Founderology Forum

Lessons from a 'Mac and Cheese Millionaire'

Erin Wade, founder of Homeroom Mac+Cheese and the author of "The Mac and Cheese Millionaire," joins Kathleen Wood on the Founderology podcast.

February 18, 2025

What does it take to go from an unhappy lawyer to a trailblazing entrepreneur transforming a childhood recipe into a thriving restaurant business? Erin Wade, founder of Homeroom Mac+Cheese and the author of "The Mac and Cheese Millionaire," Kathleen Wood on the Founderology podcast to share her story.

"The episode highlights the power of resilience, innovation and leadership," Wood said. "Erin doesn't just talk about how she built one of the most beloved mac and cheese brands in the country — she shares her journey of what it really takes to create a business that stands out in a crowded industry."

Other highlights include:

• The beginning of Homeroom Mac+Cheese: Imagine spending years in law school, landing a prestigious job, and then realizing you're miserable. Erin was fired from her job as a lawyer and began a journey to find a workplace she would love. Ultimately, founding a workplace she loved — Homeroom Mac+Cheese.
• Breaking the norms: The success of the restaurant was just one part of her vision. She also wanted to build a restaurant culture like no other. It needed to be a collaborative, transparent, people-first business model in an industry known for high turnover and challenging work environments.
• The Color Code of Conduct, a simple yet powerful system that has helped prevent harassment and ensures a safe work environment for her team. It was so effective that it spread beyond Homeroom to businesses around the world, including being adopted by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
• Knowing when to walk away: After a decade of leading Homeroom, Wade faced one of the toughest decisions any Founder can make: Should she sell her business? She shares how she knew it was time to exit and the opportunities that followed her exit. Including her best-selling book "The Mac and Cheese Millionaire: Building a Better Business by Thinking Outside of the Box."
• Lessons every founder needs to hear.

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