Shake Shack

Dave Harris

Digital Growth Modernizer

Dave has served as Shake Shack’s Chief Information Officer since December 2018 and is responsible for overseeing all aspects of technology at Shake Shack. He has extensive experience across digital innovation and technology-enabled growth in large multi-unit environments. Prior to joining Shake Shack, Dave served as Vice President of Digital Technology at Newell Brands, where he held global responsibility for eCommerce and Digital Marketing technology across their diverse portfolio of brands.

Could you provide an overview of your role and responsibilities within the company?

I’ve served as Shake Shack’s Chief Information Officer since December 2018 and oversee all aspects of technology at Shake Shack. I have a breadth of experience across digital innovation and technology-enabled growth in large multi-unit environments. Prior to joining Shake Shack, I served as Vice President of Digital Technology at Newell Brands, where I held global responsibility for eCommerce and Digital Marketing technology across their diverse portfolio of brands. I have led the delivery of multiple tech transformation initiatives ranging from creating new commerce websites, optimizing checkout to increase conversion, developing new analytics capabilities, and building a cohesive data-centric view of consumers across Newell's brands. Before Newell, I was CIO at Yankee Candle, where I was responsible for leading the global IT function. There, I led the development of their omnichannel strategy, which included the deployment of a new POS across 600 plus retail stores as well as the implementation of the web, mobile and kiosk technology. Prior to joining Yankee Candle, I held various technology leadership roles at Legends, JetBlue Airways, Avis Rent A Car and Virgin Atlantic Airways, where I developed and led teams responsible for consumer websites, reservations and POS systems, loyalty programs, information security, infrastructure, operations and compliance.

What are some of the key challenges you face in your role?

I love the challenges that come along with a restaurant CIO role. Shake Shack is a fast-paced environment, and no two days are the same! 

“Explore what interests you, don’t be afraid to try a new direction, and grasp every opportunity! Have a view of what your ideal next opportunity is and what you’re passionate about.”

One of the big challenges is always looking to do more with less! We’re passionate about ensuring our team members have the technology tools they need to be successful and our guests have easy-to-use and convenient ordering and pickup experiences. To make that happen as we grow demands our technology ecosystem be resilient, flexible, secure, scalable, and cost-effective. We’re constantly looking for ways to be nimbler and more efficient, so we can deliver solutions faster and maintain them for less. Like everyone, we operate in a world where budgets are limited, and we’re constantly looking for ways to make our dollars go further.

What would you say are some of the futuristic trends that will have an impact in the next 18-24 months?

AI, and in particular GenAI, is a hot topic at the moment!AI is already incorporated into many of the package solutions we use to run our business, and we see new features being added all the time. I’m excited about the potential that GenAI holds to create value for us in the years ahead. That said, it is early days, and like all technology, it will require time to reach its full maturity.

I'm closely monitoring the emergence of robotics and automation within the restaurant industry. While the potential to automate repetitive kitchen tasks is compelling, I believe certain aspects will always benefit from having a human touch. In my view, preserving the essential element of enlightened ‘human’ hospitality, which is integral to an exceptional restaurant experience, should not be compromised. At this stage, it's still in its infancy, and I anticipate that it will take another 3-5 years to determine the applications that make the most sense.

What advice would you give to young professionals who are interested in pursuing a similar career, and what qualities do you think are essential for success in this field?

There are so many different types of opportunities in the technology world, from engineering to project delivery to system operations and information security. When you combine that with the number of different technologies currently out there, there are so many directions to go in!

Explore what interests you, don’t be afraid to try a new direction, and grasp every opportunity! 

Have a view of what your ideal next opportunity is and what you’re passionate about. Early on in my career, an incoming CIO asked me what I enjoyed doing and wanted to do. Six weeks later, I was promoted to a new role that combined all the things I loved doing and wanted to do. I think people new to the IT world can sometimes get so concerned about making a mistake that they lose sight of a great opportunity.