Built Behind the Counter: How One in Eight Americans Found Their First Skills Under the Golden Arches

Photo: Courtesy of McDonald's USA

More than 40 million people have worked at a McDonald’s restaurant. A nationwide recognition brought their shared experience and the ambition it sparked into focus.

Few brands have shaped the American workforce as quietly or as profoundly as McDonald’s. In the United States alone, more than 40 million people have worked at a McDonald’s restaurant, making the company a shared chapter in the lives of 1 in 8 Americans. It was a statistic rooted in scale, but defined by something far more personal: a first job, a first paycheck, and the first lessons in how to work.

For over 70 years, McDonald’s restaurants have served as informal training grounds for generations. They were places where people learned how to show up with purpose, collaborate under pressure, think quickly on their feet, and stay calm during the lunch rush. Behind the counter, ambition often took shape quietly, formed through repetition, responsibility, and teamwork.

In recognizing this shared experience, McDonald’s turned its attention to the people who had long been the heartbeat of its restaurants and communities. Through a nationwide celebration known as 1 in 8 Day, the brand honored past and present Crew members whose foundational skills extended far beyond the Golden Arches—into boardrooms, kitchens, creative studios, small businesses, and leadership roles across the country.

The message was clear: what started behind the counter rarely stayed there.

A Workforce Story Hiding in Plain Sight

The celebrations unfolded across the country, with restaurants recognizing Crew members in their local communities and inviting customers to take part in honoring them. The focus was not nostalgia. It was an acknowledgement.

Working under the Golden Arches had never been solely about learning how to take orders or prepare meals. It was about mastering time management during peak hours, building trust within a team, communicating clearly under pressure, and delivering consistency day after day. Those skills did not disappear when shifts ended. They followed Crew members into careers across industries, forming the foundation of professional confidence and leadership.

For many, McDonald’s was the first place where responsibility felt real and where ambition began to feel attainable.

Arches & Ambition: Turning Early Lessons Into Lifelong Paths

To bring those trajectories to life, McDonald’s launched Arches & Ambition: The 1 in 8 Mentorship Program, a four-part YouTube series spotlighting the powerful career paths that began inside its restaurants. The series followed four current Crew members as they embarked on one-on-one mentorship journeys with former McDonald’s employees who had gone on to make their mark in entrepreneurship, food, fashion, and sports.

Each story reflected a different city, discipline, and dream, but shared the same foundation.

In New Orleans, Jade Colin, a McDonald’s Owner/Operator and one of the youngest Black women to own a McDonald’s franchise, mentored Justin Hicks, a current McDonald’s manager and aspiring entrepreneur. Their conversations centered on growth, ownership, and how to build businesses that contributed meaningfully to the city’s economic and cultural fabric.

In Los Angeles, the focus shifted to food and legacy. Chef John Liu, owner of Michelin Bib Gourmand award-winning restaurants Chifa and Arroz & Fun, connected with Abigial “Abby” Robles, a McDonald’s manager and small-business baker. Abby stepped into the role of Sous Chef for a special 1 in 8 luncheon at Chifa, translating the fast-paced discipline learned at McDonald’s into fine-dining precision.

In Milwaukee, fashion and performance intersected. Designer and stylist Tamy Idrobo, known for her work in creative storytelling, partnered with Marie Perez, a Chicago-based Crew member and aspiring actress. During a styling session, they explored the parallels between their artistic practices and their time as Crew, discussing confidence, adaptability, and the discipline required to perform consistently.

In Queens, New York, professional BMX athlete and creative director Nigel Sylvester guided fellow Queens native Brijanna Crawford, a photographer and current McDonald’s Crew trainer, through the creative process behind his McDonald’s merch line, Employee of the Month. The project was inspired by the pride and resilience of the 1 in 8 and rooted in the shared experience of having once worked behind the counter.

Across cities and industries, each story revealed the same truth: when ambition is paired with foundational skills and a community of support, opportunities expand.

A Brand Story Told Through People

“Everyone has aspirations,” said Myra Doria, National Field President of McDonald’s USA and proud member of the 1 in 8 community. “I am so proud to be part of the McDonald’s brand because of programs like Arches and Ambition that provide ways for our Crew members to pursue those ambitions. These opportunities help our Crew envision a brighter future by connecting them with successful alumni who once stood where they are today.”

Rather than positioning itself solely as an employer, McDonald’s reframed its role as a place where early skills became lifelong assets. The campaign highlighted not just where people started, but how far those beginnings carried them.

It was a reminder that some of the most enduring professional lessons were learned not in classrooms or boardrooms, but during busy shifts, shared responsibilities, and moments of pressure behind the counter.

The recognition extended beyond 1 in 8 days itself. McDonald’s encouraged people to watch and share the Arches & Ambition series, reflect on their own time as part of the 1 in 8, and acknowledge the Crew members who continued to power restaurants across the country.

For millions of Americans, McDonald’s was their first job, but it was rarely their last lesson.

By bringing those stories to the forefront, the brand highlighted a workforce narrative that had always existed, just out of view. One was built behind the counter. One shaped by ambition. And one shared by 1 in 8 Americans.