Profiles in Leadership | Clavel Founders Lane Harlan & Carlos Raba
This video profiles Lane Harlan and Carlos Raba, co-founders of Clavel, a celebrated Baltimore restaurant known for its authentic Sinaloan cuisine and hospitality-driven culture. Their story highlights a bold entrepreneurial journey shaped by resilience, creativity, and empathetic leadership through times of growth and crisis.
About this Profile in Leadership
Clavel
- Founded in 2015 by Lane Harlan and Carlos Raba, Clavel is a family- and minority-owned taqueria and mezcaleria rooted in the rich culinary traditions of Sinaloa, Mexico.
- Located in Baltimore, Clavel has become known for its handmade corn and flour tortillas, expertly prepared meats and seafood, and a bar program that honors the depth and diversity of agave distillates from across Mexico.
- The restaurant has received national recognition, including multiple James Beard Award nominations for both its bar program and culinary leadership.
Lane Harlan
- Lane Harlan was born in the Province of Pampanga, Philippines and raised all over the US, settling in Baltimore at the age of 17.
- She began traveling extensively in Mexico in 2013, researching the scientific and cultural significance of agave distillates.
- In 2015 her dream of opening a Mezcaleria in Baltimore began. In 2020, she was named by Saveur Magazine as the ‘Most Interesting Woman in the Restaurant Business.’
- She is the Founder, Director, and Co-designer of W.C. Harlan, Clavel, Fadensonnen, Angels Ate Lemons, and The Coral Wig.
Carlos Raba
- Carlos Raba was born and raised in Culiacán, Sinaloa by his Mom and 5 Aunts who taught him traditional cooking.
- He is a Black belt in Brazilian Ju Jitsu and the Co-owner and Chef of Clavel and Nana. Carlos is also the founder of Guardian Gym, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit gym offering Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Yoga classes, where kids ages 6-17 train for free.
Clavel
- Founded in 2015 by Lane Harlan and Carlos Raba, Clavel is a family- and minority-owned taqueria and mezcaleria rooted in the rich culinary traditions of Sinaloa, Mexico.
- Located in Baltimore, Clavel has become known for its handmade corn and flour tortillas, expertly prepared meats and seafood, and a bar program that honors the depth and diversity of agave distillates from across Mexico.
- The restaurant has received national recognition, including multiple James Beard Award nominations for both its bar program and culinary leadership.
Lane Harlan
- Lane Harlan was born in the Province of Pampanga, Philippines and raised all over the US, settling in Baltimore at the age of 17.
- She began traveling extensively in Mexico in 2013, researching the scientific and cultural significance of agave distillates.
- In 2015 her dream of opening a Mezcaleria in Baltimore began. In 2020, she was named by Saveur Magazine as the ‘Most Interesting Woman in the Restaurant Business.’
- She is the Founder, Director, and Co-designer of W.C. Harlan, Clavel, Fadensonnen, Angels Ate Lemons, and The Coral Wig.
Carlos Raba
- Carlos Raba was born and raised in Culiacán, Sinaloa by his Mom and 5 Aunts who taught him traditional cooking.
- He is a Black belt in Brazilian Ju Jitsu and the Co-owner and Chef of Clavel and Nana. Carlos is also the founder of Guardian Gym, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit gym offering Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Yoga classes, where kids ages 6-17 train for free.
- Entrepreneurial Decision-Making & Risk Management: Investing resources strategically in high-risk scenarios.
- Employee Empowerment & Organizational Culture: Building a supportive work environment through equity and recognition.
- Crisis Adaptability & Business Continuity: Swiftly responding to unprecedented challenges.
- Operational Communication & Management: Maintaining effective daily operations and strategic oversight.
- Entrepreneurial Decision-Making & Risk Management: Investing resources strategically in high-risk scenarios.
- Employee Empowerment & Organizational Culture: Building a supportive work environment through equity and recognition.
- Crisis Adaptability & Business Continuity: Swiftly responding to unprecedented challenges.
- Operational Communication & Management: Maintaining effective daily operations and strategic oversight.
- Understand strategic decision-making in entrepreneurial ventures.
- Analyze innovative leadership and employee engagement strategies.
- Examine crisis management and adaptability in business.
- Explore effective communication and operational management practices.
- Identify practices for sustaining business continuity and community support.
- Understand strategic decision-making in entrepreneurial ventures.
- Analyze innovative leadership and employee engagement strategies.
- Examine crisis management and adaptability in business.
- Explore effective communication and operational management practices.
- Identify practices for sustaining business continuity and community support.
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