Among the toughest challenges industry leaders working to advance diversity, equity and inclusion face has to do with eggshells, and not those left over from cooking, suggests Tracey MacRae, campus executive chef, assistant director of culinary and dining systems at the University of Washington.

“I’ve never had a woman sous chef, and I’m not starting with you.” Such was the welcome Brittani Ratcliff received from the executive chef she’d been hired to work under in her first job out of culinary school. The foodservice director, who overheard the declaration, laughed it off. Three weeks later, Ratcliff was shifted to another position.

Stephan C. Baity vividly recalls the 2020 KIA/Culinary Olympics in Stuttgart, Germany, for many reasons.

The foodservice industry has faced many major challenges over the past couple of years. Despite all the struggles, the industry has shown admirable perseverance and we think it’s time to start focusing on opportunities. This one has been hiding in plain sight: It’s time to embrace diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).