Gia Pronto founder spills the salad

When Penn alumnus Marco Lentini first thought of developing a health-conscious cafe near campus, he says people thought he was crazy.

"Philadelphia had just been ranked the fattest city in the world," Lentini said. "But it takes leadership to transcend boundaries and come up with new ideas."

Lentini, now the founder and owner of two Gia Pronto cafes, talked to a small group of students last night about leadership in the culinary industry as well as his experiences in starting healthful, nutritional restaurants.

An Italian background coupled with a passion for food helped Lentini overcome numerous obstacles during the start-up process, he said.

"It all depends on what you're passionate about, because passion helps you brainstorm ideas," Lentini said. "You don't just take risks blindly, but, in the end, you need the courage to take that leap."

Conducting extensive research about consumers helped Lentini minimize his risks and make educated decisions, he said.

"I don't eat salads, so I was biased and was so close to not including salads," he said. "But my research told me that salads were popular. Today, they account for 60 percent of our revenue."

Lentini said his leadership role changed drastically as the store expanded.

"In the beginning, it was very much hands-on and leadership by example," he said. "As it grew, it was impossible for me to be in the store everyday, so I learned to delegate and motivate people toward a common goal."

Fox Leadership sponsored and held the event in Leadership Hall as a part of the "Full of Flavor: Leadership in Small Business" series, Fox associate director Chuck Brutsche said.

"The series is great because everyone loves food," he said. "Marco [Lentini] is especially able to connect with the students by bringing a goal that is attainable because he started out small as a Penn alum."

Wharton sophomore Josh Eisenberg said he attended the session to get advice on entrepreneurship.

"I've actually decided I want to start a restaurant of my own, so his information was very valuable," Eisenberg said.

After answering questions from students like Eisenberg, Lentini discussed his plans for the future.

"Every six to eight months, I hope to open a new store or expand into a new area," he said. "It's what keeps it exciting for me."

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