What does it take to grow from a 16-year-old garnish guy to a leadership consultant shaping kitchen culture nationwide?

In this episode of The Leadership Table, host Jason E. Brooks sits down with Simon Zatyrka, founder of Culinary Mechanic, to unpack lessons learned from decades in the trenches of the hospitality industry.

In This Episode, We Cover:
✅ Simon’s journey from the line to leadership
✅ The leadership rejection that became his turning point
✅ Building a positive and productive kitchen culture
✅ Why asking more questions makes you a better leader
✅ The importance of systems, recipes, and communication in restaurant operations
✅ Believing in your team’s desire to succeed

About Simon Zatyrka:
Simon is the founder of Culinary Mechanic, where he helps restaurant leaders streamline operations, build stronger teams, and create sustainable kitchen cultures. Learn more at https://culinarymechanic.com.

Connect with Simon:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonzatyrka/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/culinary.mechanic/

Listen & Subscribe:
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Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-leadership-table/id1810437949
RSS Feed: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2471668.rss

Follow Jason E. Brooks for more leadership insights:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-e-brooks/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/2LeadnSucceed/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpAeHGYZ50evlJ2KjH2oDvQ
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/2LeadnSucceed

Website:
https://www.jasonebrooks.com

If you found value in today’s conversation, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with another leader!

In this episode, Jason E. Brooks welcomes Sam Oches, Editor-in-Chief of Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality, to explore how storytelling builds culture, shapes brands, and sets the tone for industry leadership. From empathy to media trends, this conversation is packed with insights for every hospitality leader.

In this episode of The Leadership Table, host Jason E. Brooks sits down with Sunny Ashman—Founder & CEO of AmpliSKY Franchise Consulting—for a powerful conversation on what it really takes to build high-performing teams, retain talent, and lead with empathy.

Sunny brings over 15 years of franchise and operations experience at brands like Moe’s Southwest Grill, Cinnabon, and Popeyes. She opens up about her leadership journey, the power of two-minute huddles, why feedback is a gift, and how culture—not just compensation—drives retention.

Whether you're leading a restaurant, managing a brand, or growing your next team of rockstars, this episode will inspire and equip you with practical tools that work.

🎯 Topics We Cover:

• Emotional intelligence and trust
• The power of team huddles and onboarding
• Why retention is about belonging
• Mentorship, GLEAM, and WiRL insights
• Building leadership without micromanaging

🎧 Listen now on your favorite podcast platform or YouTube.

🔗 Connect with Sunny Ashman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunnyashman
📢 More leadership tools: https://jasonebrooks.com
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