For Ryan Silva, leadership isn’t about titles or tenure. It’s about showing up, putting in the work and earning trust, one shift at a time.
Today, Ryan serves as a Restaurant General Manager (RGM) for Desert de Oro Foods (DDO) in San Antonio, TX, leading a high-volume KFC multi-brand location. It’s a role he stepped into recently, taking over a new team in a fast-paced environment that would challenge even the most experienced leaders. But for Ryan, challenge is exactly the point.
“I immediately said ‘yes’,” he says. “I was a little nervous … but I felt ready.”
“Opportunities like this don’t come often. I don’t take them for granted.”
– Ryan Silva, KFC RGM
Learning on the Job
Ryan’s journey with KFC started at age 18. Fresh out of high school, he took his first job as a team member at a busy multi-brand location near his home.
He remembers the chaos, the pace and the uncertainty. He also remembers what it sparked in him.
“I didn’t have a clue what I was doing,” he says. “But I saw the managers and I knew that’s what I wanted to be.”
That early vision stuck. Ryan stayed consistent, and after his location was acquired by DDO around 2015, he moved to a Shift Leader position before being promoted to Assistant General Manager (AGM). Each promotion came with effort, patience and a willingness to learn through experience.
“I never gave up,” he says. “I felt like I had to prove to myself what I could do to get to the next level.”
“DDO is special because of how great they treat everybody.”
– Ryan Silva, KFC RGM
Earning Every Step
By the time he became an AGM, Ryan knew he wasn’t stopping there. His next goal was clear.
“I felt like there was no way I could stop,” he says of his career climb. “I wanted to be a Restaurant General Manager.”
Ryan earned that opportunity through persistence and the support of leaders who saw his potential. His Area Coach and Director gave him the chance to step into the role, and Ryan didn’t hesitate. From there, his career accelerated. He opened two new restaurants, gaining experience that would ultimately shape his leadership style.
Opening a restaurant meant hiring entire teams, fostering a positive culture and preparing for the kind of pressure that comes with grand openings.
“I probably did over a hundred interviews,” he says. “It took a lot of work, a lot of time and a lot of effort.”
But the result was worth it! Ryan’s teams succeeded, earned recognition and built something they could be proud of together.
Leading a New Team
Now, Ryan finds himself facing a different kind of challenge. Instead of building a team from the ground up, he’s stepping into an established one. That shift requires a different approach.
“The hardest thing is getting used to their personalities,” he explains of getting to know his new team. “Them getting used to me, me getting used to them.”
Ryan’s solution is simple but intentional: meet people where they’re at. He works side by side with his team and gives feedback constantly, both positive and corrective.
“I work with everybody shoulder to shoulder,” he says. “I try to lead by example so they have someone they can look up to.”
This hands-on style is sure to build trust quickly in a busy restaurant where every role matters.
The Power of Opportunity
Ryan credits DDO for creating an environment where growth is possible. From leadership support to career opportunities, he sees DDO as a company that invests in its people.
“DDO cares about their employees,” he says.
“[DDO] gives us the tools to make our restaurants great.”
– Ryan Silva, KFC RGM
Support extends beyond the restaurant – It shows up in experiences that reward hard work like our annual Estrellas de Oro reward trip to Mexico, where Ryan had an experience he’ll never forget.
When Work Leads to Something More
It was on that trip last year that Ryan met Emily Grubaugh, a fellow RGM at DDO. What started as a quick introduction turned into something meaningful.
“We met at the right time, right place,” he says. “It felt natural.”
Today, Ryan and Emily share a relationship and a deep understanding of each other’s work. Both lead restaurants, both face similar challenges and both support each other through it. Their chance encounter is a reminder that the connections built through our work can extend far beyond the restaurant.
Looking Ahead
Ryan describes himself as competitive and driven. He’s focused on continuing to grow, learn and take on whatever comes next. For now, that means leading his current team, building confidence and pushing for excellence every day. “I just try to develop things every day to make it a better restaurant,” he says. This approach has carried Ryan from his first day on the line to where he is today. And if his track record says anything, he’s just getting started!