Jessamyn Waldman Rodriguez

From my babysitting job where my boss made the most phenomenal hummus (I didn’t know that hummus could taste so good), to Gap Kids at the mall when I was 16 (I still can fold baby jeans—and napkins—like nobody’s business), to working at the United Nations in Costa Rica where I learned the importance of detailed consistency, I have taken something away from each job. However, the most formative career move came as I pulled all of that together and launched Hot Bread Kitchen. It is truly something amazing to have the opportunity to have a big idea—a vision fueled by impact—and grow it to a sustainable, stable, and thriving institution.

I try to keep a sense of humor about it and celebrate when things go well at work or home.

I always want to hire people who are better than I am at things. Integrity and the willingness to make and own mistakes are also essential qualities. It is also good to hire funny people - a sense of humor makes work more fun!

I read a lot to stay inspired. I try to balance a combination of business literature (I recently read Howard Schultz’s first book and Seth Godin’s Tribes), current events (I read the New Yorker on the train), and fiction (I am currently reading the Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer). I also read a lot of cookbooks even though I rarely have time to cook anything new.