Meet our Carindale Restaurant Manager, Sanjay!

In 2015, Sanjay joined the Nando’s Queensland team in Browns Plains as a part-time Team Member. He was 21 and had just arrived in Australia from Nepal. Like many students, he was simply looking for a first job to support his studies.

After joining Nando’s as a team member, Sanjay was soon promoted to Shift Leader. His ability to support and uplift the team saw him quickly grow—from Assistant Manager roles at South Bank and Morningside to leading his own restaurant.

A part time job turned into a decade and Sanjay is now a Patrao (that’s what we call our Restaurant Managers), currently leading Nando’s restaurant in Carindale.

He is also a mentor in Nando’s Bright Futures program, an internal development program which focusses on growing the next generation of Nando’s leaders. Speaking with Sanjay about his role, he explains:

“It’s not just about running a restaurant. It’s about growing people. That’s where I find joy in what I do.”

In 2023, Sanjay also became a partner in Nando’s Partnership program. Partners are chosen because they have shown that they truly live the Nando’s values: Pride, Passion, Courage, Integrity and Family. In October 2024, Sanjay joined a Partnership trip to South Africa to explore the roots of Nando’s and where we grow our birds eye chillies. This once-in-a-lifetime experience deepened his connection to the global Nando’s story and gave him even more fire to bring that culture of care and purpose back to her team.

In 2024, Sanjay was also one of the first Nandocas to help launch and roll out LifeLens, Nando’s new rostering system which levelled up the way that our Nandoca’s shifts get managed. Sanjay worked closely with the project team, making sure the roll out was a success for Queensland. What Sanjay likes about Nando’ is how accessible and seen he feels, not just by his team but also by the leadership team. “They really see you”, he says.

His go to Nando’s order? Hot Chicken with rice.

Thank you, Sanjay for 10 years with Nando’s and all your achievements yet to come.