Julie Burleson is the Founder of Young Chefs Academy. Established in April 2003, Young Chefs Academy offers cooking classes to children in a safe environment that encourages discovery and creativity. While learning food preparation skills is the main ingredient at YCA, each class adds a heap of kitchen safety, a scoop of etiquette, a handful of table setting, a pinch of menu planning, and laughter to taste.
How has your life experience made you the leader you are today?
Growing up in a big family with three sisters and a brother taught me the value of hard work at an early age. I was raised in an environment where we were encouraged to pursue our dreams and to look from within for our own happiness. My parents insisted that we seek a career where we could support ourselves. My father would often say that although success comes with hard work and perseverance, it feels much easier if there is passion behind it.
How has your previous employment experience aided your tenure at Young Chefs Academy (YCA)?
I went to work on a cruise ship after college thinking it would be fun to travel before getting a "real job." What I got was more than a real job, where providing an over-the-top customer experience was paramount to everything else. It was hard work and I worked with people from around the world. My cabin mates were from Jamaica, Germany, Holland, England, Switzerland, the Philippines, even Korea. The experience opened my eyes to the big world we live in. I found myself serving passengers who were on 'the vacation of a lifetime' and although I was one of thousands of employees on the ship, I was an integral part of helping make that happen. We have recently named a franchise owner as our official teacher training mentor. She has a special skill for finding just the right teachers who have not only a culinary background, but also a knack for teaching kids. Because we understand that each customer touchpoint plays an integral part in the customer experience, having a franchisee serve as "on site" trainer allows us the opportunity to train and evaluate teachers during an actual classroom setting - the core of our business.
What have the highlights and challenges been during your tenure at YCA?
One big highlight has been watching other people fall in love with YCA, whether it's a child celebrating their birthday party with us, a parent telling us what a positive impact we've had on their child or a franchisee falling in love with the business. To hear someone say that YCA has changed their life is a great gift, and we've been able to share our passion with kids and families from all over the world.
There have been challenges, too. I have had to make difficult decisions in the name of my business. You need to be prepared to make some of the toughest decisions of your life when you become a business owner. To say that you have to "grow yourself up" is an understatement. I heard Colin Powell speak at an International Franchise Association (IFA) convention one year. He talked about how important it is for business owners to know when it's time to "prune the hedges," and then having the courage to follow through. Owning a business is not for the faint of heart.
What advice can you offer to women who want a career in your industry?
Franchising personifies the American Dream and it is very female friendly. Eighty percent of YCA franchisees are women, many of whom left the corporate world to seek a more balanced work/family life. Owning a YCA is tough - it can be complicated and demanding - but it is family friendly, and I suspect more rewarding than any CPA, administrative, teaching or corporate job could ever be.
What is the most important lesson you've learned in your career to date?
I recently had the opportunity to go "undercover boss" at a company-owned store. I jumped into the middle of day-to-day operations. This involved everything from greeting summer campers to booking birthday parties or teaching a class. It wasn't just working with the students either. I went grocery shopping, learned a new POS system and sampled a few snickerdoodles campers insisted I try. But my favorite part about it was jumping up and down with excitement alongside students when they amazed themselves with what they created. This experience taught me that sometimes the only way to work on your business is to really dive into it for a while.
How do you maintain a work/life balance?
I'm very lucky because this is the most family friendly business at every level, from working as an instructor all the way to the corporate office. I work with my husband (my husband works for me) and my kids are proud of what I do. They like to be around the office when they aren't busy with their own activities. We keep discussions about business to a minimum when we are home, especially around the dinner table. Even though owning a business means long hours and no real break, we can enjoy luxuries like being able to attend basketball games and really be there for our children.
What do you think is the biggest issue for women in the workplace?
Sometimes I feel as though my passion and emotion for my business can be seen as a sign of weakness. It's frustrating because it shouldn't be that way. I have put a lot of time and effort into making this business something I can be proud of. Of course I'm going to be passionate about it.
How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and personal life?
It has allowed me the opportunity to have a sounding board. It keeps me rooted and gives me courage when I need it. We have all had those moments when we know what the right decision is but we don't have the courage to jump in and make it. That is when having a mentor is invaluable. The instinct is there and they provide you with the confidence to pursue it.
Which other female leaders do you admire and why?
Carly Fiorina, not because she has entered the presidential race, but because I admire her success in business and the grace she has shown during some very tough times in her job at Hewlett Packard.
What do you want YCA to accomplish in the next year?
We need to continue to award franchises to like-minded, passionate owners. The next year is very big as we open 20 new locations in the U.S. and expand into the U.A.E., and it's important that we stay true to our model. We want to see YCA franchises dot the globe, but it is equally important that the children who attend our classes in the future love it as much as those who do today.