Ep 3 - Leading with determination and community with Kerry Brodie
Ep 3 - “Take a beat and ask why” - Kerry Brodie
This episode is a collaborative conversation with Kerry Brodie, the Executive Director and Founder of Emma’s Torch. Kerry openly shares her journey on taking a leap in her career to follow a loud calling to bring Emma’s Torch to life. Through the journey, she has evolved as a leader and shares what she’s learned along the way. Leadership is not a solo act and she continues to learn every day through collaboration and listening to her colleagues and students. It is through determination and her endless curiosity to question the status quo that defines her leadership style. And no matter what, community runs deep in Kerry’s ethos and it has continued to remain one of her pillars in her professional life that comes back to on a daily basis. I’m so excited for everyone to be just as inspired as I am by Kerry!
Kerry’s resources that are in her toolkit:
Bréne Brown books and podcasts
and running to clear her mind
A little more about Kerry:
Kerry Brodie is the founder and Executive Director of Emma’s Torch. Since its launch in 2016, Emma’s Torch has opened multiple locations in New York City and has recently expanded operations to Washington, DC. Kerry’s passion for sustainable business models has played an important role in Emma’s Torch’s growth. She believes in being mission-driven and data-informed. Her interest in philanthropic R.O.I. has kept the organization laser-focused on ensuring program graduates get the best possible outcomes: to pursue their own goals and attain financial freedom.
Since founding Emma’s Torch, Kerry has had the opportunity to grow her leadership at the intersection of culinary arts and social advocacy. She is a recipient of a Gaudium Award from the Breukelein Institute and was a 2020 JWI Woman to Watch. She has been featured on CNN Heroes, The Forward 50, City & State’s 40 Under 40, and 36 Under 36–among many others.
Kerry is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education, where she received the Wusthof Award for Leadership and was named the ACCSC Graduate of the Year. She holds a Master’s in Government from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor’s in Near Eastern Studies from Princeton University.
About Emma’s Torch:
Emma’s Torch is a non-profit social enterprise. They provide refugees with in-depth culinary training as well as employability, equity, and empowerment training. Throughout the program, they learn in both a classroom and apprentice setting, thanks to their cafes and catering businesses. They set them up for successful employment in an industry in which their cultural heritage and cuisine can be celebrated. What’s more, they provide a community in which their students can build supportive relationships.
