Lloyd Rooney – Dyslexia, Determination, and 135 Employees: THE JETSON GROUP Story

How I Built My Small Business

Today we have Lloyd Rooney sharing his journey - from leaving the traditional schooling system at 12 due to dyslexia, learning how he learned best, to bartending in the UK and now owner-operating multiple restaurants in New Zealand, employing over 135 people.

Lloyed is a co-founder of The Jetson Group, a collection of distinctive restaurants in New Zealand:

The Quay, No. 8, Loco, and The Cove Cafe.

I had the chance to meet Lloyd and Mike during a recent stop at The Cove Cafe and I was struck, not only by their approach to hospitality but also their business philosophies - ones that blend creativity, strategy, and a deep respect for community and locally sourced ingredients.

In this episode, we dive into the behind-the-scenes decisions that have fueled their restaurant success, with a focus in this episode on The Cove Cafe in Waipu, New Zealand - which is highly seasonal. At that one location, his staff swells from 16 year-round to 45 employees for the summer months.

Lloyd opens up about the realities of scaling in the hospitality industry, how dyslexia shaped his entrepreneurial style, and why trusting your team is essential to sustainable growth.

Check out Lloyd’s restaurants and learn more through the links in the episode description above.

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Chapters

1. Lloyd Rooney – Dyslexia, Determination, and 135 Employees: THE JETSON GROUP Story (00:00:00)

2. Introduction to Lloyd Rooney (00:00:08)

3. Dyslexia and Learning Self-Education (00:01:15)

4. From Law to Hospitality (00:04:14)

5. Moving to New Zealand (00:08:08)

6. Managing Extreme Seasonal Fluctuations (00:14:29)

7. The Magic of Location and Connection (00:22:46)

8. Growth Strategy and Future Plans (00:29:50)

9. Leadership and Staff Happiness (00:33:44)

10. Life Wisdom and Key Takeaways (00:44:10)