Ana G.

Ana grew up in Oaxaca, Mexico. She moved to California, where she decided to study Linguistic Anthropology in college. While in school, she started working as a server at a Spanish restaurant, which fostered her interest in the hospitality industry.

In 2018, Ana joined the team at Eataly LA as a Sales Associate in the Quick Service Department. In time, she transitioned to the role of Barista and showed her true talent with the coffee machines – making some of our most sought-after cappuccinos. Ana was then promoted to Coffee Sales Specialist, then to Quick Service Lead in 2022, and ultimately QSR Manager in 2025.

Curious and detail-oriented, Ana asks questions and wants to learn. On her own initiative, she has shadowed managers to understand the more administrative parts of the department. Ana is one of the most knowledgeable team members within all of QSR. She patiently shares her expertise with her teammates, gladly setting them up for success in providing an exceptional guest experience.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
“I wanted to be a doctor. I grew up in a small town in Mexico, and we had a different doctor every year because they would come to the town for their career placement. I was one of the kids who was always really interested in meeting new people, so I thought, ‘When I grow up, I want to be a doctor because they get to travel.’ ”

What’s your favorite part about your job?
“Always getting to know new people. When I started here, I was really shy. Now, I can have a conversation with anybody. We have many regular customers who I talk with every day.”

Have you tried any new foods while working at Eataly?
“Yes, I’ve tried a lot of new dishes at the restaurants and QSR stations. I was a little scared of trying new things, but here I had to do it because of my job. I have to describe dishes to customers and recommend them, and now I love it.”

What advice do you have for a fellow Eatalian?
“My advice is that you always have to believe in yourself. If someone tells you that you can’t do something, show them the contrary—show them that you’ve got this. And do it for yourself, not for them.”

Who or what inspires you?
“My grandmother. She always pushed me to be strong, and that’s something I’ve carried with me. I’m the first woman in my family to go to college.”

What do you enjoy doing outside of Eataly?
“Right now, I’m attending UCLA and working on my Masters Degree in Latin American Studies. Since my family is from Oaxaca and speaks an indigenous language, I’m doing research about that. I spend a lot of time on my phone watching videos about it and thinking about how I can teach my niece to speak Zapotec. I’m trying to spend more time with her, talking, and teaching her. Even though my brother doesn’t speak the language, I somehow learned it, probably because I spent a lot of time with my grandmother.”