In this episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne sits down with Dave Hirst, a school nutrition leader who proves that the best leadership strategy is simple: empower your people. Dave shares why nearly his entire team followed him to a new district, how trust and valuing people creates loyalty, and what it looks like to decentralize leadership so teams grow with confidence and ownership.

You will also hear how Dave leads 23 school kitchens and 100 team members, serving approximately 18,000 meals a day, while building a positive workplace culture rooted in fun, laughter, and connection. He explains how school nutrition professionals influence students every day, why feeding kids impacts behavior and learning, and how his team designs menus by listening to students and reducing food waste, with one unforgettable leadership lesson: feed kids, not trash cans.

If you lead in education, school nutrition, food service, or any people focused organization, this conversation will give you practical leadership ideas to strengthen culture, increase trust, and help your team thrive.