Jill’s Reflection

I remember this feeling: that first spark of January energy.

You're jazzed about what's ahead—new programs, refreshed goals, exciting momentum. I felt it one year as we were getting ready to launch a series of new initiatives. The vision was clear, the team was on board, and I was all in.

Then the avalanche hit.

Everything launched at once. My calendar filled up. Team members started feeling stretched. The goals didn’t feel exciting anymore—they felt like weight.

Now I rec...

A reflection from Tia Glave, Catalyst Co-Founder

The food industry is at a crossroads.

With shrinking labor pools, rising costs, and constant pressure to do more with less, 2026 isn’t going to reward survival-mode leadership.

It will demand something better.

Food leaders who create trust on purpose. Who think beyond their own to-do lists. Who build cultures where people and performance grow together.

That kind of leadership doesn’t just happen.  It happens through leadership systems that...

A reflection from Jill Stuber, Catalyst Co-Founder

One of the most memorable pieces of feedback I ever received from a team member?

“Just respond to my email.”

At first, I was confused.
I’d asked for a deliverable, they sent it, I used it. In my mind, that was efficient. Why add another email to their inbox with a “Thanks”?

But that wasn’t the point.

What felt efficient to me felt ungrateful to them.
And that moment — small as it was — became one of the biggest leadership lessons I’ve ever ...

If your daily stand-up is just a status update, you’re missing the point.

Because in food leadership, the way you use those 15 minutes reveals everything about how your culture works—or doesn’t.

👀 What You’re Really Communicating

Most leaders don’t realize it, but rhythms shape reality.
When your team shows up every day to “report out,” here’s what they’re learning:

• Speak fast, don’t ask questions
• We’re here to perform, not connect
• Leadership = efficiency, not support

That might not b...

Somewhere along the way, “invest in your top performers” became the go-to leadership strategy.

And on the surface? It makes sense.
They’re already delivering. They’ve got potential.
But here’s what most leaders don’t realize:

When you over-index on a few, you undercut your culture.

⚠️ When growth becomes exclusive, so does impact

Most orgs build around their top 10–15%—those seen as “ready now.”
They pour in coaching, exposure, stretch projects. And it works... until it doesn’t.

Because while ...

Most leaders are great at pushing through.

It’s how they got to where they are—by holding on.
To responsibility.
To high standards.
To whatever it takes.

But here’s the truth no one tells you:

To grow as a leader, you have to learn how to release.

🔥 You can’t bring in new if you’re clinging to the old

Holding on feels safe. Even productive.
But in reality, the wrong patterns create noise, not clarity.

• Control
• Over-functioning
• Perfection-as-performance
• “Just get it done” leadership

Thes...

A reflection from Tia Glave, Catalyst Food Leaders

I didn’t have to unlearn control—I never led that way.

My childhood friends would tell you I’ve always had a flair for connecting with others and appreciating their uniqueness.  I am genuinely curious about people.  I strived to create an environment where each person can show up as themselves - even if it’s on the playground.

In my career, I leaned into this strength. I knew that teams work best when they feel connected, and I saw myself as ...

You’ve said it. We’ve all said it:

"We just need people to take more ownership."

But what if your leadership habits are unintentionally training people not to?

The Control Trap

In high-pressure environments like food manufacturing and production, it’s easy for leaders to default to control. We manage tasks, make decisions quickly, and expect people to follow through.

And it works—until it doesn’t.

Because control creates compliance, not commitment. And cultures built on compliance don’t gr...

With shifting labor dynamics, shrinking resources, and a noticeable drop in team engagement, food leaders are facing the constant pressure to do more with less. The chaos isn’t slowing down—and neither are the expectations.

When the whirlwind picks up, leaders must get intentional about taking care of themselves.

“If you can’t take care of yourself, you can’t take care of others.”
– Jill Stuber

In this week’s episode of Real Talk with Tia & Jill, we dive into 3 practical shifts to stay ground...

Rewriting Your Leadership Story: Why Intentional Leadership Changes Everything

A reflection from Jill Stuber, Catalyst Food Leaders

We all start building our leadership story long before we realize we’re writing one.

We absorb what we see — how our bosses handle pressure, how meetings run, how feedback lands, how people get promoted (or don’t). Somewhere along the way, those experiences start shaping how we lead — often without us even noticing.

For a long time, that’s exactly how I led too....

What really kills a culture? 

Join Tia Glave and Jill Stuber as they talk about the known causes of what kills a culture — and how to shift it. Ownership, trust, and straight talk.

Learn more in THIS episode of Real Talk with Tia & Jill.

Most feedback fails. In this episode, Jill and Tia break down why — and what to do instead. No fluff. Just clear, honest shifts leaders need to make now.

Learn more in THIS episode of Real Talk with Tia & Jill