Youāve got goals to hit before the yearās out.
Productivity targets. Culture shifts. Maybe even a major transformation in how your team works or leads.
But hereās the question most food leaders skip: Is your team actually ready for what youāre asking them to do? Ā Because if theyāre notāand you havenāt checkedāyouāre not leading them to results.Ā Youāre leading them to resistance.
The assumption that breaks culture.
At Catalyst, we work with food industry leaders who are running fast, aiming hi...
Weāve all been there.
You attend a webinar.
You journal in the morning.
You have the 1:1s. You check the box.
But if you're being honest⦠you're still leading the same way you always have. This is autopilot leadership. And the cost? Itās deeper than we realize.
Ā
What Is Autopilot Leadership?
Autopilot leadership happens when we think weāre doing the work of leadershipābut weāre just going through the motions.
It sounds like:
- āIām already a good listener.ā
- āI went to that training last y...
In the fast-moving, cross-functional world of food manufacturing and operations, influence is essentialāespecially for those who donāt have direct authority. Maybe you're a quality supervisor needing production to adjust processes. Or a senior director driving a change initiative. In any of these roles, pushing people doesnāt workānot for long. Real influence isnāt about controlling outcomes. Itās about building trust-based relationships that make others want to move with you.
The Influence Myt...
In todayās food production environments, culture isnāt just a buzzwordāitās a business imperative. From food safety to employee retention, an empowered culture influences every layer of operations. When frontline employees feel valued and leaders are equipped to support growth, the entire organization benefits. But creating that kind of culture doesnāt happen by accidentāit requires intention, alignment, and daily practice.
In this post, weāll explore how food manufacturers can build an empower...
We all know food safety matters. But knowing isnāt the issue. The issue is how we lead.
Across the food industry, leaders are doubling down on protocols, procedures, and auditsāyet food safety culture still struggles to move forward. Why?
Because weāre focusing on compliance, not commitment.
Compliance is about rules, checklists, and documentation. Necessary? Yes. Sufficient? Absolutely not.
Commitment is different. Itās personal. Itās what drives someone to speak up when they see something o...
How do you keep showing up as the leader you want to beāweek after week, meeting after meeting? In this episode of Real Talk with Jill & Tia, we explore strategies for maintaining momentum in your leadership growth.Ā It takes more than just good intentionsāit requires rhythm, reinforcement, and reflection.Ā
Whether you're fresh out of Catalystās Technical Leader Bootcamp, leading a plant floor team, or guiding strategy in a corporate setting, leadership growth isnāt a one-time eventāitās a prac...
Sometimes what looks like āimprovementā is really avoidance in disguise. In this weekās Real Talk with Jill & Tia, weāre naming 3 common ways leadership quietly takes a backseatāmasked by process changes, shiny tools, or CI initiatives. These approaches can be helpful, but when they replace courageous leadership instead of enabling it, teams start to feel the disconnect. Weāll explore what it looks like when people sidestep leadership, how to spot it, and what to do instead. Whether you're a lea...
The countdown is on for Catalyst Food Leaderās Leadership Summit focusing on Advancing Everyday Leaders, Driving Extraordinary Results!
This week on Real Talk with Jill & Tia, weāre pulling back the curtain to share behind-the-scenes insights on how this event came together and why itās a game-changer for food industry leaders. From designing impactful sessions to curating expert speakers, weāll highlight key takeaways and what attendees can expect. Plus, weāll share tips to help you maximize ...
Lately, it feels like uncertainty is everywhere. DEI programs are being rolled back, immigration enforcement is creating fear in communities, and for many people, the future feels shaky at best. You may not see it outright, but people around youāyour colleagues, team members, even friendsāare carrying a lot right now.
As leaders, we canāt control everything happening in the world, but we can control how we show up. And in times like these, small moments of kindness and connection matter more th...
What does it take to become the best version of yourselfāboth personally and professionally? This week on Real Talk with Jill & Tia, weāre joined by Steve Sorenson of Johnsonville, who believes that growth happens through experiences, mentorship, and intentional choices. Heāll challenge us to think about how we spend each day of our lives and what weāre truly working toward. Learning alone isnāt enoughāsuccess comes from application. Join us as we explore how to take ownership of our growth, dev...
I remember sitting through multiple years of strategic planning sessions at my former company in the food industry. Three days in a conference room, filled with PowerPoint decks, financial projections, and passionate debates about the next 1ā3 years.
The same priorities always emerged: drive up sales and drive down costs.
Leadership teams came armed with game plansāincrease operational efficiencies, reduce supplier and ingredient costs, and introduce new products. Weād map out timelines, budge...
At Catalyst, we believe the future of leadership in the food industry depends on developing passionate, people-first leaders who are ready to step beyond their technical expertise and drive meaningful impact. Thatās why we created the Emerging Leader Programāto ignite the potential of professionals who are ready to grow, influence, and inspire.
This program isnāt just about leadership development; itās about transformation. Our Emerging Leaders gain the skills to build strong, people-centered c...