Junior tables are rare. I’m not talking about junior boards made up of 35 to 45-year-olds groomed for future leadership roles. I’m talking about the boards that provide seats for school children. One of the first companies to make this innovative move was Domino’s Inc. was created and directed by “Comeback Kid of Ypsilanti” Tom Monaghan.
I first met Tom in the late 70’s when I was serving in one of my volunteer roles as Vice President and President-Elect of the Ypsilanti, MI Chamber of Commerce. Tom has faced more than his share of hardships. Orphaned as a child, he dropped out of college at an early age and initially failed in his pizza business. Enlisting in the US Marine Corps eventually taught him organization and discipline. Driven by a natural curiosity, he studied the actions of successful leaders in order to discover what they did well. He has always sought innovation.
Since its founding in 1960, Domino’s has been recognized for its entrepreneurial spirit, with its many innovations including better pizzas, newer food offerings, better customer experiences and many “firsts” in modernized ordering and delivery. But even many ardent followers of the company are unaware of the formation of the Domino’s Pizza Junior Board of Directors in the early 1980s.
Domino’s placed an ad in the now-defunct Ann Arbor News, inviting children ages 8 to 12 to apply for a seat at their junior high table by submitting a short essay on why they thought they should be chosen. Tom came up with the idea of forming a small steering committee because he really believes that kids are honest, have lots of ideas and are willing to share them. His creation and creation of a children’s board had a humanizing effect on his pizza empire and helped grow it into the largest pizza chain in the world.
Once formed, the Domino’s Pizza Junior Council began holding monthly after-school meetings, meeting in Domino’s offices and kitchens. The children were shown how different departments work together to move the company forward. They were invited to test prospective cheeses, toppings and doughs and explore new product and service ideas, such as a breakfast pizza with a wake-up call. They discussed how stores could use their facilities more efficiently.
These elementary school kids faced serious management and leadership issues—some of which, of course, went over their heads. Often, however, the children surprised their mentors with the knowledge they acquired and the ideas they were able to contribute.
In my family, my wife and I have often been amazed at the amount of things our children have learned through exposure to what are often seen as adult activities, events, and institutions. We see today how they pass on ideas and information to their children that we didn’t even realize. It is a mistake to underestimate children and their ability to synthesize experiences and concepts. They learn from what is put in front of them and what is asked of them.
Wouldn’t it be great if more Fortune 500 companies invested in our youth by following Domino’s lead and establishing small boards of directors in their companies? Can you think of a better way to expose school children to early hands-on learning in areas such as product development, marketing, best practices and leadership challenges? Let’s call on more organizations to embrace this forward-thinking idea. Tomorrow’s leaders will thank them. And so do the rest of us.
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