Kelly Esten, CMO, Toast

In this episode of "The Simmer," Kristen Hawley and Brandon Barton interview Kelly Esten, CMO of Toast, about Toast's expansion into the enterprise market while maintaining its SMB core. They discuss Toast IQ, an AI-driven platform enhancing restaurant operations through upsells, staff communication, and marketing tools. The conversation explores balancing technology with human connection in hospitality, the future of hardware in restaurants, and the potential for partnerships between Toast and reservation platforms like Resy. Kelly emphasizes Toast's commitment to providing restaurants with choice and innovation, balancing core functionalities with customizable solutions.