What is culinary leadership coaching?

Culinary leadership coaching is specialized executive coaching designed for chefs, restaurant managers, and hospitality professionals. It addresses the unique leadership challenges in high-pressure kitchen environments including team management, communication under stress, conflict resolution, and building a positive kitchen culture. Steve Weiss offers this service from Cleveland, Ohio, featuring the proprietary Culinary Leadership Assessment that measures 5 critical skill sets specific to the culinary industry.

What makes culinary leadership coaching different from general leadership coaching?

Culinary leadership coaching addresses the unique challenges of restaurant and hospitality environments, including high-pressure service dynamics, kitchen culture transformation, team retention, and balancing operational excellence with people development. Based in Cleveland, Ohio, I understand the local restaurant scene and work with culinary leaders across Northeast Ohio and nationwide.

Who is culinary leadership coaching for?

Our culinary leadership programs are designed for executive chefs, restaurant managers, culinary directors, hospitality leaders, and anyone in food service leadership positions looking to elevate their leadership skills and transform kitchen culture. We work with restaurants, hotels, and hospitality groups throughout Cleveland, Ohio, and across the country.

How does culinary leadership coaching improve team retention?

By developing emotional intelligence, communication skills, and positive leadership practices, our coaching helps create healthier kitchen cultures that reduce turnover, improve morale, and attract top culinary talent. Many Cleveland and Northeast Ohio restaurants have transformed their kitchen cultures through this approach.

Can culinary leadership programs be customized for our restaurant or hotel?

Yes! We create tailored programs addressing your specific challenges, whether it's leadership development for your management team, cultural transformation, or preparing rising stars for leadership roles in your organization. Available in-person throughout Ohio or virtually anywhere.

Culinary Leadership

The Secret Ingredient? Leadership.

Leadership coaching for chefs and hospitality managers to build culture, develop teams, and reduce turnover.

Executive chef leading kitchen team with confidence - culinary leadership coaching

Culinary Assessment

Proprietary 60-Question Tool

ICF International Coaching Federation Member Badge

ICF Associate Certified Coach ACC Credential Badge

Free 30-min call · No obligation

How do restaurant managers reduce kitchen staff turnover through better leadership?

Restaurant managers reduce kitchen staff turnover by creating positive team culture, providing clear communication during high-pressure service, and implementing fair scheduling practices. Effective culinary leadership involves mentoring staff, recognizing achievements, addressing conflicts quickly, and building retention through respect and professional development opportunities in the hospitality environment.

I understand the unique pressures that chef leaders face in fast-paced kitchen environments where emotions run high and precision matters. Working with culinary professionals, I help them develop leadership approaches that honor both the craft and the people who make exceptional dining experiences possible.

Based in Cleveland, Ohio· In-person or virtual nationwide

Is This For You?

Executive Chefs

Restaurant Managers

Culinary Directors

Hospitality Leaders

Why Culinary-Specific Leadership Development?

Restaurants and hospitality environments face unique leadership challenges. High-pressure service, intense hours, team dynamics under stress, and high turnover demand specialized leadership skills.

Address the unique stressors of kitchen environments
Build cultures that attract and retain top talent
Transform traditional kitchen dynamics
Develop emotional intelligence for high-pressure situations

Coming Soon

Culinary Leadership Assessment

A validated assessment tool designed specifically for the culinary industry. The assessment measures 5 critical leadership competencies validated for culinary environments, helping you track real development before and after training.

Situational judgment questions based on real restaurant scenarios
Validated assessment of 5 critical leadership competencies
Pre- and post-program comparison to measure growth
Track skill development over time
Assess program effectiveness with data
Identify strengths and areas for development
Use for hiring decisions and talent assessment

Get Early Access

Be the first to know when our Culinary Leadership Assessment launches. Sign up for early access and exclusive updates.

What Culinary Leaders Are Saying

Real results from chefs and hospitality professionals

Brandon Chrostowski

Founder and CEO, Edwins Leadership & Restaurant Institute

Testimonial: “Steve's training and coaching are a powerful model... He quickly builds trust and enables students to face triggers and challenges that once held them back.”

Vance K.

Chef, Edwins Graduate

Testimonial: “This course taught me the importance of evaluating my feelings and how to actively listen to really understand others. I've already started using these skills in real life. I feel much more confident in my leadership.”

Joshua L.

Program Graduate

Testimonial: “Steve taught me a lot about transformational leadership and how to be a leader not only in a culinary environment but at any workplace and at home... I know how to use my words, and I know how to communicate.”

Free Resource: Three Coaching Questions for Kitchen Supervisors

Transform how you lead your kitchen team with three powerful questions that develop thinking professionals—not just order-takers.

A popup will appear shortly to download the complete handout with examples and implementation tips.

Inspiring Quote: “In the kitchen, technical skills get you hired. Leadership skills get you promoted—and keep your team from walking out the door. The best chefs I work with understand that culinary excellence requires human excellence.”
— Steve WeissFounder, Catalis Leadership

Culinary Leadership Essentials

Communication clarity during high-pressure service is the foundation of kitchen success
Staff retention improves dramatically when leaders show genuine care for team development
Emotional regulation under stress separates good chefs from great leaders
Building a positive kitchen culture reduces turnover and improves guest experience
Mentoring the next generation of culinary talent is both legacy and leadership

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to Transform Your Kitchen Culture?

Based in Cleveland · Serving culinary leaders nationwide

Let's discuss how culinary leadership coaching can help you build a stronger team and a healthier kitchen environment.

Free 30-min call · No obligation