Nicole Enerau

McDonald’s Owner/Operator

A dedicated leader, enthusiastic businesswoman, and award-winning Owner/Operator of 18 McDonald’s locations in the Los Angeles area, Nicole Enearu possesses 17+ years of professional experience developing teams, delivering strategic operations, and serving customers and communities through the world’s largest restaurant chain. An accomplished entrepreneur, Nicole’s success is in part due to her early career in social services where she developed keen insights into the human experience.

After earning her B.A. in Psychology and her M.A. in Educational Psychology—both from the University of California, Berkeley—Nicole began a career in social services, working for multiple agencies. In her role as a Child Custody Evaluator, Nicole encountered a woman who shared that she had been inspired to pursue her education by her boss. The woman worked at McDonald’s, and the boss she referenced was Nicole’s mom, Patricia Williams. In that moment, Nicole realized that anyone can make an impact in someone’s life. After 10 years in social services, Nicole decided to pursue the family business.

In 2003, Nicole joined McDonald’s, completing the Next Generation Program four years later and becoming the Owner/Operator of two locations at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). In 2009, Nicole purchased her first freestanding location, using the capital from her LAX restaurants to make the purchase. In 2012, Nicole joined her mom to become one organization, and they were later joined by Nicole’s sister, Kerri Harper-Howie, forming the Williams/Enearu/Harper-Howie organization (WEH). In 2019, their mother retired, and the thriving business partners and sisters now own and operate 18 restaurants throughout Los Angeles.

Now the operational lead for the organization, Nicole remains close to the restaurants to develop and implement strategies that are best suited for each respective location. Through grit, positivity, and exceptionally hard work, WEH delivers the highest regional sales while remaining fiercely committed to their teams. Their well-respected, companywide reputation has earned them numerous recognitions and awards including the Ronald Award, the Ray Kroc Award, the Building the Business through People & Quality Service Experience Award, and two Rising Star Awards.

Nicole’s leadership reaches beyond the restaurants, and she has held numerous regional, divisional, and national roles throughout the company including board service to National Black McDonald’s Operators, Women Operators, and the National African American Marketing Committee. She served as the first African American female elected to RLC Chair in the Southern California area, and she serves on the Boards of the Global Ronald McDonald House Charities, the Greater L.A. YWCA and the California State University Foundation.

Born and raised in Inglewood, Nicole is deeply committed to the community she serves with a strong understanding of its culture, needs, and heartbeat. Her background working with all types of people has been foundational in her work as a mentor and coach to her team members. Whether working for a public service agency or as the leader of 18 fast-food restaurant franchises, Nicole leads with the compassion to truly invest in the lives of her team members. It is that commitment that compels her to serve the communities where she operates restaurants through scholarships, philanthropy, and mentorship.

Nicole’s exceptional leadership has been recognized by Crystal Stairs, The Regalettes, The Hope Foundation, the National Association of University Women, and the National Congress of Black Women. Additionally, she has been featured by media outlets including QSR Magazine, CNN, Black Enterprise, Essence Magazine, ABC, and the L.A. Sentinel.

Proudly residing in Los Angeles, Nicole is positioned to offer her operational leadership, social services experience, DEI influence, and culture-shaping insights to the boards of consumer-based companies. She brings immediate value to organizations, and she is ready to offer her blend of expertise and compassion to drive teams forward, people first.