What does it really take to grow a business that doesn't depend on you?

In this episode, I sit down with Christin Marvin, founder of Columbine Hospitality and author of Multi-Unit Mastery. Christin shares her journey from line cook at 15 to managing partner by age 30, proving that initiative, curiosity, and the willingness to step outside your comfort zone can completely change the trajectory of your career.

We talk about why struggling restaurants are often facing a leadership problem—not an operations problem—and what it takes to build leaders who can help your business grow beyond the day-to-day. Christin shares real stories of helping operators identify and develop leaders from within, as well as working through unexpected employee turnover by uncovering the real issues instead of simply treating the symptoms.

One of my favorite takeaways was the importance of creating a consistent rhythm of checking in with your team. Whether it's weekly, monthly, or somewhere in between, making time to listen and create a safe space for honest conversations builds trust, strengthens culture, and helps leaders address problems before they become bigger ones.

And Christin didn't stop there—she's also offering listeners a free digital copy of her book, Multi-Unit Mastery through the link she shares in the episode.

Whether you're leading one restaurant, one department, or one hundred employees, this conversation is full of practical leadership lessons you can put into practice right away.

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What does it really mean to create a culture of learning?

In Part 2 of my conversation with Michael Wolfe, Director of Learning & Development at SEFA, we move beyond training programs and explore how organizations create environments where people continue to grow long after onboarding.

We discuss the balance between formal training and on-the-job learning, why leaders should expect mistakes as part of the process, and how creating a safe environment for questions and curiosity leads to stronger teams. We also tackle the mindset that "time is money" and whether investing in employee development is worth taking people out of the field.

If you're a leader, manager, or business owner, this episode will challenge the way you think about developing people—and why building a learning culture isn't just good for employees, it's good for the bottom line.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What a culture of learning really looks like
  
  
• Why learning doesn't end after onboarding
  
  
• Formal training vs. on-the-job learning
  
  
• Creating an environment where people feel safe asking questions
  
  
• Why mistakes are part of the learning process
  
  
• Balancing productivity with investing in development
  
  
• How continuous learning impacts business performance

What if the biggest problem with training...isn't the training?
In this episode of Confessions Beyond the Food, Nancy Ridlen sits down with Michael Wolfe, Director of Learning & Development at SEFA, to explore why organizations often misunderstand learning and what it really takes to develop people.
Michael shares his unique perspective as someone who entered the foodservice industry just four years ago, offering fresh insights into an industry filled with long-tenured professionals. Together, they discuss why experience doesn't automatically make someone a great trainer, the "curse of knowledge" that experts often face, and why learning is a shared responsibility between the teacher and the learner.
You'll also hear practical advice on becoming a better learner, regardless of who is doing the teaching.
In this episode:

• Michael's journey into the foodservice industry
• Fresh observations from an industry outsider
• Why experience doesn't always equal great training
• Common misconceptions about learning and development
• What great learners do differently
• Why taking ownership of your own learning matters
  Stay tuned for Part 2, where we'll dive into how leaders can create a culture of learning that drives stronger teams and better business results.