It's the middle of the week once again, and here's a look at some of the stories on tap for today's issue:

• How Yum Brands is using AI
• McDonald's supports regenerative agriculture
• IFA's Michael Layman discusses the American Franchise Act in a podcast appearance

McDonald's has committed $200 million over seven years to regenerative agriculture. The funding will support the Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative, reinforcing the company's pledge to responsible beef sourcing. The initiative is designed to help ranchers improve land management, restore grasslands, conserve water, enhance soil health and upgrade infrastructure.

Chick-fil-A has expanded its Play App by introducing the original game show series Play it Forward, which shines a spotlight on community heroes by having families compete for monetary prizes to surprise individuals who have made a positive impact. The app, which was launched in 2024 to support family engagement beyond mealtime, now features this unscripted competition show alongside other family-centric offerings like animated series, ebooks and an audio series.

Melissa Cash, who has previously spent time at Wingstop and Wendy's, has been named chief marketing officer of KFC US, effective Sept. 16. Cash's "reputation as an authentic storyteller, motivating changemaker, builder of high-performing teams, and champion of creativity makes her the ideal person to lead our marketing function," says Catherine Tan-Gillespie, president of KFC US.

Your introverted team members have some great ideas, but their reflective nature means they stay silent during rapid-fire meetings, says executive coach Joel Garfinkle in this video. Garfinkle recommends coaching these workers on the importance of speaking up, not just for the company, but for their own career growth. "The message to introverted employees must be clear and direct: 'When you have a seat at the table, use it,'" Garfinkle writes.

Yum Brands has established an "AI factory" that powers personalized marketing campaigns across its portfolio, including Taco Bell, KFC, and Pizza Hut. The AI-driven hub uses advanced technology to streamline communications, content workflows and consumer engagement, resulting in over 200 million targeted messages sent with up to five times the effectiveness of traditional approaches, the company says.

"Only the marketers that stick with [AI] that … can structure their learning around experimentation are those that are going to win," says Cameron Davies, chief digital officer.

Hotels are adapting to the rise of "bleisure" travel, which combines business and leisure activities. The global bleisure market, valued at $685.2 billion last year, is expected to reach $1.71 trillion by 2032. To attract bleisure travelers, hotels are offering flexible stays, wellness amenities, technology-driven convenience and curated local experiences.