Power moves: Lessons in growth from the kitchen, the court and beyond

Whether you’re scaling a food truck into a beloved brand, turning a side hustle into a full-time venture, or planning your next career leap, growth is never a straight line—but the right mindset (and the right tools) make all the difference. In this edition, we hear from Señor Sisig founder Evan Kidera on how culture, community, and key partners helped him scale with purpose. We also revisit a powerful Hello Monday episode on burnout-proof side hustles, and sit down with Shaquille O’Neal for a masterclass in reinvention. Plus: new LinkedIn tools to help creators measure what’s working—right from your favorite platforms.

Scaling culture, flavor, and community with Señor Sisig 

When Evan Kidera launched Señor Sisig in 2010, he wasn’t just starting a food truck, he was redefining how Filipino flavors could show up in the American street food scene. What began as a grassroots hustle quickly grew into one of the Bay Area’s most beloved restaurant brands. In this interview, Evan shares the lessons he’s learned about scaling, leadership, and the power of community. His journey also highlights two game-changers that helped him grow: LinkedIn as a relationship builder, and American Express Business as a trusted financial partner. If you’re building a business from the ground up, this one’s packed with insights you don’t want to miss.

Real American Express Card Member made aware his story would be featured in marketing materials. 

Why did you start Señor Sisig? The idea for Señor Sisig was born from a desire to bring something new and culturally authentic to San Francisco’s evolving food scene. While the city is incredibly diverse, back in 2010, the street food movement hadn’t fully arrived here. I wanted to introduce Filipino flavors through a format that was familiar and approachable—street food. Filipino Tacos and burritos became the perfect vehicle to showcase the flavors we grew up with. That’s when we took the leap and launched Señor Sisig as a food truck. 

What was your early journey like? We started with a single food truck. Gil, my co-founder, had a culinary background, and I had grown up working in my father’s sushi restaurant and was in a MBA program. Neither of us had experience running a food truck, but we figured it out in real time. It was truly grassroots. In the first two years, we gained enough traction to add more trucks, and eventually expanded into multiple brick-and-mortar locations across the Bay Area. 

What was a major turning point in your growth? The moment we added a third truck was pivotal. With just two, Gil and I were still deeply involved in daily operations—he was on one truck, I was on the other. But when we added a third, we were forced to step off the truck and build a team. That shift allowed us to focus on leadership, infrastructure, and scaling. Bringing in strong operational talent at that stage was crucial—it freed me up to focus on the bigger vision for the brand. 

What have you learned about scaling a small business? Scaling isn’t just growth—it’s evolution. Every new phase requires rethinking your systems, your team, and even your leadership approach. Over the past 15 years, we’ve had to constantly evaluate what’s working and what isn’t. Each time we leveled up, we had to adjust: new processes, new people, new ways of doing business. The key is staying adaptable, being honest about what needs to change, and moving quickly when something no longer fits the scale you’re operating at. 

What’s one of the hardest parts of growing? Letting go. As entrepreneurs, we want to be involved in everything—but sustainable growth requires trust. I had to learn to delegate and bring in people who could own their roles fully. I try to be honest with myself about where I add the most value, and then I hire people who are better than me at everything else. When you find the right people, your business becomes stronger than you could’ve built it alone. 

Why are strong partners important to your business? No one grows alone. Strong partners have been instrumental to our journey—from our internal team to collaborators across branding, operations, and strategy. Your network really is your net worth. Partnering with the right people has allowed us to move faster, stay creative, and take on challenges we couldn’t have handled on our own. 

How has American Express supported your business? American Express has been a key financial partner from early on. Having the Amex Business Platinum Card ® has given us the flexibility we need to move quickly when opportunities arise. Their customer service, business perks, and tools are unmatched. In a business where timing can make or break a deal, having that support has been important.  

How has LinkedIn helped you grow your business? I didn’t initially see the value in LinkedIn as an entrepreneur, but that’s changed. Today, I use it as a tool to tell our story, celebrate wins, recruit talent, and build new relationships. It’s also a powerful connector—many of the people I’ve met through LinkedIn have led to opportunities I wouldn’t have accessed otherwise. It’s become part of our growth strategy in a very real way. 

What mindset do you need to grow a small business? You need to be comfortable with uncertainty. I’ve learned to treat every challenge as an opportunity. One personal philosophy I live by is my 51/49 rule: I take 51% responsibility for keeping my tank full—physically, emotionally, mentally. That way, I’m never expecting someone or something else to make me whole. Running a business is tough, but if I stay grounded and fulfilled, I can lead with clarity, optimism, and resilience. That mindset keeps me going—especially when things get hard.

Shaq on success, pivots, and power moves

Looking for your next big move? From the court to the corner office, Shaquille O'Neal always makes big plays. In this inspiring conversation, he shares how he leveraged every stage of his journey to create lasting impact, on and off the court.

If you're thinking about your next big move, take a page from Shaq’s playbook and explore what’s possible. Start your own pivot with LinkedIn’s AI-powered job search.

How to grow your side hustle without burning out

Ever wonder when your side project is ready to level up? On Hello Monday, Jessi Hempel revisits a timely conversation with Side Hustle Pro host Nicaila Matthews Okome. They talk about making space for meaningful work, knowing the difference between a hobby and a business, and the mindset shift that makes it all possible. Nicaila's advice? Don't tell yourself no.

Check out the full #HelloMondayPodcast episode for more tips on scaling your side hustle.

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/esyUu62m 

Listen on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eAPRnk-x

Measure what matters with LinkedIn’s new creator analytics

LinkedIn just made it easier for creators to measure what’s working. You can now access profile and post analytics—like follower growth, content engagement, and video views—directly within popular social media management tools.

These new Member Analytics APIs bring insights previously reserved for LinkedIn Pages to individual profiles for the first time. Launch partners include Hootsuite, Buffer, Sprinklr, Zoho, Later, and more—with additional integrations on the way.

Whether you're building a brand, growing an audience, or just experimenting with content, these insights help you track impact across platforms—all in one place.

Try it out in your preferred tool, and don’t forget to reauthenticate your LinkedIn account to activate the new features.

💡 Subscribe for more career tips, tools and trends from across LinkedIn In the Loop.