Ep 12 - “Leadership is providing psychological safety and having the support around you to make the right decision.” with guest Erin Boyle
Erin reminds us that when you leave the restaurant industry, there is a lot of ego attached. Erin’s career journey was not linear but what she continued to come back to was understanding her skill sets support her in taking on roles outside of the hospitality industry. Erin went to school for graphic design but when she realized that she had to sit at a desk all day, she knew this wasn’t the right fit. She then went on to go to culinary school and discovered this was the right place for her. Erin was a chef and operated restaurants for over 15 years around the country. Erin’s burn out was debilitating - she could hardly move and her creativity was lost and later found out she was working with anxiety and depression. She then took a step into teaching and that’s where she learnt how to really cook and teach where she discovered the chemistry and starting getting the why behind food. She then joined a corporate position and then went back to teaching. In 2020, Erin was furloughed and was introduced to CHOW where she was helping with the organization until the founder offered for her to join as the CEO. This organization is near and dear to Erin for many reasons and she’s a true advocate for building your community through your network and supporting hospitality workers mental health through meetings, resources and more.
About Erin:
I am Erin Boyle, CHOW’s CEO, friend, sister, wife, daughter, dog momma, potter, reader, crafter, walker, and chef. I trained to be a chef at the Culinary Institute of America and have worked in San Francisco, Washington DC, New York and Denver. After almost two decades working in the industry, I transitioned to teaching and love it. I have watched my staff, family, and friends in hospitality struggle with mental health and substance abuse. I, like many, struggle with depression, anxiety, and PTSD. In 2013, I found myself sick of the life I felt stuck in and found a therapist. She helped me to name the things I struggled with (depression and anxiety) and find coping strategies that work for me. In 2019, I decided to dedicate my energy toward improving access to mental health and wellness resources for all. As CEO to CHOW I am focused on outreach and aim to normalize mental health and substance use conversations in the restaurant industry.
Erin’s current book recommendation on leadership: Radical Candor by Kim Scott
Visit www.chowco.org for more resources.
You can also connect with the CHOW team and community in their Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/choworg or on YouTube: CHOWellness
For more resources on leadership and eliminating the sticky energy from team culture, visit theschool.www.onlyyummyalways.com
Ep 12 - Leadership is providing psychological safety and having the support around you to make the right decision with guest Erin Boyle