Colin Lynch on Leading with Trust and Purpose

Colin Lynch is a New England–born chef and co-owner of Bar Mezzana, Shore Leave, No Relation, Black Lamb, and the newly opened Fido. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and former executive chef of the acclaimed No. 9 Park, Lynch has spent two decades shaping Boston’s restaurant landscape through mentorship, trust-based leadership, and a deep commitment to team culture. In this episode, Lynch joins Matt Jennings and Carolyn Grillo to talk about building restaurants around fit, loyalty, curiosity, and shared ownership, and why success in hospitality comes from people, not perfection.TakeawaysHire for personality and cultural fit. Skills can be taughtBuild loyalty through trust, opportunity, and long-term relationshipsFocus on mentorship: lift others because one day they’ll lift youDon’t try to be everything to everyone, guide guests instead of chasing trendsAuthentic hospitality starts with clarity, not saying yes to every requestBalance creativity with consistency and cost realitySocial media matters for staying top of mind, even if you’re not great at itHealthy competition pushes a city’s restaurant community forwardLeadership and management are different skills, know which one you’re practicingGive people room to grow into ownership and responsibilityUnderstand the financial realities: buildouts, leases, and long-term sustainabilityTeach teams financial literacy, it elevates their careers and stabilizes the businessKeep the business small if it means staying full, profitable, and healthyWork hard, be kind, core values matter more than credentialsWant to connect directly with industry thought leaders like today’s guest?MAJC✨ has built a community of hospitality professionals, where insights and tools help drive sustainable, profitable businesses. To get early access to the MAJC✨ Community, sign up at www.MAJC.ai.