From the humble beginnings of her culinary career, where she tirelessly honed her craft behind the scenes, to becoming a multi-passionate parallel entrepreneur and founder of the nonprofit HER Foundation, her hospitality experience is crowned with a gift for throwing exceptional events (IYKYK). The way Nayrouz can curate an experience can only be described as a gift, and when it comes to her entrepreneurial journey as a woman, a wife, a mother and the way she serves others today, it’s the one thing that ties all her worlds together.
HER PASSION FOR PARTIES -
As co-founder and CEO of National Restaurant Consulting, Nayrouz Olarte will be the first one to tell you the journey to culinary success demands a deft hand and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Managing a restaurant is a marathon of decision-making, where every detail holds the potential to make or break a venture. After a decade of teaching moments and inevitable failures, and a successful exit from a restaurant concept she built, Nayrouz was well positioned to take her expertise in nearly every aspect of a restaurant and enter the realm of restaurant consulting. In 2022 she assembled a team of former executives with various backgrounds in operational execution, restaurant branding, employee engagement and profitability and started a consultancy providing a turnkey solution for entrepreneurs looking to develop new restaurant and nightlife concepts, or those looking for support while working through expansion and franchise opportunities for established concepts.
HER PASSION FOR WOMEN -
While consulting with restaurant owners is fulfilling, it kept coming up for Nayrouz that women in particular needed help and guidance in business. She set out to develop a nonprofit to empower women and provide all the necessary resources required to start, grow and maintain a successful business. The HER Foundation includes programs surrounding entrepreneurship, business management and personal growth, while also providing access to a powerful community of mentors and peers. The organization offers a diverse range of programs targeting different groups of women at unique stages of their journey. For example, one program teaches English to immigrants who would benefit from fluency in English, a core skill required to operate a successful business in the United States. Another program hosts quarterly mastermind and networking style events where women established in business can come together and learn from each other and propel each other forward.
“Men do this. Men create networks and help each other. So we should be doing this too. I’m building what I see as the premier resource and networking community of the most remarkable women. “ Nayrouz said about HER Foundation.
Her passions and gifts culminated in 2023. After planning and hosting the first HER Gala where she partnered with Jackie Siegel and Victoria's Voice Foundation, she caught the attention of the board of directors at Orlando International Fashion Week and was named Executive Director of the nonprofit organization. She would continue overseeing the development of HER Foundation while planning a week-long fashion showcase featuring collections of over 30 talented designers from around the world. The celebration of fashion transcended the runway, seamlessly blending luxury lifestyle through various evening events.
It seemed as if Nayrouz was building incredible momentum and all of her passions and gifts were in alignment. She was simultaneously planning a new restaurant concept in Waterford Lakes while consulting on restaurant projects, preparing for the largest Orlando International Fashion Week attendance to date, AND had just received news she was pregnant.
“My pregnancy was like an injection of energy,” she said. “Instead of causing me to rethink commitments and take a step back, I pushed forward and became more conscientious of my time and where I'd put energy each day. I’ve never felt more efficient or productive than I do now.”
HER STORY
When you meet Nayrouz you’ll likely embrace her calming energy and admire her flawless fashion-forward appearance. Her state of being is the result of a now empowered HER; attributed to the tough lessons she learned along the way.
When I think of Nayrouz now that I know her story… I think… “Wow, dreams can come true…” and the sweetest part of it all? She, too, thinks of it as somewhat of a fairytale.
She shares with me that she’s turning 39 this year and is 37 weeks pregnant; so by the time this article is printed her son Leo has likely been born. She’s living life, married to her dream guy, welcoming a baby that will bond their two families in blood. But as life tends to throw us both highs and lows, eight years ago a single mom running a busy restaurant – Nayrouz says that when she met her husband Giovanny Olarte, it was during one of the lowest moments of her life.
She described her life back then as one with zero work-life balance, explaining that she would regularly close the restaurant at 2am and have to reopen at 7am. She was separated and going through a divorce. Balancing running a restaurant with being a single mom with a toddler, she had no free time to herself.
She recalls, “There were moments when I almost lost it all, and I could never go on vacation because I could never leave the restaurant. I just couldn't figure it out.”
Like many entrepreneurs, she struggled with living in the hustle. She was unable to think “big picture” and had a tough time delegating. The future seemed overwhelming but she recalls meditating, practicing gratitude, believing that somehow she would prevail.
I asked her to describe herself at 29 compared to who she is today at 39.
“I was not always like this. Not even close. I was pulled in a million different directions. I wasn’t happy and so I wasn’t always the best at managing my emotions with my staff. Now I can see all the things I did wrong and I can help prevent others from doing the same.”
HER TRANSFORMATION
At 39, Nayrouz is happily married, about to give birth to her second son, getting ready to open a new restaurant concept, and serving her community with an expanding nonprofit foundation. When we talk about entrepreneurial mothers, and how “we really can have it all” … Nayrouz is living it. I ask how she went from that challenging time feeling stuck or overwhelmed to where she is today.
“So the craziest thing happened to me. I had a
traumatic experience with a former employee who was struggling with mental
health problems and I happened to be on the receiving end of him having a
breakdown and threatening me. That night I was at the restaurant closing up
and I was obviously very shaken up and that experience changed me.
Giovanny, my now husband, at the time worked on the property where my
restaurant was and he heard about the incident so he came to check on me.
He stayed with me and helped me bus tables and clean up the entire
restaurant and pretty much never left my side after that. That experience
filled me with gratitude and I believe I started to become the best version
of myself. I remember he used to tell me, ‘I am going to marry you one day’
and it turns out he was right!”
The couple married two years ago and is now expecting their first child together. The news of being pregnant came right as Nayrouz was making some significant career moves. What might have slowed her down only made her more confident, more strategic and more at peace with how her life had come full circle.
One of the most beautiful things about women when they come into wholeness and peace is they seemingly let go of things holding them back. They start living with more confidence and charisma. When you see it, you know it’s coming from a place of someone who has been through it and is now living life, Empowered.
Nayrouz, rightfully so, is on top of her game and, well... Empowered. Through meaningful work with HER Foundation and all her business endeavors we know everything she touches will turn to gold.
Follow HER Foundation On Instagram: @her_orlandofl
“Men do this. Men create networks and help each other. We should be doing this too. I’m building the premier resource and networking community of the most remarkable women.”
My pregnancy was like an injection of energy. Instead of causing me to rethink commitments and take a step back, I pushed forward… I’ve never felt more efficient or productive…
