What Happens When Food and Experience Meet

In today’s episode, we are joined by Ryan Hutmacher, an award-winning chef and founder of the Well Beyond Food project. As a self-proclaimed experientialist, his company creates custom food experiences designed to foster connection & promote inclusion within organizations and their teams. Tune in as we discuss the importance of authenticity to brand-building and ways to measure the ROI and impact of intangible experiences.    IN THIS EPISODE:   [03:41] Ryan shares what the Well Beyond Food project is and what it aims to do. [05:26] Well Beyond Food’s mission is to allow people to be seen and see others.  [07:23] Well Beyond Food is not just a cooking experience. It is a team-building activity.  [13:24] Quality control and making sure everyone feels accomplished are very important elements during team building activities. Ryan explains how he achieves that.  [15:24] What inspired Ryan to build the Well Beyond Food project? [20:15] Ryan shares his personal journey that inspired the project. [23:20] Practice what you preach. Otherwise, people will see right through your story. Authenticity is the heart of your business. [24:24] If you want others to feel comfortable expressing their own unique voice and style, you need to lead the way.  [27:15] How to measure ROI on intangible experiences?   KEY TAKEAWAYS:   Authenticity in your business is a must. No one can be you. It is truly the only thing that you have to authentically sell. Designing an experience from a place of authenticity and truth is absolutely essential to create both meaning and value. One of the questions you need to ask yourself is: “What are the jobs to be done?” Ryan has done the work to understand which jobs are most important to his business clients. Business is about continually asking questions, exploring, figuring out how to get data, validate, learn from the insights, and use them to grow.    LINKS MENTIONED:   Well Beyond Food website   BIO:   Ryan Hutmacher is an award-winning chef and founder of the Well Beyond Food project. As a self-proclaimed experientialist, his company creates custom food experiences designed to foster connection & promote inclusion within organizations and their teams. From interactive workshops & webinars to team-building adventures & wellness retreats, his creative formats make way for human experiences that connect.   Ryan’s talents have been featured on countless stages, including TEDx and the Today Show. He’s credited for winning a nationally televised cooking competition on ABC’s “The CHEW” and serving as the First-Ever Weight Watchers Chef. His unique skill-sets span three industries, including Hospitality, CPG, and Healthcare. In his free time, he enjoys mushroom foraging, ping pong, running, and spontaneous travel. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theexperiencestrategist.substack.com/subscribe