Legacy Leader Spotlight: Inspiring Leadership in Action
We are thrilled to introduce our new series, "Leader Spotlight," where we shine a light on the exceptional individuals who are making a significant impact in their fields. Each series will delve into the journeys, achievements, and insights of these inspiring leaders, showcasing the qualities that set them apart and the influence they wield. Join us as we celebrate the visionaries who are shaping the future and leading by example.
Madison Seewald
“Be h
umble and know that you don’t know everything”
Celebrating the leadership of Madison Seewald, our dedicated General Manager and Food Truck Director at Chick-Fil-A who is making significant strides in the industry.
Madison has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills and a strong commitment to excellence. Her innovative approach to management and strategic vision have driven remarkable results within her team and beyond.
Can you share the most pivotal moment in your career that significantly shaped your leadership style or approach?
The most pivotal moment in my career began when we applied for and were awarded a Chick-fil-A Food Truck. I went from being one of many managers to the one and only Food Truck Director. I was responsible for creating the schedule, forecasting sales/inventory, and creating any and all policies, procedures, and systems. It was the most pressure I've had up to date, even after now opening a second restaurant. Honestly, as a manager, I thought I knew it all. As a director, I very quickly realized how much I didn't know. It made me more humble, open to others' ideas, and willing to learn.
What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your field, and how did you overcome them?
In less than a year, I opened two new locations... one with wheels, one free standing 😊
The food truck and the new restaurant had different demographics, staffing needs, and were only similar in what they sold: Chicken! The biggest challenge was what I mentioned before. I went from being one of many, to one of one. I was still able to ask people for help, but it's just a different kind of pressure being "the boss" for so many people. It made me grow up a lot! I overcame those challenges mostly by leaning on my teammates. I asked a lot of questions and knew it was okay if I made a mistake. I also realized that a lot of people on our team cared and had good ideas, and I decided to pour into those instead of assume all of my ideas were the best ones.
What advice would you give to emerging leaders who are just starting out in their careers?
Be humble and know that you don't know everything. Always put your people before yourself. Make your culture your #1 priority!
How have the resources and mentorship provided by the Legacy Leadership Group and Tyler Long contributed to your professional growth and accomplishments?
Tyler has helped me get clear with exactly what my organization needs. My coaching sessions give me mental clarity. His sessions brought health to my leadership team, which brought health to my organization.
I would highly recommend working with Tyler and the Legacy Leadership Group. My individual sessions provide me with extreme mental clarity that has not been brought by any other leadership coaching methods (and believe me, we've tried them all!). The sessions provide me with clear action steps to take to remedy whatever challenge I am facing at the moment. In addition, the group sessions provided have helped our newer leaders build on their budding leadership skills. The most impactful lesson for us was a lesson on Crucial Conversations. With over 150 people within our organization, the value the lesson brought in being able to expand the horizons of communication among the team is vital to our success moving forward, and has already helped us make great strides. Healthy leaders, healthy team, healthy culture.
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