Ibukun Olubiyi is behind a Chick-fil-A restaurant in Canada’s capital city, Ottawa. A native of Lagos, Nigeria, she was raised between Lagos, London, and Dublin but moved to Canada to complete a bachelor’s degree in sociology at McMaster University. It was during those university years that she first experienced the U.S.-based fast food outlet Chick-fil-A.
According to her, she was part of a group of 50 students who had traveled to New Orleans, Louisiana, to partner with Habitat for Humanity and build homes for displaced residents who were still suffering in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
During the 27-hour drive, they stopped to eat at Chick-fil-A. “To be honest, what stood out to me more than the food was the impeccable customer service, especially the Team Members who were extremely courteous as they took my order,” she recalled.
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Ibukun has now been in Ottawa for over a decade after graduating from McMaster University in 2012 to study human resources management at Algonquin College. She even had an MBA from Loughborough University in the UK while still living in Ottawa.
She became a Chick-fil-A restaurant owner following the expansion of the franchise in Canada. Owning a Chick-fil-A was also another opportunity for her to build a legacy in her local community.
“Legacy is important to me because I have seen the rewards of a great legacy in my family, where integrity was always at the centre of everything my family did and ultimately set me up for success,” Ibukun said. “I am grateful for the many opportunities I have had in Ottawa after graduating from university, most of which were a result of people taking a chance on me and developing my leadership abilities. I want to be able to do that for other young people in the city.”
Ibukun hopes to help other young people by prioritizing greater salaries, mentorship, and life coaching, including immigration information workshops and financial planning advice. Besides supporting her team of over 100, she enjoys giving back to the community through the Chick-fil-A Shared Table™ food donation program, joining community boards, and participating in Ottawa business organizations.
“My vision for my Restaurant is to be a positive influence on everyone we come in contact with in the city of Ottawa,” she said. “Not only do I want to win the hearts of the Kanata community through an exceptional Chick-fil-A experience, but I also want to be a part of the solution for any challenges facing my local neighborhoods.”
Chick-fil-A, Inc. is the third largest quick-service restaurant company in the United States. Ibukun’s Chick-fil-A, which opened last month, is the 15th Chick-fil-A in Canada, as the company hopes to expand across the country.
