Real Talk with Tia & Jill

Most leaders aren't getting the feedback that would actually help them grow. Not because their teams don't have it, but because the culture, the dynamic, or the leader's own behavior has made it unsafe or pointless to give. Catalyst Food Leaders cofounders Tia Glave and Jill Stuber get personal in this week's Real Talk episode about the blind spots in their own leadership — the moments they couldn't see what they were doing until something or someone held up a mirror. And what it actually takes to close the gap. Learn more about Leadership Bootcamp here: https://www.catalystfoodleaders.com/leadership-development Watch Real Talk live on Mondays at 11a ET / 10a CT https://www.catalystfoodleaders.com/real-talk

SQF Edition 10 was released on March 1st. Audits begin in February 2027. The change that most food companies aren't prepared for isn't technical — it's cultural. For the first time, food safety culture is a scored, auditable element. Auditors will assess whether your leaders are actively modeling and sustaining it. Not just whether the procedures are documented. On this episode of Real Talk, Catalyst Food Leaders cofounders Tia Glave and Jill Stuber are bringing in Allison DeGraffenreid, a #foodleader who has navigated this from the inside to talk about what that actually looks like — and what it asks of your leadership team right now. Watch Real Talk live on Mondays at 11a ET / 10a CT https://www.catalystfoodleaders.com/real-talk  

What if the thing holding your leadership back isn't a skill gap — it's a blind spot you can't see on your own? That's the conversation Catalyst Food Leaders cofounders Tia Glave and Jill Stuber are having on this episode of Real Talk. We're joined by Laurence Harvey — facilitator, coach, and former UK police officer who has spent 32 years helping leaders uncover the unconscious bias quietly shaping their decisions, their teams, and their culture. His story alone is worth showing up for. Before he takes the stage at the Catalyst Leadership Summit on April 8, Laurence is joining Jill and Tia for a live conversation about what leaders can't see — and what becomes possible when they finally do. Join us at our Leadership Summit: www.catalystfoodleader.com

Most companies say leadership development matters. But in many organizations, it’s treated like a side project instead of a system. A strong technical expert gets promoted. Suddenly, they’re leading people, navigating conflict, and shaping culture. And they’re expected to figure it out. In this episode of Real Talk, Catalyst Food Leaders cofounders Tia Glave and Jill Stuber unpack 4 reasons leadership development fails in food companies — and why the real issue isn’t talent, but design.   This conversation connects directly to one of our Summit sessions: Leadership Development Is Not a Side Hustle. Join us on April 8th https://www.catalystfoodleaders.com/offers/TNFozfzW/checkout

Food companies operate in one of the most complex environments in the world. Recalls.Audits.Supply disruptions.Customer pressure. It’s no surprise leaders often feel stuck responding to the next fire.But what if the real issue isn’t reactive leaders — it’s leadership systems that keep organizations trapped in reaction? Next week on Real Talk, Catalyst Food Leaders co-founders Tia Glave and Jill Stuber unpack: The 3 Leadership Patterns Keeping Food Companies Stuck in Reaction Mode We’ll explore: • why hero culture rewards firefighting • how escalation keeps leaders in the weeds • why compliance thinking can block real learning If you’ve ever felt like you’re solving the same problems over and over again, this one’s for you. 📍 Watch the show live on Mondays at 11AM ET here: https://www.catalystfoodleaders.com/real-talk or YOUTUBE.   Join us for our leadership summit on April 8th!  Register at: https://www.catalystfoodleaders.com/leadership-summit Watch Tia & Jill on The Food Safety Exchange here: https://youtu.be/OYOgrkjZXOs?si=X2QMgmaqqujIzCqp #RealTalkCatalyst #FoodIndustryLeadership #CultureChange #LeadershipSystems #FoodSafetyLeadership

Leadership doesn’t look the same everywhere. And it definitely doesn’t look the same to every generation. On this episode of Real Talk, Catalyst Food Leaders cofounders Tia Glave and Jill Stuber are joined by Grace Adofoli for a conversation on: Leading Across Generations and Continents As teams become more globally connected and more multi-generational, leadership expectations don’t always align. What feels decisive in one culture can feel distant in another. What feels empowering to one generation can feel unclear to another. In this episode, we’ll explore: • How leadership expectations shift across cultures • Where generational “conflict” is actually translation gaps • What authority and influence look like in different contexts • How leaders can build trust across difference If you’re leading across age groups, geographies, or both — this conversation is for you. 📍 Watch the show live on Mondays at 11AM ET here: https://www.catalystfoodleaders.com/real-talk #RealTalkCatalyst #LeadershipDevelopment #GlobalLeadership #LeadingAcrossGenerations #CultureChange

Re-orgs are everywhere right now. New boxes. New lines. New titles. And yet… the same frustrations, inefficiencies, and leadership challenges keep showing up. On this episode of Real Talk, Catalyst Food Leaders cofounders Tia Glave and Jill Stuber are unpacking Why Fixing Your Org Chart Isn’t Fixing Your Culture — and why restructuring often becomes a distraction from the leadership gaps that actually drive outcomes. We’ll talk about: ► Why re-orgs feel productive (even when they aren’t) ► How leadership behaviors, not structure, drive culture ► Where money, time, and energy really leak in organizations ► What leaders need to address before the next re-org Live episodes: Mondays at 11a ET at https://www.catalystfoodleaders.com/real-talk. Learn more about our Spring leadership cohorts here: https://www.catalystfoodleaders.com/leadership-development-programs  

This week on Real Talk, Catalyst Food Leaders cofounders Tia Glave and Jill Stuber talk with Candice McGlen, author of Engage Us Now! and our Catalyst Leadership Summit keynote, about how change actually happens inside organizations. This episode is your chance to get to know Candice before the Summit; her journey, her perspective, and why grassroots leadership is resonating so strongly right now. If you’re curious about how grassroots leadership and engagement can actually work inside your organization, go deeper with Candice at the Catalyst Leadership Summit on April 8, 2026. Register at https://www.catalystfoodleaders.com/leadership-summit 

“Why won’t my team take full ownership?” 😓 It’s a question we hear from leaders all the time. And it’s rarely about motivation. More often, it’s about: • unclear expectations • fuzzy authority • roles that look clear on paper but feel blurry in real life On this episode of Real Talk, Catalyst Food Leaders cofounders Tia Glave and Jill Stuber talk about the real reason your team won’t take ownership — and how clarity builds trust, accountability, and momentum. They will unpack: 📄Why job descriptions don’t create real clarity ⭐️How vague expectations quietly erode trust and accountability ⚙️What leaders must design (not assume) for ownership to show up Sign up for Catalyst's 2026 Leadership Summit: https://www.catalystfoodleaders.com/leadership-summit

Foreign material events aren’t rare—they’re constant. 👉 72% of food companies report a foreign material issue just in the last quarter👉 And most leaders agree: that number’s probably low. Foreign material events aren’t rare—they’re constant. 👉 72% of food companies report a foreign material issue just in the last quarter👉 And most leaders agree: that number’s probably low. On this episode of Real Talk, Catalyst Food Leaders cofounders Tia Glave and Jill Stuber are joined by Paula Schwarz of Flexxray to ask the deeper question:💥 What if foreign material events are less about tech—and more about tolerance? We’ll unpack:⚠️ Recovery fatigue⚙️ Supplier accountability🧠 How culture drives risk (and prevention)💬 Paula’s leadership story and coaching journey Learn more about FlexXray at https://flexxray.com/ Connect with Paula Schwarz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paula-schwarz-2b09ba66/ Join our Leadership Summit on April 8th: https://www.catalystfoodleaders.com/leadership-summit

If your brain is fried by 10am… or you're stuck waiting for approval to make the simplest call—you’re not alone. Decision fatigue is real. So is decision powerlessness. This week on Real Talk, Catalyst Food Leaders cofounders Tia Glave and Jill Stuber are unpacking both: → What constant decision-making is doing to your leadership → Why being shut out of decisions is just as draining → And how to build decision systems that scale (without burning out)

You can’t shift culture if you’re only talking to people who already agree with you. That’s why today’s Real Talk is all about how to build allies—not just audiences. Catalyst co-founder, Tia Glave, and special guests Madison Kidd and Morrine Omolo, break down: 🧠 What to do when you're not invited to the right meetings 🔧 How to build influence across departments 🎯 Why understanding their goals might help you fix your problems. It’s honest. It’s practical. It's exactly what you need to build strong allies.

You’re the one flagging risks, building systems, and holding the line on standards. But you don’t have the title. You don’t control the budget. And no one reports to you. Welcome to leading without leverage. On this week's Real Talk, Catalyst Food Leaders co-founders Tia Glave and Jill Stuber name the reality that leaders in food know all too well: Influence without authority is a full-time job. Tia and Jill unpack how to lead up, across, and through resistance—without burning out or backing down. 📅 Monday @ 10am CST 🎙 Streaming on our site + YouTube 🎯 Bonus: We’re giving away our Readiness Compass tool—because clarity builds influence. #RealTalkCatalyst #FoodSafetyLeadership #LeadingWithoutLeverage #PeopleFirstPerformance #BehaviorBasedLeadership #CatalystMethod

🧠 Feeling stretched thin? So is your team. But here’s the real problem: Most workload issues aren’t just about how much is on your plate — they’re about not knowing what’s actually on it. 📉 Unclear workload = hidden burnout, dropped balls, and quiet resentment. 👀 Join us next Monday with the amazing Amy Parks, Global Leader at Dole, on Real Talk as we dig into: - Why most leaders underestimate what their teams are carrying - The ripple effect of unclear roles, priorities, and systems - How to bring visibility and clarity to the real work Download Catalyst's free Readiness tool here: https://www.catalystfoodleaders.com/resource-hub

🚨 Real Talk Forecast: 2026 is coming fast. Is your leadership ready? On this episode of Real Talk, Catalyst Food Leaders co-founders Tia Glave and Jill Stuber unpack the biggest shifts every food leader should be watching: ⚡ Belonging as a performance metric ⚡ Coaching as a core competency ⚡ Leadership rhythms that build capacity—not burnout We’re calling the episode: “6 Shifts Food Leaders Can’t Ignore in 2026” Come for the trends. Leave with clarity—and a plan. Check out our Resource Hub here: https://www.catalystfoodleaders.com/resource-hub

Most professionals dread performance reviews. In fact, at the 2021 Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Annual Conference & Expo 2021, "attendees learned that, upon receiving their annual performance review, 18 percent of women reported crying, while 25 percent of men reported doing so." 😓 OUCH! On this episode of Real Talk, Catalyst Food Leaders' co-founders Tia Glave and Jill Stuber unpack the real reasons leaders—and teams—avoid these conversations, and how to flip them from fear-driven to culture-driving. Check out Catalyst's Resource hub here --> https://www.catalystfoodleaders.com/resource-hub

Daily stand-ups are one of the most common leadership practices in food. But are they actually doing what you think they’re doing? In this Real Talk, Catalyst Food Leaders co-founders Tia Glave and Jill Stuber explores how this small habit reveals big truths about team culture, clarity, and connection.

If your leadership strategy is “develop the top 10%,” you’re not scaling capacity—you’re concentrating risk. In this episode, Tia Glave and Jill Stuber, ICF-PCC dive into: 🚨 The hidden costs of star-only development ⚠️ Why it drains culture and burns out teams ✅ What it looks like to build a system where everyone grows You don’t build strong cultures by doubling down on the few. You build them by investing in leadership that sticks.

Before you can lead into 2026, you have to let go of what’s no longer serving you. In this bold Real Talk conversations, Catalyst Food Leaders Co-Founders, Tia Glave and Jill Stuber explore: - The reactive habits we carry without realizing it - Why change doesn’t stick without clarity - A first look at the Catalyst Method™: Spark → Shift → Sustain  Save your free seat at our Leadership Reset Week www.catalystfoodleaders.com/reset-week Live episodes on YouTube every Monday at 11a Eastern / 10a Central

Most leaders say they want ownership and initiative—but lead in ways that demand obedience. In this Real Talk, co-founders of Catalyst Food Leaders, Tia Glave and Jill Stuber, unpack why control gets compliance, and clarity earns commitment. Save your free seat at our Leadership Reset Week www.catalystfoodleaders.com/reset-week

With shifting labor dynamics, shrinking resources, and a noticeable drop in team engagement, food leaders are facing the constant pressure to do more with less. The chaos isn’t slowing down—and neither are the expectations. In this Real Talk, Tia Glave and Jill Stuber, are getting honest about what it really takes to protect your energy, presence, and impact when the world around you won’t pause. You’ll walk away with 3 practical shifts to stay grounded, lead with intention, and take care of yourself—without checking out.

Most leaders focus on performance — metrics, plans, deliverables — but skip the mindset underneath it. This leads to less-than-desirable results. 📈 In fact, Forbes reports that 64% of senior executives in U.S. organizations report higher productivity and performance when their leaders have a growth mindset. 🤯 And, it’s not just your KPIs being impacted - so is the bottom line 💰. 80% of senior executives in U.S. companies agree that employee growth mindset contributes to revenue growth. But it’s hard to stay in the right mindset. You need a MINDSET RESET! 🔁 Catalyst Food Leaders co-founders Tia Glave and Jill Stuber talk about the mindset reset every leader needs before the new year! Looking for more?  Join Tia & Jill during Catalyst's Leadership Reset Week - November 18 - 20, 2025.  It's free, interactive, and designed to give leaders the time and space they never get to reflect.   Save your free spot at https://www.catalystfoodleaders.com/reset-week  

Culture change doesn’t start with a campaign. It starts with how people lead. In this Real Talk, Catalyst co-founders Tia Glave & Jill Stuber unpack why leadership is the true driver of culture. And more importantly, how to get the funding to support it. Here’s the truth: Companies that invest in leadership development see a 22% boost in profits. ⭐️ Strong cultures drive up to 4x revenue growth compared to weak or average ones. ⭐️ And yet, most food companies underfund the one thing that actually shifts behavior: leadership. You’ll walk away with strategies to build a strong business case for leadership development—whether you're influencing up, across, or owning the budget yourself. Because when leaders in food are equipped to lead differently, everything changes: retention, engagement, and results. Let’s talk about how to fund what actually works.

What really kills a culture? Join Tia Glave and Jill Stuber as they talk about the known causes of what kills a culture — and how to shift it. Ownership, trust, and straight talk.

Most feedback fails. In this episode, Jill and Tia break down why — and what to do instead. No fluff. Just clear, honest shifts leaders need to make now.

Scaling a food brand takes more than great products—it takes great leadership. Join Tia Glave and Jill Stuber, with special guest Nikita Jackson, as we dive into why vision, inspiration, and people-first leadership are essential for food businesses in growth mode. Learn how strong leaders retain top talent, keep teams engaged, and sustain the mission that sets a brand apart.

❓What does it really take to lead culture change? In this episode of Real Talk, Tia Glave and Jill Stuber, ICF-PCC get honest about what it really takes to change culture within the food industry. We will explore some of the real losses and wins we've had in our decades-long careers in food, and what happens when we intentionally connect with others. Do you agree that Culture is a contact sport? 🏈 Come ready to share your own experiences and perspective!

We’re back — and bolder than ever. In this season premiere, Jill and Tia pull back the curtain on what’s changed in leadership, why surface-level conversations aren’t cutting it anymore, and how Real Talk is here to lead food forward. No guests, no fluff — just truth, courage, and clarity to kick off Season 3.