What The Kitchen Taught him About Leadership | Glen Ballis (E167)

Send us Fan MailChef JKP sits down with Glen Ballis, chef, restaurateur, and one of the most influential figures in modern hospitality.Glen shares his journey from a Greek family in Melbourne to leading kitchens across Thailand, Indonesia, China, Russia, and Dubai. He reflects on the chefs who shaped him, the lessons that came from failure, and how different cultures transformed the way he cooks and leads.They talk about opening restaurants, surviving financial crises, building teams, the realities of running hospitality businesses, and why great food will always be about product, simplicity, and people.This is a conversation about resilience, leadership, travel, and a lifetime spent chasing great food.WHAT YOU WILL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE• Growing up in a Greek household and the food memories that shaped him• Why a dream of becoming a professional cricketer led him into kitchens• The tough lessons learned in Australia's restaurant industry• Moving to Thailand and the leadership mistake that changed his career• Building restaurants across Asia and adapting to different cultures• Opening concepts in Moscow and spending more than two decades in Russia• The philosophy behind INA and cooking with fire in Dubai• Why chef-led restaurants and great produce are the future of hospitalityCHAPTERS03:31 Childhood food memories, Greek family traditions and his mother's cooking11:58 From aspiring cricketer to finding his place in professional kitchens17:52 Moving to Thailand and the leadership lesson that changed everything27:31 Indonesia, Malaysia and how Asia shaped his cooking style37:31 Moscow, Novikov and building a career in Russia47:03 Financial crises, sanctions and the rise of local produce56:34 Why he moved to Dubai and the philosophy behind INA01:15:15 Masters of Fire, the future of restaurants and chef-led hospitality01:29:29 Quick fire round01:41:05 Advice for young chefs entering the industryFOLLOW THE GUESTGlen BallisInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/glen_ballis/FOLLOW THE BUSINESSFundamental Hospitalityhttps://www.instagram.com/fundamentalhospitality/J1 Beach Dubaihttps://www.instagram.com/j1beachdubai/FOLLOW CHEF JKPInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/chefjkppodcastLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/james-knight-paccheco-447b1b17TikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@jamesknightpacchecoPROUDLY BROUGHT TO YOU BY VALRHONAValrhona partners with chefs and artisans to elevate chocolate through craftsmanship, innovation, and a commitment to a more sustainable cocoa industry.Website:https://www.valrhona.com/en/valrhona-middle-east-africa-and-indiaSUPPORT THE SHOWStay hydrated with the Chef JKP thermos flask.Get yours here: https://pay.ziina.com/chefjkp/RKwVHDfpNFood is memories. 🍸Support the showFollow The Chef JKP Podcast on Instagram HERE