Denyelle Bruno
Tender Greens
Denyelle Bruno is the President and CEO of Tender Greens, a Los-Angeles based health-conscious restaurant concept founded in 2006 with 28 locations nationwide. A Los Angeles native, she has worked with some of the most renowned brands including Apple, Peet’s Coffee & Tea and Macy’s, to name a few. During her time at Apple, Bruno was one of a seven-member team asked to create a retail experience for Apple Computer, thus creating and overseeing the rollout of the first 25 Apple Stores. At Drybar, she opened 55 locations in just three years.
Bruno is known for taking brands that are already iconic to a level of best-in-class household names that simply cannot be ignored. Under her stewardship, not only is Tender Greens positioned to grow successfully nationwide, but poised to reach the brand’s higher purpose of transforming lives both within the company and its communities.
Last year, Bruno announced Tender Greens’ commitment that by the end of 2020, 50 percent of the restaurant leadership positions will be filled by women. Bruno’s dedication to diversifying the restaurant-level leadership includes executive chef, sous chef and restaurant manager positions to assure that company initiatives, policies and practices are created from a set of diverse ideas and perspectives. Under her leadership, the company continues to redefine the industry and set the tone for gender diversity in the restaurant space and beyond. To do so, Tender Greens has created a leadership training program for which any employee, male or female, from entry-level on up can be recommended by regional executive chefs. Female staff members are encouraged to nominate themselves for the program.
