We remember sitting in a meeting with a food safety leader we’ve worked with for years. She was frustrated—again.

She had just presented a new initiative around risk assessment, and it had been met with silence by the supply chain team. “We’ve been talking about this for weeks internally,” she said. “We thought everyone would be on board.”

That’s when it clicked for her—and honestly, it’s a moment we see all the time: just because you’ve done the work within your function doesn’t mean others a...

You’ve got goals to hit before the year’s out.
Productivity targets. Culture shifts. Maybe even a major transformation in how your team works or leads.

But here’s the question most food leaders skip: Is your team actually ready for what you’re asking them to do?  Because if they’re not—and you haven’t checked—you’re not leading them to results.  You’re leading them to resistance.

The assumption that breaks culture.

At Catalyst, we work with food industry leaders who are running fast, aiming hi...

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...

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...

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 you—your colleagues, team members, even friends—are carrying a lot right now.

As leaders, we can’t 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...

This episode of Real Talk with Jill & Tia, we hosted Chelsea Tyus, PhD, for an inspiring discussion on leadership evolution. Chelsea shares her journey from middle management to visionary leadership, highlighting how she transitioned from task-focused roles to strategic decision-making. 🌟

Gain insights on how she built influence across cross-functional teams and earned trust at every level, plus tips on networking, mentorship, and personal growth to accelerate your own career. Whether you’re l...

🎥 Join us for an exciting episode of Real Talk with Jill & Tia! This week, we’re thrilled to welcome Abbey Thiel, aka Abbey the Food Scientist. Abbey is a trailblazing food scientist whose groundbreaking work spans sustainable dairy alternatives, innovative confectionery, and pet food solutions. She’s on a mission to revolutionize how we think about food, combining her expertise in academia and industry with her passion for creating products that are good for people and the planet. 🌱🍫✨

In this ...

Join us this week for an eye-opening episode of Real Talk with Jill & Tia, where we’re diving deep into the art of persuasion with our special guest, Bryan Armentrout. 🎙️✨

Persuasion isn’t just about influencing others—it’s about building relationships, driving change, and communicating value effectively in the food industry. Whether you’re presenting food safety data, negotiating with suppliers, or motivating your team, mastering these skills is essential for success. Don’t miss out on this m...

Join us for an inspiring session on "Real Talk with Jill & Tia" as we welcome food safety expert Morrine Omolo! 🎙️ Morrine blends deep technical expertise in microbial food safety with the practical communication skills that keep food safety cultures thriving. She’ll dive into the essential qualities of resilience, agility, and the ability to rebound after unexpected events 🛠️🌟—skills that help organizations adapt and lead through any challenge. 

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how thes...

Embrace each person's transition.

That's what came to mind when I saw these trees.  It's uncanny how things in nature parallel our human life (actually, not really...but that's another post!).  Like humans, even trees come in all shapes, sizes, ages, styles, and colors.  They each go through transitions in their own way and in their own time.  Even when Mother Nature applies pressure with shortened days and cooler temps, the trees still need to follow their own path to change.  They will reach ...

What do you say....do employees have a right to "disconnect" outside of working hours?

The article "Austraila is the latest country to give workers the 'right to disconnect' after hours" from NPR says, "The law says a person's refusal to respond will be considered unreasonable under certain conditions, taking into account the seniority of the employee, their personal circumstances (including caregiving responsibilities), the reason for the contact, and how much disruption it causes them."

We c...

🌟 Join us for an exciting episode of "Real Talk with Jill & Tia" as we welcome special guest Dr. Brendan Niemira, a senior researcher at the USDA, to discuss Cold Plasma—a hot new food safety technology. Dr. Niemira will delve into the transformative power of a good idea and the professional commitment required to turn it into a working reality.

💡 Learn about the management and leadership skills that drive scientific progress and R&D, and how these elements come together to bring innovative foo...