Blog #1

Before taking the Intro to Management class at the CIA, I expected it to be very broad, simple and direct. I only envisioned learning how to be a good manager and how to become a manager. Therefore, I was surprised on how elaborate the topics in class were. After a few classes, I learned that not only does this class teach you on how to become a great manager, but also on what can make you into a terrible manager. While briefly thinking about my past job experiences and the managers I had encountered in this field, there was only one person who truly caught my attention. The Executive Chef, David Serus, at the Ritz Carlton in Washington D.C was precisely that one person. Chef David had a strange and unusual ability to make you feel like an important part of the team. Even as an extern, I truly felt that he had included me in decisions that made me feel important. Chef David's products really showed his passion and love for cooking which in turn, exerted a positive energy to the rest of the team. After learning about transformational leadership in class, I instantly thought of my chef at my externship site. Chef David inspired us all by communicating to us his vision, philosophies, and passion on food which gave us an opportunity to grow and produce meaningful work. With my experiences with Chef David, I learned that anyone can be an illustrious leader if they put their heart and soul into their work.