Shelbie White’s career began in December 2015, when she started as a delivery driver at Domino’s with Dream Team Pizza in Emporia, Kansas. But Shelbie’s drive and ambition quickly became apparent. Within six months, she was promoted to assistant manager, demonstrating her leadership potential across eight different stores. Through her willingness to move between locations and learn from experienced managers, Shelbie gained invaluable knowledge that seemed to set her on a path to a General Manager (GM) position.
However, when she expressed her desire to advance, she was told, “you don’t have what it takes.” This setback might have discouraged many, but Shelbie’s resilience shone through. Though she left Domino’s shortly after, her departure lasted only three months. After a change in upper management, she was invited back—this time, with an opportunity to truly shine.
In the summer of 2018, Shelbie became the GM of store #6387,and within just two years, she was named GM of the Year for her organization in2019. Her journey didn’t stop there. Also in 2019, she was promoted to supervisor, where she mentored two additional supervisors and supported nearly40% of the GMs within her organization. As a supervisor she won supervisor of the year three times consecutively in 2020, 2021, and 2022.
As a supervisor, Shelbie built a “people-first” culture, stating, “If they really like having you as a boss, the rest is easy.” Her leadership approach was grounded in empathy and empowerment—she worked hard to be the kind of boss she’d want to work for herself. Learning that each store had its own unique challenges, she quickly realized the importance of building confidence within her teams and creating an environment that fostered growth.
Like many women in leadership, Shelbie faced her share of obstacles, including balancing family needs with professional demands. This reality has fueled her ambition even more. Though she sometimes felt in the shadow of her equally successful spouse, Shelbie has been fortunate to have the support of strong mentors in her journey. Rob Phillips, Franchise Business Consultant and Donal Cunningham have consistently believed in her potential. It turns out that Shelbie was the missing piece to the growing organization.
In October 2023, Shelbie’s potential was recognized yet again when Donal Cunningham of Kicka Pizza created a Director of Training position just for her. In this new role, Shelbie has been instrumental in transforming training and leadership within the organization. Her influence has contributed to improved OA scores, cost control, and customer satisfaction scores (CSAT), the latter being a particular source of pride for her. Notably, under her guidance, one of Kicka Pizza’s stores achieved a remarkable FSE score of 99.3%—without the GM even being present.
Shelbie White’s journey is far from over. As Director of Training, she continues to break the glass ceiling, inspire those around her, and prove that with determination, grit, and the right support, women in leadership can not only thrive but transform the businesses they touch. Shelbie, the DWLA thanks you for being such an inspiration, and motivating woman in Domino’s. We look forward to all the success you will bring to your career and the many other lives you inspire on a daily basis.
Author: Kelly Ramos Campos
