Taco Bell International is home to over 1,100 restaurants in 31countries outside the U.S. From building the brand in new markets, to disrupting the food industry with culturally relevant innovations, the international teams embody the Restless Creativity spirit in their efforts of taking the Taco Bell magic worldwide. As we head into what we’re calling “The Summer of International”, we’ll be sharing their personal journeys, exciting adventures overseas, and career growth stories that have quite literally taken them across the globe.
Ashwine, Chief Operating Officer of Taco Bell Asia Pacific, oversees operations for the Asia Pacific business unit.
He was born in India but raised in Indonesia, making Jakarta his childhood home.
“I received my early education in Jakarta before deciding to further my studies in the U.S. I relocated to Melbourne, a small town in Florida. With a focus in technology, I chose to attend the Florida Institute of Technology, which exposed me to diverse cultures and people from around the world, giving me a deeper understanding of America's melting pot. After moving to San Francisco for a stint, I decided to further my studies in Australia, so I obtained my Australian residency and moved to Brisbane. Here, I completed my MBA at QUT/Brisbane Graduate School of Business.”
And this is where things took an interesting turn...
I got my first taste (no pun intended) of the QSR industry while working at a popular sandwich brand. So, after finishing my studies, I moved to India and opened franchise locations of this same sandwich shop. That decision sparked a passion that has led to a 20-year career in the QSR industry. Since then, I've had the privilege of working with several brands, across multiple countries, including Australia, India, Nigeria, Indonesia, and Singapore. What started as an unintended move turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life.”
After bidding farewell to the sandwich world, Ashwine decided to join a popular pizza brand which took him, first to Indonesia and subsequently to Africa.
"I moved to Africa to join a company that managed world famous pizza and ice-cream brands—across multiple countries, including Nigeria and Kenya. As the Chief Operating Officer, I was responsible for driving the marketing and operations strategy to grow the business.”
And then came Tacos!
“I joined Taco Bell in 2020. During my nearly four years with Taco Bell, I've had the valuable opportunity to work closely with and lead our finance and supply chain teams, which has been an incredible learning experience. Working on the franchisee side is quite different, as you're directly in the driver's seat, navigating the day-to-day business... but I'm grateful to be in a position where I am able to draw on my personal experiences as a fellow franchisee to help guide our franchisees on their path to success.”
Now, Ashwine’s favorite part of the job is visiting the amazing Taco Bell Team Members that bring our brand to life worldwide.
“Without a doubt, visiting our Taco Bell Team Members in the restaurants is my favorite part of the job! This is ground zero—where the real business happens. No matter how many meetings I've had in a day (and there are plenty!) or even if I've just stepped off a red-eye flight, the moment I walk into a restaurant, I'm filled with energy. It's a boost that I still can't quite explain, but it keeps me going every time.”
And even after those long flights, Ashwine finds himself gravitating towards this Taco Bell International menu item...
“The Cheesy G [Cheesy Gordita Crunch] with Lava sauce in Australia is one of the best. Just picturing our amazing chicken or beef in a Crunchy Taco, topped with the vibrant spice and color of the lava sauce, all wrapped in cheese and flatbread—what's not to love? Just talking about it has me craving one right now!”
So, for those looking to grow their careers internationally (inside and/or outside of Taco Bell), Ashwine advises the following:
“My advice would be to really develop cultural intelligence. Immerse yourself in different cultures and engage with people from diverse backgrounds. Along with that, never forget that no one expects you to have all the answers. We're all continuously learning and asking for help or guidance is always the right move.”