Sean Palani

Sean Palani is a hospitality and brand strategy executive with over 20 years of experience spanning restaurant operations, culinary innovation, and strategic partnerships. He serves as Senior Advisor to RTG Investments, guiding portfolio brands in culinary development, brand positioning, and strategic alliance building.

As Founder of The Pineapple Project – A Southern Hospitality, LLC, Sean has advised restaurants and hotels nationwide on financial performance, team training, menu design, and guest experience optimization. Previously, he served as Director of Partnerships and Outreach for Giving Kitchen, where he helped raise over $3 million in fundraising revenue and onboarded more than 100 food and beverage partners. His earlier career includes leadership roles at US Foods, Sodexo, and Barteca Restaurant Group.

Education: B.A., International Management & Communication, Fairfield University; A.O.S., Culinary Arts & Management, Le Cordon Bleu Affiliations: Award Recipient, Lean On Me (2020), You Matter (2021), and Matt Fishbein Employee of the Year (2022); Advisor to emerging restaurant brands across the Southeast.