Women channel cooking into culinary empowerment

Taco John's new CEO identifies 5 key starting points | Candace Nelson's journey from cupcakes to pizza | Women channel cooking into culinary empowerment Created for {EMAIL} | [Web Version]( September 4, 2024 [WFF Leadership SmartBrief]( Advancing and Empowering Women Leaders [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [SHARE]( [] Women and Innovation in the Workforce [] [Taco John's new CEO identifies 5 key starting points]( Heather Neary, who became Taco John's CEO in March, is spearheading the brand's growth with a strategy based on the "five Cs" framework of consistency, communication, collaboration, culture and kindness. "Humor me, I obviously know kindness does not begin with 'c,' but those five key philosophies are helping us make decisions," Neary says. "You can try to tackle everything at once or you can find three to five things you can do to drive the brand forward." Full Story: [Nation's Restaurant News (free registration)]( (8/29) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Candace Nelson's journey from cupcakes to pizza]( Candace Nelson's entrepreneurial journey took her from finance to founding Sprinkles Cupcakes and Pizzana. After selling Sprinkles in 2013 to a private equity firm, she focused on expanding Pizzana to seven locations, appeared on shows "Shark Tank" and "Cupcake Wars" and wrote a cookbook, "The Sprinkles Baking Book." She discusses her path and entrepreneurial insights in this podcast and as a keynote speaker at the CREATE event for emerging restaurateurs. Full Story: [Nation's Restaurant News (free registration)]( (8/29) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Women channel cooking into culinary empowerment]( Women in various culinary niches are harnessing the power of food to build businesses, tell their stories, and improve their lives and those of others, including private chef Elisa Roche, who has cooked for Paul McCartney, Oprah Winfrey and Prince Harry. "I hope women, going forward, feel that they have a choice in how they share their cultural identity through food," says Roche, who notes the chasm between outdated ideas of home-kitchen drudgery and glamorized professional chefs in a field where women lead less than 7% of the world's 100 top restaurants. Full Story: [Forbes (tiered subscription model)]( (8/29) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [Effortlessly Elevate Your Menu]( SupHerb Farms' on-trend and globally inspired, ready-to-use culinary ingredients can help you execute LTOs and upgrade everyday dishes with the flick of a wrist—just scoop, drizzle or pour. [Get Inspired. Download our Fall Menu Guide.]( ADVERTISEMENT: [] Career Progression: Developing Leaders [] [3 ways to teach teams about professional etiquette]( [3 ways to teach teams about professional etiquette]( (Overearth/Getty Images) Professional etiquette is crucial for improving workplace culture and resilience, which is why Pamela Eyring, the president and owner of The Protocol School of Washington, recommends leaders teach soft skills, model desired behaviors and set clear expectations to enhance team cohesion and productivity. "Leaders should foster an environment of frequent appreciation and feedback, emphasizing the impact of professional etiquette on client satisfaction and company growth," Eyring suggests. Full Story: [SmartBrief/Leadership]( (8/28) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Develop competence by taking a comprehensive approach]( Nurturing planning competency among employees that integrates personal and social strengths along with more traditional expertise involves reinforcing the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion to achieve overall success, write Dan Pellathy of the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Maria Ficchi of Pfizer and Laura Smith of Shaw Industries. The other four areas they recommend are strengthening people's ability to handle ambiguity, having a change management mindset, incorporating storytelling into communication strategies and implementing a mentoring or coaching program. Full Story: [CSCMP Supply Chain Xchange]( (8/29) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Industry News & Trends [] [Chefs whisk together cultures to create new culinary styles]( As migration and the melding of cultures continue to influence culinary traditions, chefs are finding new ways to balance authenticity with innovation, according to Jennifer Breckner, director of programs and special projects for the Culinary Institute of America, noting that these forces are redefining what is considered authentic cuisine. "So many chefs in all areas of the industry shine when they lean into their own knowledge, passion and experience and pair that with the skills they've learned on the job or at culinary school," Breckner said. Full Story: [SmartBrief/Food]( (9/4) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( Free eBooks and Resources Free eBooks and resources brought to you by our sponsors - [The Communication Process: Skills to achieve desired outcomes]( - [Microsoft Excel: Unlocking the Power of Spreadsheets]( - [The Top 75 Leadership Quotes of 2023 - Part 1]( - [ChatGPT Newbie: Your Essential Handbook for Navigating ChatGPT]( - [The Visual You - Why Body Language Matters When You Speak]( [] Read the latest from SmartBrief [] - [Keys to making and sustaining a winning menu]( SmartBrief/Food (8/13) [] - [5 things that will keep restaurant workers around, and 3 that will have them looking for the exit]( SmartBrief/Food (8/7) [] - [Q&A: A day in the life of an award-winning grocery store manager]( SmartBrief/Food (7/9) [] DEI and Company Culture [] [Pepsi, Kelly Rowland welcome community through dining]( [Pepsi, Kelly Rowland welcome community through dining]( Rowland (PepsiCo Beverages North America) Four-time Grammy award-winner Kelly Rowland has partnered with Pepsi to promote local restaurants through the Pepsi Local Eats project, aiming to highlight exceptional dining spots in the US and foster a sense of community. Rowland recalls her experiences at This Is It Soul Food in Houston, Texas, highlighting the restaurant's role in her family's celebrations and its broader impact on community building. Full Story: [Forbes (tiered subscription model)]( (8/28) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Black Food and Wine Experience expands to Detroit]( The Black Food and Wine Experience, founded by Aminah "Chef Mimi" Robinson-Briscoe in Oakland, is expanding to Detroit in collaboration with Bedrock, Sept. 12-14. The event, which aims to showcase Black entrepreneurs and address diversity in the food and beverage industry, will feature local figures like Chef Quiana Rice and W.E. Da'Cruz and includes a kickoff reception, a summit on entrepreneurship and a Grand Tasting event, all showcasing industry diversity and economic empowerment. Full Story: [Axios]( (8/28) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Program supports Baltimore's Black-owned restaurants]( The Greater Baltimore Urban League's Black Restaurant Accelerator Program has provided $240,000 to 24 food-service businesses, supporting Black entrepreneurs in Baltimore though financial aid, training and a support network, equipping entrepreneurs with tools for long-term success. Dante Harrison, owner of The Hamilton Sports Bar and Grill, and Donvenia Jackson, owner of French Toast Connection, share how BRAP grants and training helped them overcome financial challenges and grow their businesses. Full Story: [CBS News]( (8/28) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [DEI rollbacks could alienate Gen Z consumers]( Several brands, including Lowe's, Tractor Supply and Harley-Davidson, have rolled back their diversity, equity and inclusion efforts following criticism from conservative activists. The switches may alienate Generation Z consumers, Morning Consult brand analyst Ellyn Briggs says, adding, "Gen Z is very against rollback efforts because they value authentic brands, so being flip-floppy is not good." Full Story: [Ad Age (tiered subscription model)]( (8/27) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Work/Life Balance [] [How executives unplug on vacation]( Executives use strategies to maximize their vacation time, according to Jaclyn Sienna India, who books high-end vacations for executives. They delegate tasks before leaving, stick to their healthy routines while traveling and "really understand that they do need to turn their brain off and and they value that," India writes. Full Story: [CNBC]( (8/30) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Paid sabbaticals can stave off burnout for leaders of color]( Although nonprofit sabbaticals are becoming more common, they are still not the norm and burnout remains a major concern, particularly for women of color, says Cora Daniels of the Bridgespan Group. Daniels shares her rejuvenating paid sabbatical experience, highlighting the importance of rest for nonprofit leaders and other initiatives, like the Walter & Elise Haas Fund's Endeavor Fund, that promote wellness and rest for employees. Full Story: [The Chronicle of Philanthropy (tiered subscription model)]( (8/29) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] WFF News [] [Imposter syndrome may be less about you, more about the environment]( Feeling you are never quite good enough or that your success is due to luck and not your own abilities is often attributed, especially among women, to Imposter Syndrome. Despite meeting or exceeding external standards, you still feel inadequate. But while those feelings may be something you’re experiencing internally, they can also be at least partly due to what’s happening externally. The bias and barriers that women, and especially women of color, still often face at work can erode confidence and cause you to question your own talents. [Read more](. [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( LEARN MORE ABOUT the WFF: [About the WFF]( | [Join the WFF]( | [WFF Programs]( [] [] And if you can see it, you can be it. Billie Jean King, professional tennis player [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( SmartBrief publishes more than 200 free industry newsletters - [Browse our portfolio]( [Sign Up]( | [Update Profile]( | [Advertise with SmartBrief]( [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy policy]( CONTACT US: [FEEDBACK]( | [ADVERTISE](mailto:cwarne@smartbrief.com) [SmartBrief Future]( Copyright © 2024 SmartBrief. All Rights Reserved. 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