In a world obsessed with loud success, Matt Dodd is building something radical—quiet, consistent, inclusive leadership. He isn’t the kind of queer icon who walks red carpets or drops think-pieces in global magazines. Instead, he’s handing out backpacks, standing in school cafeterias, showing up at Pride with a smile, and rewriting what it means to lead from the heart.
From the outside, Matt Dodd might seem like just another corporate success story—a high-performing McDonald’s owner-operator who now oversees 17 locations and employs over 1,000 people. But spend a moment looking deeper, and you’ll find a business built on something that rarely makes headlines in the fast-food world: empathy.
A Decade of Hustle, a Future of Purpose
Dodd’s journey wasn’t easy. For nearly a decade, his dream of becoming an owner-operator looked impossible. “I told myself if I didn’t become an operator by 40, I wasn’t going to try anymore,” he recalls. The turning point came not with a shiny opportunity but with a challenge—a group of underperforming restaurants no one wanted to touch. Dodd said yes.
That “yes” became the seed of a revolution—not just for his own career, but for the communities he serves.
Fast forward to today: he’s not only been featured in Louisville Business First’s 40 Under 40, but he’s also one of the top 10 percent of McDonald’s operators, recipient of the prestigious Ronald Award. Yet ask him about success, and he won’t talk about revenue. He’ll talk about backpacks, Pride tents, and safe spaces for queer youth.
Beyond Burgers: The Culture He’s Cooking
Matt Dodd is flipping more than burgers—he’s flipping expectations. Corporate leadership rarely intersects with queer identity in such an open, integrated way. But Dodd isn’t interested in checking boxes or sending representatives. “I’m not just sending a check,” he says. “I’m at the tent. I’m volunteering. That’s what’s really keeping the culture alive.”
And that culture is deep. His team includes more than 30 director- and supervisor-level leaders, each trained not just in operations, but in values. When a young team member approached the leadership during their gender transition, they weren’t met with silence or awkwardness. Instead, Dodd’s team stepped up, using McDonald’s LGBTQIA+ support networks to provide care and resources. The result? A workplace that feels not just safe—but seen.
“It was exactly what I wanted the organization to feel like,” Dodd says. That sentence lingers. Because how often do we hear business owners talk about feelings like they’re part of the bottom line?
The Myth of the Lone Success Story
In a capitalist culture that celebrates individualism, Dodd is a beautiful contradiction. His story isn’t about ego; it’s about ecosystem.
Schools call him when they need help. City officials reach out when they need a hand. He’s not just showing up—he’s trusted. Whether it’s hosting senior breakfasts in schools, giving away 1,500 backpacks for back-to-school, or sitting on the board of Ronald McDonald House, Dodd knows success means very little without service.
And he’s not done. With his board term ending soon, he’s aiming for a leadership role in the Louisville Pride Foundation. Why? Because he’s not satisfied with just running great businesses—he wants to help run great communities.
Redefining Queer Power in the American South
Let’s be honest: being openly queer and successful in corporate America—especially in the American South—comes with pressure. Dodd admits it. “I always feel the need to do better. I think it’s probably the best part of me, but also the worst.”
More floats. More appearances. More donations.
But as his influence grows, he’s learning to refocus. “Making sure we maintain our values as a larger organization [is the most important thing].” In a time when DEI is under attack and rainbow capitalism often rings hollow, Matt Dodd is showing us what real representation looks like. It’s not logos or merch. It’s people. It’s presence. It’s purpose.
Showing Up Is the Strategy
For Dodd, leadership isn’t about status. It’s about showing up—consistently, compassionately, and without performativity. It’s easy to slap a rainbow on a logo during Pride Month. It’s harder to be there, tent set up, handing out hugs and hope.
This June, you’ll find Dodd at Kentuckiana Pride, not as a figurehead but as a friend. You’ll find him on the ground, smiling, listening, building trust. Because for him, being a business owner was never the dream. Building a legacy was.
And now, legacy looks like a thousand employees who know they’re valued. It looks like trans youth who know they’re safe. It looks like burgers and brilliance, fries and family, rainbow flags and relentless authenticity.
Because queer leadership doesn’t need to be loud.
It just needs to be real.
And Matt Dodd? He’s as real as it gets.
