By Donatos Pizza
Jane Grote Abell has built her career on a simple yet profound belief: businesses should serve people with love. As a founding family member, Chief Purpose Officer & Board Chair, she has helped guide the company’s evolution from a small regional presence into a national brand with more than 450 locations, including strategic partnerships with Red Robin. But for Jane, success has never been a solo journey; it’s been about building and empowering a team that shares a common purpose.
Under her leadership, Donatos has cultivated a people-first culture rooted in integrity, service, and collaboration. Jane has been intentional about surrounding herself with leaders who reflect the company’s values and bring diverse strengths to the table. Together, they have developed the systems, talent, and partnerships that fuel Donatos’ growth while staying true to its mission.
Jane and her team have proven that when a company invests in its people, aligns around purpose, and leads with love, success naturally follows. Their collective vision continues to guide Donatos forward, demonstrating the power of teamwork in a people first purpose-driven business
Jane’s journey began in a house tucked behind the very first Donatos Pizza store in Columbus, Ohio, founded by her father, Jim Grote. Her family’s living room doubled as the dining room for the neighborhood. It was there, surrounded by shared meals and community spirit, that Jane first felt the buzz of the pizza business. Early experiences like watching customers eat dinner in her home because they didn’t have a dining room instilled in her a deep passion for hospitality and treating people like family.
This upbringing laid the foundation for a career defined by vision, heart, and transformational leadership. After earning a degree in organizational design and communication from The Ohio State University, she returned to the family business with a focus on building a legacy. In 1992, Jane became Chief People Officer, helping to shape a culture centered on people-first leadership. It was during this time that Donatos began franchising, growing to about 150 traditional locations.
By 1999, Donatos’ growth and strong culture had drawn the attention of McDonald’s, leading to an acquisition that marked a pivotal chapter in the company’s history. When McDonald’s announced plans to sell or close the company in 2003, Jane became determined to protect the livelihoods of nearly 5,000 Donatos employees while continuing her father’s mission. Jane successfully persuaded Grote to repurchase the company for the sake of its associates, demonstrating her persuasive resolve, and rare combination of courage and compassion.
Today, Jane is recognized as a catalyst in the business world, with a unique perspective on family enterprises and a deep understanding of mergers and acquisitions. As the brand ambassador and strategic visionary for Donatos, Jane brings a deep understanding of the complexities of family enterprise and organizational change. As Chief Purpose Officer and Board Chair, she’s helped Donatos grow from a single storefront to over 450 locations nationwide.
Leading The Donatos Way
With more than 40 years of experience, Jane has become a trusted voice in corporate governance, strategic development, crisis management, and philanthropy. Her ability to connect people and ideas has empowered teams, shaped culture, and turned bold visions into reality. Jane Grote Abell continues to prove that business built on great people, purpose—and love—can thrive.
Jane’s roots trace back to the first store on Thurman Avenue on Columbus’ south side, and she and her family remain committed to the area. With a vision of building prosperity in the community by closing the racial and economic gap, Jane raised $14.5 million alongside Tanny Crane and co-founded the Reeb Avenue Center, a social-services center housing 13 non-profits that focuses on education and workforce development. Formerly a vacant elementary school on Columbus’ South Side, the community hub provides job training, education, counseling, meals, and youth programming, removing barriers and creating opportunities for thousands of families yearly. They serve over 500 people a day in their café.
Many leading brands and businesses talk the talk without walking the walk. In 2014, Jane went undercover via the hit show, Undercover Boss. This would become one of the most emotional and transformative moments of Jane’s career.
She was confronted with the raw realities of how the business operated at the ground level. The experience allowed her to see firsthand the challenges her employees faced, the strengths of the company culture, and the areas that needed improvement. This immersion reminded her of the importance of leading with authenticity, empathy, and purpose. The experience reaffirmed her belief in Donatos’ core values and the need to preserve them, even as the company grew and evolved.
The Power of Agápe Capitalism
Jane leads with a philosophy rooted in the ancient Greek word agape: the highest form of love. Unconditional and all-encompassing, agápe serves as the foundation for the business approach known as Agápe Capitalism. This values-driven model is built on three guiding tenets:
- Lead with love
- Practice the Golden Rule
- Do the Right Thing
For Jane, success is not measured solely by profits or accolades, but by the integrity and compassion woven into every decision. She believes in the enduring power of simple truths: treat others as you would want to be treated, stay true to yourself, and surround yourself with people who share your values.
This impact comes to life within the Donatos Family Fund. From its inception in 2022 to 2024, the fund raised $1,366,000 for hunger relief, housing security and healthcare. So far in 2025, the Family Fund has raised $155,000.
For Jane, being a successful entrepreneur is more than writing a check; it’s about taking what is in your heart and making it actionable. These principles are more than ideals; they are the cornerstones of Jane’s leadership, her legacy, and her impact on the