In this episode of If I'm Honest, Julia Landauer sits down with Andy Gottlieb, founder of Sandwell, a growing New York City sandwich shop redefining what it means to eat “healthy-ish.” With a background spanning investment banking, culinary school, restaurant operations, and hospitality leadership, Andy has taken an unconventional path to entrepreneurship, and he's learned plenty along the way.

Andy opens up about the emotional roller coaster of being a founder, why he believes great hospitality matters just as much as a great product, and the importance of creating a workplace culture where honest feedback is encouraged, even when it comes from someone correcting the boss. He also shares how his ambitions shifted from becoming a Michelin-starred chef to building a scalable restaurant business, why starting later in life gave him an advantage, and how he's using AI and technology to compete in one of the toughest restaurant markets in the world.

Julia and Andy explore the power of trusting your instincts, learning from expensive mistakes, communicating clearly, and knowing when to let go of things that no longer serve your vision.

Whether you're starting a business, leading a team, or questioning what success looks like in your own life, this conversation is a reminder that growth rarely follows a straight line, and sometimes the most meaningful opportunities come from changing direction.

Buckle up for an honest conversation about ambition, resilience, leadership, and the messy, rewarding process of building something meaningful.

Follow @getsandwell on Instagram and learn where you can visit a Sandwell here: https://www.getsandwell.co