We ❤️ Food Truck Friday! 😎 Each summer, we treat HITT team members in our 14 offices across the country to lunch on wheels or in their offices. It's one of our favorite annual traditions! We encourage our hardworking team to take a long, well-deserved break and connect over their love of construction and amazing food. This year, our team savored meals and desserts from local favorites like barbeque in Raleigh, Korean tacos in Los Angeles, and Cuban food in New York. Supporting local businesses while rewarding our team members is a winning combination!
I'm watching High on the Hog, an excellent food series on Netflix about Black cuisine from all over the diaspora. I know many companies will choose this month to only feature American Southern Cuisine but please remember that Blackness is not a monolith. There is no one "Black" food, there isn't one type of African, African-American, Caribbean, Afro-European, Afro-Latin, Afro-Asian.. you see where I'm going with it..
I worked at a vfx company that had an industrial kitchen, they let us cook whatever we wanted, and they also catered meals. I worked late and would cook and bake all the time. I would share my meals with my co-workers, and we had a little after work foodie community that I truly miss. The one thing I appreciated is that the company would hire really good caterers who brought every type of food from lumpia to collard greens all year long, we had an array of different pepper sauces co-workers would bring from all over the world that anyone could use. Having that choice, made me feel comfortable, I was able to be myself at work. Having tabasco, sriacha, tapatio, wasabi paste or crystal hot sauce might seem like a small thing, but it's still a representation of culture.
I have worked a lot of places with awful food, especially at larger companies who water down "ethnic" meals and remove their wonderful spices to appease the palate of the majority. If you are still planning or thinking about having a Black History celebration, please hire a caterer or vendor. Do not expect your corporate chefs to make gumbo, jollof rice, mofongo, la bandera, black eyed peas, injera, or any other combination of foods that represent these various cultures. If you want to celebrate Black History or any other cultural history in the kitchen, do it all the time, not just during the nationally designated month.
Fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is crucial, especially in light of the disbandment of DEI teams and ERG groups by several companies. The current trend of attempting to diminish diversity underscores the urgency of our commitment to creating inclusive workplaces.
If you find comfort in enjoying a diverse array of cuisines, such as Taco Tuesday, curry, ramen, and more, it is imperative that your workplaces reflect the same diversity and inclusion. Otherwise, companies risk contributing to the very problem we should be actively addressing. Let us strive to build environments where every individual, regardless of their background, feels valued, heard, and represented. Oh and watch High on the Hog :)
https://lnkd.in/ebec9hjy#netflix#blackhistorymonth#blackhistory365#foodculture#cuisine#chefs#fooddiversity#highonthehog#foodjustice, #foodorigins, #globalfoodways#highonthehog#DEI#employeeresourcegroups#ergs
If you're heading to Traverse City, stop by Black Star Farms.
In this interview with Sherri Campbell Fenton, she shares the history of Black Star Farms, what cool things they are doing to celebrate their 25th, and what new food and wine you need to try.
My chief takeaway: Always go for the "experience" when dealing with customers. While it's easy to focus on the product, the experience is what is going to bring people back year after year.
Watch the interview here ⬇️⬇️
https://lnkd.in/gtYk5SJs
🌮 Happy Taco Tuesday, Everyone! 🌮
As we tackle another productive week, let's take a moment to celebrate one of the most delicious days of the week – Taco Tuesday! Whether you're a fan of traditional street tacos, enjoy experimenting with taco bowls, or love to load up on all the toppings, there’s no denying the universal appeal of a good taco.
But beyond the delicious flavors, Taco Tuesday serves as a fantastic metaphor for our professional lives:
1. Variety is the Spice of Life: Just as there are countless ways to customize your tacos, our careers are filled with opportunities to explore different paths and spice things up with new challenges.
2. The Best Results Come from Combining Ingredients: A great taco balances flavors and textures, much like successful projects rely on the combination of diverse skills, ideas, and teamwork.
3. Consistency Matters: Celebrating Taco Tuesday weekly reminds us of the importance of consistency and dedication, whether it’s in perfecting a taco recipe or achieving our professional goals.
And remember, whether you’re crunching numbers or tacos today, let’s make it a fulfilling and productive day!
#TacoTuesday#ProfessionalGrowth#Teamwork
We're living up to our reputation as Foodie Town, USA. This weekend Euphoria Greenville brought some of the best chefs in the world to prepare meals, showcase their skills and explore perfect pairings with 🍷 fine wines and 🎶 live music. Among our guests, the second woman in the United States to earn two Michelin stars. Hallie Brown introduces us.
🤔 Think your trivia game is strong? 🎓 Challenge accepted? Let's put that claim to the test with Dunwoody's vibrant trivia nights!
In the heart of Dunwoody, trivia night has become more than just a battle of wits – it's a weekly tradition that beckons friends to gather, share a meal, and enjoy some laughs. From mouth-watering pub fare that features the local favorite Dunwoody Doozie burger 🍔 to craft beers that make choosing just one a quiz in itself 🍻, there’s no shortage of fun to be had.
Take your pick from iconic spots that boast an impressive array of trivia topics to ensure there's never a dull moment. And it's not just any trivia – we're talking about pop culture, sports, world geography, and much more. What's better than showing off your knowledge of '90s sitcoms or the most obscure sports team logos? Doing so while biting into a stack of applewood bacon, cheese, and onion rings, that's what!
At The Lawn at Ashford Lane, elevate your evening with a craft beer experience from Brass Tap or indulge in southern comfort food with a twist. And yes, there's even ice cream to sweeten the deal! 🍦
Whether you’re a fan of the classic British pub vibe or prefer to munch on stone-baked pizzas with a groovy twist, Dunwoody has you covered. Trivia night in our town isn't just a test of knowledge; it’s an experience. 🌟 And with Wednesday Trivia nights becoming a staple, there’s always a reason to look forward to hump day.
So get your squad together, mark your calendar, and become a part of a beloved Dunwoody tradition. Who knows? You might just come out as the reigning trivia champs. 🏆 And even if you don't, you’ll win some great memories and possibly find your new favorite dish. Now, that’s what I call a win-win!
#DunwoodyTrivia#TriviaNight#PubFare#CraftBeer#FoodiesOfLinkedIn#SocializeAndStrategize#KnowledgeIsPower#DunwoodyDining#QuizNighthttps://ayr.app/l/g2Dr
The post below isn't a PR stint. We had the privilege of being part of Mumba Kenneth Kalifungwa's birthday celebrations last month. He clocked a milestone age and celebrated it with close family and friends. Kenneth's leadership journey has always fascinated me. He is an exemplary leader. It is said that the ideal employee or leader is the right balance of technical competence and character competence. I can speak to his character competence. Kenneth pays the price. It was good to observe what leadership looks like on a family front. The tributes of his father, wife, children, friends and colleagues (who have now become friends) evidenced that the man applies leadership principles at work as well as at home. He leads his family. He has individual and collective relationships with them. I observed too, that every time I encounter Kenneth, he has become a better version of himself. These improvements are often subtle and can often be missed but they are there. He has grown in grace. This kind of progressive development doesn't just happen, there is tremendous discipline, deliberateness and dying to self that takes place internally. We don't just become. Behold, a role model.
I had a beautiful time tasting out the very awesome new menu at Tamarai in Kololo yesterday with the family. I always cherish the time spent with family. A great Sunday and week ahead!
Thanksgiving, is not a global holiday nor is it a popular celebration in every American household... However, if we were to unpack the celebration, and dissect the purpose & value of reflection and giving thanks, there's a few lessons that apply beyond this annual celebration.
Turkey Day Take aways that can be applied to our jobs, workplaces, and even the employee experience.
1. Who do you save a seat for at the table?
- Are you intentionally creating space & opportunities for those that would otherwise might not get a chance...
2. What are you contributing to the celebration?
- Beyond the great wine & tasty food, personally, I always come prepared with stories to share & memories to reminisce on. Similarly, bringing your full self FIRST is a great opportunity to model what vulnerability in the workplace and on your team could & should be like.
3. How are you navigating the "hard" or (un)comfortable conversations?
- Not everyone will have the same opinion, however, there MUST be group agreements to create safe spaces for ALL to show up authentically & feel free to SPEAK UP! You don't want a table filled with all the same opinions nor do you want a monoculture that does not encourage nor celebrate individuality & diversity of thoughts and culture.
Do you have any lessons learned at Thanksgiving that are parallel to organizational culture & behavior?
#vulnerable#leadership#safespace#speakup#culture#purpose#belonging#dei#organizationalculture#organizationalbehavior
A fantastic day at Sessions yesterday as the majority of our London based team headed down to our Shelter Hall venue in Brighton for an inspiring meeting hosted by the Shelter Hall management team and Jemma Wong, followed by a huge buffet and drinks showcasing the incredible brands currently in Session within the Food Hall.
Thank you to the team for braving winter at the beach!
#food#sessions#shelterhall#beachlife
The Pizza and Beer Test.
🍕🍻 Gratitude and thanks to my wonderful friend Michael Sharp, who recognizes the incredible value of the pizza and beer test as a tool to identify potential fantastic friends and colleagues. If you're on board with this simple yet revealing test, we're most likely destined to cross paths.
When it comes to building genuine connections, few things compare to the camaraderie formed over shared slices of pizza and cold pints of beer. 🙌 These casual gatherings unveil the essence of who we are and what we value, serving as a reliable indicator of compatibility and future collaborations.
Mike, thanks for embracing this unconventional test. By reveling in the pleasures of pizza and beer together, we've established a shared understanding and appreciation for each other's preferences. More importantly, it's a testament to our ability to navigate and connect on a deeper level. 🌟
To my fellow LinkedIn connections, take a moment to reflect on the power of the pizza and beer test: a lighthearted way to discover like-minded souls who understand the importance of enjoying simple pleasures and forging authentic connections. If you find yourself enjoying either pizza or beer, we've got something in common. But if you share the love for both, chances are we're destined to meet and collaborate in meaningful ways. 🍕🍻
Cheers to building incredible friendships and finding phenomenal colleagues through the simplicity of the pizza and beer test.
#friendship#commonground#pizza#beer#success
Kudos to HITT for creating such a fun and delicious tradition! 🍔