Founder, CEO, and president of EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute Brandon Edwin Chrostowski is renowned for changing culinary and hospitality training—in and out of the nation’s prisons—while preserving French cooking traditions. His mission-driven effort to train and staff former prison inmates at his flagship French restaurant and nonprofit has created a national model for re-entry and an educational pipeline for formerly incarcerated to learn the discipline and skill of fine dining.

Under Chrostowski’s leadership, the EDWINS program boasts an extraordinary one percent recidivism rate, a testament to the efficacy of its approach. More than a CEO, Chrostowski is a catalyst for change, providing over one hundred formerly incarcerated adults with free culinary and hospitality arts training each year. Since its inception in 2007, the program has evolved into a multifaceted initiative, including Edwins Too—a culinary incubator and community kitchen; EDWINS Butcher Shop and Bakery and Diner; a Second Chance Life Skills Center with housing and wraparound services; EDWINS Family Center, a nonprofit offering free daycare to Institute students during class hours; on-site programs at Grafton Correctional Institute and Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Center; and a groundbreaking virtual curriculum reaching over 400,000 inmates in prisons across the country.

A culinary virtuoso, Chrostowski’s journey began with classical training as a chef and sommelier. He honed his skills at distinguished fine dining establishments in Paris, New York, and Chicago, including Lucas Carton, Chanterelle, Picholine, Le Cirque, and Charlie Trotter’s. His culinary prowess has been celebrated with numerous accolades, including being a 2022 James Beard Award Semifinalist and a 2023 James Beard Finalist. Recognition also extends to the 2023 Jim Brown Changemaker Award, IFMA’s 2020 Silver Plate, CNN’s 2016 Heroes, and the prestigious Crain’s “40 under 40” Awards.

A proud alum of CIA, Chrostowski holds an associate degree in culinary arts and a bachelor’s degree in business and Restaurant Management. He resides in Cleveland with his wife Catana and their children, Leo, Lilly, Lynx, and Lander.

A Quote From This Episode

• "It's not like you come into a kitchen, and they say, 'Listen, this is how you're going to figure it out,' they just give you a task and you gotta figure it out."

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• Film: Knife Skills
• TV: CBS This Morning
• CNN Hero

About The International Leadership Association (ILA)

• The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals interested in studying, practicing, and teaching leadership. Register for ILA's 26th Global Conference in Chicago, IL - November 7-10, 2024.
• Adult Development Pre-Conference Session

About Scott J. Allen

• Website
• Weekly Newsletter: The Leader's Edge
• Blog

My Approach to Hosting

• The views of my guests do not constitute "truth." Nor do they reflect my personal views in some instances. However, they are views to consider, and I hope they help you clarify your perspective. Nothing can replace your reflection, research, and exploration of the topic.

Christina Helena is a speaker, playwright/performer, and founder of My Scar is Sexy, based in New York City. As one of the youngest pancreatic cancer survivors with a thirteen-inch scar across her abdomen, she is redefining the stigma behind trauma and pain with one simple thought: “Your scar is the sexiest thing about you.” Most recently, Goalcast featured Christina’s talk, “My Scar is Sexy,” on mental health, and overcoming adversity received over 10 million views.

Her story is currently in development as an off-Broadway, autobiographical solo show entitled SCAR directed by the award-winning director Larry Moss. Her TEDx talk, “Dear Unresolved Soul, It’s Not Death You Fear, It’s Life,” is about facing mortality and how death is the greatest catalyst to discovering the authentic self.

A Quote From This Episode

• "It took me many years of just asking myself, 'Why did you have that thought?' Then, again, 'Why did you have that thought?' And then, 'Why did you have that answer, and why that thought?'"

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• Christina's Website
• Christina's TEDx Talk
• My Scar is Sexy Talk
• Goalcast
• Other resources/people mentioned in this episode are linked to in the episode transcript.

About The International Leadership Association (ILA)

• The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals interested in studying, practicing, and teaching leadership. Register for ILA's 26th Global Conference in Chicago, IL - November 7-10, 2024.

About Scott J. Allen

• Website
• Weekly Newsletter: The Leader's Edge
• Blog

My Approach to Hosting

• The views of my guests do not constitute "truth." Nor do they reflect my personal views in some instances. However, they are views to consider, and I hope they help you clarify your perspective. Nothing can replace your reflection, research, and exploration of the topic.

Colonel Matt Horner, Ph.D., is the Director of Staff of the Dean of Faculty and was recently nominated for the role of Permanent Professor for Character and Leadership Development at USAFA. He has served in multiple administrative and instructor roles in the Directorate of Athletics and is an Assistant Professor of Management, teaching courses on organizational dynamics and leadership. He is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and served as a mobility pilot on active duty. He received his doctorate in sport management from Florida State University.

Lt Col Matt Orlowsky, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Management and teaches courses on organizational dynamics and leadership. He is a graduate of USAFA and served as a force support officer on active duty. As a human resource professional, he has held responsibilities at tactical, operational, and strategic levels and has held assignments all over the globe, including the United States, Korea, Germany, Iraq, and Qatar. His doctorate is from the University of Denver, and he explored how leaders translate experiences into insights.

Daphne DePorres, Ed.D., is an assistant professor at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), where she teaches organizational behavior and organizational development, as well as a management consulting capstone course. In addition, she has over thirty years of experience in Organization Development and Change. Before her academic career, she spent nearly a decade consulting with large and small, for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, working with them as they developed strategies, pursued organizational goals, analyzed and changed their cultures, and developed effective teams.

Dr. Dave Levy is a Professor of Management at USAFA and teaches courses on leadership, power, organization development, and change. He is a USAFA graduate and served as a security forces officer on active duty. After leaving the military, he worked as an organizational change consultant for Grant-Thornton and KPMG. He received his doctorate in organizational behavior from Cornell University and is the author of several books, including The 52nd Floor: Thinking Deeply About Leadership, Attitudes Aren’t Free: Thinking Deeply About Diversity in the US Armed Forces, Echoes of Mind: Thinking Deeply About Humanship, Evolution of Government Policy Towards Homosexuality in the US Military, and The Line: A Very Short, Short Story.

A Quote From This Episode

• "Every interaction is an opportunity to go ahead and fulfill the needs of agency, efficacy, and belonging."

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• Article: Lens X: A Practical Approach to Taking Care of Your People
• Links to other resources in the transcript

About The International Leadership Association (ILA)

• The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals interested in studying, practicing, and teaching leadership. Register for ILA's 26th Global Conference in Chicago, IL - November 7-10, 2024.

About Scott J. Allen

• Website
• Weekly Newsletter: The Leader's Edge

My Approach to Hosting

• The views of my guests do not constitute "truth." Nor do they reflect my personal views in some instances. However, they are views to consider, and I hope they help you clarify your perspective. Nothing can replace your reflection, research, and exploration of the topic.