KANSAS CITY, MO — I want to talk about vulnerability. Those of us in leadership positions may feel like it’s an area we’re supposed to avoid. But I suggest otherwise. In fact, there’s an element of vulnerability that we all need to be aware of and lean into.
We are an industry built on generational knowledge. While skills, processes and even opportunities have been passed on through the ages, we are at a pivotal moment … in the industry and in history. While tribal knowledge is foundational, it only gets us so far these days.
I recently asked a baker about balancing tradition and innovation, and his response stuck with me: “Tradition is about values, while innovation is about what we create.” In other words, tradition is who you are, and innovation is what you do. Balance is critical because while you can’t have one without the other, you must also take care not to let tradition stifle innovation (or vice versa). The two sides must feed and nourish each other.
