Rachel Ramsey’s Stories, Lessons & Insights

We recently had the chance to connect with Rachel Ramsey and have shared our conversation below.

Rachel, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Travel. Seeing the world has become a necessary part of my mental recovery. Discovering the food and culture of a new country or city, gives me the ability to be creative again.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Born from the kitchen, built for restaurants.

I started my journey in hospitality over 15 years ago—first as an Executive Chef, then a General Manager, and later an HR Director. That path gave me something rare: a true 360° view of how restaurants work, feel, and grow.

In 2020, I founded Measured HR to bring structure, strategy, and soul to independent restaurant businesses. Our focus is helping owners and operators navigate their most vulnerable moments—through technology, compliance, leadership, and culture.

Measured HR is the only HR partnership built exclusively for restaurant culture—where compliance feels supportive, systems feel intuitive, and excellence becomes effortless.

Let’s connect if you’re ready to elevate your people strategy, refine your operations, or simply talk shop about how to make HR feel more human in hospitality.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My father saw me very clearly. He perceived the breath of my potential from an early age and fostered it. From bringing me to spice shops, to exciting my love for music , to encouraging me to go to space camp, my dad ensured that my palate was expansive.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Absolutely. I was severely injured by a burn 8 years ago. At the time I was still working in operations, but this injury removed all mobility. I thought my career was over. A career that I had dropped out of Spelman College to pursue. The physical pain of what I was going through didn’t compare to the fear that my decision to leave school would be the worst I’ve ever made. But an amazing HR Director reminded me that my diminished physical state had nothing to do with my mind, my capacity, I turned tragedy into triumph and through the pain, found a discipline ( HR ) that I love.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts?
In my work, I pay attention to whether a trend lives at the level of novelty or infrastructure. Fads live on the surface. Foundational shifts change systems.

So I look at three dimensions:

1. Time: Does it eliminate friction?

When something redesigns the customer or employee journey, you don’t go back.
Examples: digital scheduling, QR menus during the pandemic, delivery logistics.
Even when the initial hype fades, the efficiency remains.

2. Money: Does it change the economics?

Short-term promotions are a fad. But when a technology or behavior changes the cost structure—like integrated POS+HRIS systems that reduce admin labor—that’s a shift.
If operators can reinvest savings into growth or wages, that’s a real transformation.

3. Humanity: Does it deepen identity or connection?

People gravitate toward what feels familiar, nostalgic, or community-building.
When behavior reflects belonging, it lasts.
That’s why certain concepts spread even if they’re not the cheapest—they matter emotionally.

If a trend scores high on nostalgia + belonging, you see repeat behavior, not just hype

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I’m doing what I was born to do—even if the road here didn’t look traditional.
I’ve had a lot of pivots in my career, and they weren’t based on what made sense to others. I’ve always trusted my gut and moved toward challenges that felt meaningful rather than following external expectations. Each shift gave me a new lens—culinary, operations, people strategy, technology—and those layers are what make me effective now. I didn’t follow what I was told to do; I followed what I’m uniquely built to do.

Contact Info:

• Website: measured-hr.com , measuredhris.com
• Instagram: @rachelrramsey , @measuredhr
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-ramsey-phr-595ba864/