum Neel Patel (Atlanta, 2015-22) was named CEO at REGO Restaurant Group (the global company behind Quiznos and Taco Del Mar).
Neel left the Firm as an EM in 2022. That’s not a typo: Neel went from EM to CEO in under three years, with only a meteoric stint at Church’s Chicken—where he went from Advisor to VP to SVP of Strategy and Growth—in between.
We sat down with Neel to discuss his trajectory and plans while in his first week in the new role, and more.
First, congratulations! How’s it going?
Thank you! Honestly, it feels like I’m building the plane while flying it—lots of calls and meetings, countless new faces, and diving deep into the weeds that matter most—all while trying not to chase every shiny object. It’s been fast paced already with plenty of curveballs, but I find that incredibly energizing. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Do you feel like a CEO yet?
Does anyone ever feel like a CEO, ever? It’s funny, my immediate response is, “No, I don’t feel different.” But then reality sets in. I see critical decisions ahead that will fundamentally shape how our business operates in the future, and suddenly even small details feel surprisingly high stakes. There’s certainly an intensity there.
More than anything, I feel an enormous sense of ownership and accountability for REGO’s success. Of course, I’ve always been deeply invested in my work, but this kicks it up a notch—I’m now directly responsible for ensuring our employees, franchisees, and shareholders thrive. That’s a responsibility I take seriously, and yes, it brings stress . . . but it's a motivating, energizing kind of stress. Ultimately, what drives me isn’t the CEO title itself—it’s the opportunity to build something impactful. The role just happens to be how I contribute to that goal.
Do people talk to you differently now that you’re in this role?
Those who know me well speak to me exactly same way they always have, and that’s exactly how I want it. That question does make me think about how we present ourselves to the world—especially on platforms like LinkedIn.
When my new role was announced, I loved reconnecting with old friends, colleagues, and even casual acquaintances who reached out. It was a powerful reminder that, below the surface, there is an invisible network quietly following my journey, cheering me on.
I try to reciprocate when I see similar announcements. It reminds me that while it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day, we all have strong, supportive communities rooting for us, even from afar.
But there’s also a dark side to this continuous newsfeed of milestones and celebrations.
In the years since leaving McKinsey, I’ve faced plenty of uncertainty—questioning which choices were right, wrestling with doubts about opportunities I didn’t take. At those times, seeing others announce exciting new roles on LinkedIn sometimes felt overwhelming or even intimidating.
To be clear, I am confident of the path I’ve taken and deliberate about the skills I’ve focused on developing, but the feeling of being in the middle of a rat race is inevitable. It takes time to recognize that we only ever see the tip of the iceberg: the impressive job announcements, promotions, and wins. We rarely see the countless hours, uncertainties, and setbacks behind those milestones.
What does your LinkedIn-showcased journey not include?
All the interviews (and potential roles) that didn’t pan out. The promising opportunities that unexpectedly fell through. Those three-, five-, even eight-week periods when I seriously questioned whether I was on the right path, or if I was making any meaningful progress at all.
Even after stepping into this CEO role, uncertainty remains, and that is completely okay. There are always multiple directions we can take a business. Ultimately, decisions must be made—but the doubt, debate, and careful thought behind those choices never make it onto LinkedIn.
Has there been one of those decisions that feels like it determined all the proceeding outcomes?
Absolutely. My decision to declare search was extremely valuable. My entire Firm network stepped up to the challenge of offering advice and lending support—and importantly, it gave me the invaluable gift of time.
I managed to fly through my search period, and after three months, I knew I’d likely need another three. During that time, I turned down several certain opportunities (often with the advice and counsel from my mentors), before stepping into my first formal post-McKinsey role. That was a seminal moment.
How did you know it was time to think beyond the Firm?
Everyone has their own reasons for declaring search. Some are after a lifestyle change, others know exactly what they want next and just need a pause to pivot. For me, it was about scratching a new itch. I’d built this incredible toolkit at McKinsey, and I was eager to test it out in an operating role. I wanted to be directly involved in the day-to-day decisions of running a business—pushing buttons, seeing results, and owning outcomes.
Of course, at McKinsey there’s many opportunities to do that. But I wanted that to be my every day. I’ve been on that operating journey ever since.
What are some of the skills you learned at the Firm that you’re finding helpful in your first week on the job?
One of the most valuable things I learned at McKinsey—and still my favorite skill—is how to ask thoughtful questions without rushing to propose answers.
When I was a BA, I was most impressed by the leaders who could guide entire problem-solving sessions by simply asking insightful questions. They wouldn’t suggest solutions right away; instead, they focused on creating extreme clarity about the problem at hand. Those conversations often led to deeper insights, collaborative breakthroughs, and clearer outcomes for everyone involved. These same leaders could build a deep bench of insights from short interviews with clients, no matter the setting.
That’s the same curiosity and inquisitive mindset I’m excited to bring to my new role.
How did you figure out that the path you’re on now was the right one for you?
For me, this one is straightforward. Throughout my career, there have been clear moments when going into work each day felt genuinely energizing—when the passion for what I was doing fueled me, no matter how long the hours or how intense the pace.
Conversely, I’ve also experienced roles that looked perfect on paper but left me uninspired and drained. Learning to trust this gut feeling has been key. Right now, that sense of excitement and purpose tells me clearly that I’m exactly where I need to be.
Plus, I love food and get to spend my days talking about subs and tacos—I’m definitely in the right place!