Creating an Empowered Culture in Food Production Environments developing people food leadership food safety culture organizational culture Jun 09, 2025

In today’s food production environments, culture isn’t just a buzzword—it’s 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 doesn’t happen by accident—it requires intention, alignment, and daily practice.

In this post, we’ll explore how food manufacturers can build an empower...

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Why Food Safety Culture Isn’t Moving—and What Leaders Can Do About It food leadership food safety culture human skills leadership technical leadership May 28, 2025

We all know food safety matters. But knowing isn’t the issue. The issue is how we lead.

Across the food industry, leaders are doubling down on protocols, procedures, and audits—yet food safety culture still struggles to move forward. Why?

Because we’re focusing on compliance, not commitment.

Compliance is about rules, checklists, and documentation. Necessary? Yes. Sufficient? Absolutely not.
Commitment is different. It’s personal. It’s what drives someone to speak up when they see something o...

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How Great Leaders Keep Momentum continuous learning developing people development food leadership food safety culture human skills organizational culture Apr 23, 2025

How do you keep showing up as the leader you want to be—week after week, meeting after meeting? In this episode of Real Talk with Jill & Tia, we explore strategies for maintaining momentum in your leadership growth.  It takes more than just good intentions—it requires rhythm, reinforcement, and reflection. 

Whether you're fresh out of Catalyst’s Technical Leader Bootcamp, leading a plant floor team, or guiding strategy in a corporate setting, leadership growth isn’t a one-time event—it’s a prac...

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Operationalizing Leadership: Beyond Training to True Capability Building developing people food safety culture human skills leadership organizational culture Aug 14, 2024

🌟 Join us for the next episode of "Real Talk with Jill & Tia" as we explore how to truly operationalize leadership skills to boost your team's capabilities and improve culture. Too often, leadership development is limited to training sessions, but real growth happens through the art of continued practice and reflection. This show will challenge you to think beyond traditional training and embrace the continuous journey to embody human-centric leadership.

💡 We’ll discuss why increasing leadershi...

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Is Technology the Solution to Food Safety? food safety culture foodservice technology Jun 19, 2024

🌟 Tune in to the next episode of "Real Talk with Jill & Tia" as we welcome special guest Joshua Miller for an insightful discussion titled "Is Technology the Solution to Food Safety?" Dive into the cutting-edge technologies and software that are revolutionizing food safety procedures and explore their impact on the industry.

💡 Joshua will guide us through the various tools available, highlighting the benefits and potential drawbacks of integrating these technologies into your food safety protoc...

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How To Form Better Relationships With Your Employees coaching developing people food safety culture human skills leadership mindset May 02, 2024

🌟 On this episode of "Real Talk with Jill & Tia", we delve into the art of forming better relationships with your employees, featuring our special guest, Sam Peña. Discover the strategies and insights that can help cultivate a positive and productive work environment within the food and beverage industry.

💡 Sam brings a unique blend of expertise and practical wisdom to the discussion, offering actionable tips and approaches for building trust, fostering communication, and enhancing collaboratio...

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Food Safety Leadership for Business business partner coaching developing people expectations food safety culture human skills leadership Apr 24, 2024

🌟 Get ready for an inspiring episode of "Real Talk Food Safety with Jill & Tia" as we delve into the essential topic of food safety leadership in business with our esteemed guest, Gillian Kelleher.  Gillian brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the table, offering invaluable insights and practical strategies for navigating the complexities of food safety leadership in today's business landscape. Whether you're a seasoned professional or a budding leader, this episode promises to provide...

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Mentors, Sponsors, Advisors & Coaches OH MY! bettertogether developing people food safety culture human skills powerful conversations Apr 17, 2024

🎓 Join us for an enriching episode of "Real Talk Food Safety with Jill & Tia" as we explore the vital roles of mentors, sponsors, advisors, and coaches in the professional journey of technical professionals in the food and beverage industry. Discover how these guiding figures can offer invaluable support, insights, and opportunities for growth, shaping the trajectory of careers and fostering success.

🌟 Don't miss out on the opportunity to be part of this dynamic discussion. Tune in, comment, an...

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C-Store Food Safety Culture c-store convenience store food industry food safety food safety culture Apr 14, 2024

🏪 Get ready for an exciting episode of "Real Talk Food Safety with Jill & Tia" as we delve into the world of convenience stores and food safety with our special guests, Melanie Harris and Amy Costello from Casey's. Join us as we explore the unique challenges and innovative solutions to ensuring food safety standards are upheld within C-stores.

💡 Melanie and Amy bring a wealth of experience and insights from Casey's, offering valuable perspectives on maintaining the highest standards of food saf...

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When to Give Up On People developing people food safety culture human skills leadership powerful conversations Mar 30, 2024

🔍 Curious about navigating the delicate balance of professional relationships? Join us for a thought-provoking episode of "Real Talk Food Safety with Jill & Tia" on When to Give Up. Delve into the nuanced discussions around recognizing when it's time to move on from individuals who may no longer align with your goals or values.

💬 Engage with us as we explore the complexities of knowing when to let go, sharing insights and experiences that resonate with professionals across the food and beverage...

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Our Love Story: The Story of Catalyst food safety food safety culture leadership storytelling values Mar 17, 2024

𝒪𝓃𝒸𝑒 𝓊𝓅𝑜𝓃 𝒶 𝓉𝒾𝓂𝑒...

It's been a while since we've introduced CATALYST LLC to the world. This month, we're showcasing our founders, our values, our mission and our programs that serve people like you. We start with our story.

𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆. 📖 So does Catalyst. At Catalyst, we call it our 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓻𝔂. 💛

𝕎𝕙𝕪?

When Tia and Jill met online in 2019, they felt an instant connection. They talked, talked, and talked some more for TWO YEARS knowing their paths were meant to cross.

They laughed,...

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Making Food Safety Fun bettertogether developing people food safety culture human skills inclusive takesavillage Mar 14, 2024

🎉 Get ready to infuse some excitement into your week with "Real Talk Food Safety with Jill & Tia" as we present a special episode titled "Making Food Safety Fun"! Join us for a lively and informative discussion with our guests Francine Shaw and Matt Regusci, where we'll prove that food safety doesn't have to be dull.

🌟  Francine and Matt are experts in their fields, renowned for their innovative approaches such as the podcast “Don’t Eat Poop”. Together, we'll explore creative strategies and eng...

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