Kelly Nam

(I actually found myself diving more into it after an especially gruesome day.)

I didn't want to give myself a handicap by thinking, 'because I'm a female...' I believed that once I defined myself as 'female,' I gave the other party every reason to view me as one. So I saw myself just as a cook and as a chef. As a leader, it gave me a different perspective on how I should view myself. Now, as a female leader in our industry, I’ve felt that it has started to fall heavily on me to be a good role model. What I thought was a handicap is now something very powerful.

We never stop learning, and I believe there is something to learn from everyone. Also, I can teach skills but I can't teach attitude.

It's a lot of pressure to be a leader in our industry when there are so many aspiring cooks who are looking up to us – it motivates me to be a better chef.

It can simply be a color combination, an art installation, the flavor profile of a bottle of wine, a whiff of something I got, etc.

I'm the one who holds everyone accountable. Everyone also knows I'm blunt and speak what I believe is the truth. So, I end up becoming the therapist or the vent bucket for my colleagues. I may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I am there for my colleagues when they need me. I honestly feel like a mother hen sometimes.

I love munching, and I love being able to make snacks for my team when I have time. Happy stomach, happy employees.

I've tried yoga and meditation. I even bought books that told you how to prevent burnout. What has actually helped me was ensuring I kept time for myself apart from work. It sounds simple, but it is also the hardest thing to do. Separating work from my personal life and being able to say “No” when I have to, has been helpful. I also think having a hobby or hobbies that can keep your thoughts away from work helps.