This Is Working with Daniel Roth

On this week’s rapid fire Q&A, Steve Ells talks about his journey from studying art history to founding Chipotle Mexican Grill and how being open to the unexpected paved the way for his success. Ells also shares his secret to staying productive — keeping a highly structured morning routine and allowing for “spontaneity and chaos” as the day progresses — and he discusses the importance of bringing a solutions-oriented mindset to meetings.Have questions you want to hear on This is Quick?Share a post or comment on LinkedIn using the hashtag #ThisisWorking.Follow Kernel Foods, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Dan Roth and LinkedIn News on LinkedIn, and subscribe to the newsletter here.

Steve Ells created a new standard for fast casual dining when he launched Chipotle 31 years ago. He’s looking to transform the sector once again with his latest venture Kernel — a plant-forward restaurant powered largely by robots. LinkedIn editor in chief Dan Roth talks to Ells about the novel hub and spoke system he’s deploying to streamline food prep and reduce human error and turnover. Ells discusses changing key elements of the business early on, including adding non-vegan options to the menu and reworking the layout to be more hospitable in response to customer feedback, and adapting production processes based on employee feedback. Ells also shares his top advice for those looking to mirror his entrepreneurial success.Share your thoughts via email at ThisisWorking@linkedin.com, or join the conversation directly on LinkedIn using the hashtag #ThisisWorking. Follow Kernel Foods, Dan Roth and LinkedIn News on LinkedIn, and subscribe to the newsletter here.

Offering a unique blend of baseball and whimsical entertainment, the Savannah Bananas are selling out stadiums across the country with their Banana Ball games. On the latest This is Working, the team’s owner Jesse Cole talks to LinkedIn editor in chief Dan Roth about his fan-first business strategy of eliminating friction points and constantly innovating the experience. Cole also discusses the qualities he looks for when hiring and explains why a culture of psychological safety is the most important element for a team's success.Share your thoughts via email at ThisisWorking@linkedin.com, or join the conversation directly on LinkedIn using the hashtag #ThisisWorking. Follow Jesse Cole, Savannah Bananas, Dan Roth and LinkedIn News on LinkedIn, and subscribe to the newsletter here.

On the latest This is Working, Francisco Veloso, dean of top-ranked international business school INSEAD, talks to LinkedIn editor in chief Dan Roth about overhauling the curriculum to include sustainability and spur students to think about their decisions in terms of global impact as part of a mission to better prepare the next generation of tech and business leaders. Veloso also shares his thoughts on the fundamental value of learning in a diverse, social setting and how AI could integrate into that process and evolve the role of faculty.Share your thoughts via email at ThisisWorking@linkedin.com, or join the conversation directly on LinkedIn using the hashtag #ThisisWorking.Follow Francisco Veloso, INSEAD, Dan Roth and LinkedIn News on LinkedIn, and subscribe to the newsletter here.

This week on our rapid fire Q&A, Francisco Veloso, the dean of INSEAD business school (#2 on LinkedIn’s Top MBA list), applies the Heisenberg uncertainty principle to explain how an early love of physics bought him time to figure out a career plan. He also talks about picking up social media skills from Gen Z, learning from Mary Meaney’s effective mobilization on behalf of Ukrainian refugees, and shares his advice for successfully integrating into an established organization as a leader.Have questions you want to hear on This is Quick?Share a post or comment on LinkedIn using the hashtag #ThisisWorking.Follow Francisco Veloso, INSEAD, Dan Roth and LinkedIn News on LinkedIn, and subscribe to the newsletter here.

This week on our rapid fire Q&A, TIAA CEO Thasunda Brown Duckett explains why she thinks “work-life balance is a lie,” and how she instead frames her life like a diversified portfolio — recalibrating when necessary to outperform over time. She also talks about how practicing gratitude helps her stay productive and the importance of being open to feedback and inspiration from all different sources.Have questions you want to hear on This is Quick?Share a post or comment on LinkedIn using the hashtag #ThisisWorking.Follow Thasunda Brown Duckett, TIAA, Dan Roth and LinkedIn News on LinkedIn, and subscribe to the newsletter here.

As the CEO of TIAA, Thasunda Brown Duckett makes a point of showing the human impact of the investment advisory firm’s work. On the latest This is Working, Duckett talks to LinkedIn's Editor in Chief Dan Roth about the creative leadership methods she employs to foster genuine feedback and motivate her workforce to share her mission to fix America’s $4 trillion dollar retirement savings gap. Duckett also offers her best advice for honing management skills and overcoming career challenges.Share your thoughts via email at ThisisWorking@linkedin.com, or join the conversation directly on LinkedIn using the hashtag #ThisisWorking. Follow Thasunda Brown Duckett, TIAA, Dan Roth and LinkedIn News on LinkedIn, and subscribe to the newsletter here.

This week on our rapid fire Q&A, Avelo Airlines founder & CEO Andrew Levy shares his tips for managing a busy schedule, including prioritizing time for deep thinking every day. He also talks about learning to trust his gut when it comes to going all-in on major business decisions, and he imparts his best advice for aspiring entrepreneurs who want to follow in a similar path.Have questions you want to hear on This is Quick?Share a post or comment on LinkedIn using the hashtag #ThisisWorking.Follow Andrew Levy, Avelo Airlines, Dan Roth and LinkedIn News on LinkedIn, and subscribe to the newsletter here. 

Andrew Levy shocked a lot of people when he resigned as CFO of United Airlines in 2018 to create a new airline. On the latest This is Working, the Avelo Airlines founder and CEO talks to LinkedIn's Editor in Chief Dan Roth about why he launched a startup in an already saturated industry of giants — seeing an opportunity to tap underserved markets with lower-cost, short-haul flights through smaller airports. Levy also discusses the challenge of building brand awareness and the importance of having team members who aren’t afraid to debate each other.Share your thoughts via email at ThisisWorking@linkedin.com, or join the conversation directly on LinkedIn using the hashtag #ThisisWorking.Follow Andrew Levy, Avelo Airlines, Dan Roth and LinkedIn News on LinkedIn, and subscribe to the newsletter here.

This week on our rapid fire Q&A, Whole Foods CEO Jason Buechel shares his productivity tips, including how spending 15 minutes a week adjusting the calendar can save hours each day. Buechel also talks about how the concept of conscious capitalism changed the way he leads, and why it's important to be patient when it comes to the trajectory of your career, letting things happen naturally while you focus on learning.If you're looking for more great advice on career growth, check out these previous This is Working episodes with Tamron Hall and J & J CEO Joaquin Duato.Have questions you want to hear on This is Quick?Share a post or comment on LinkedIn using the hashtag #ThisisWorking.Follow Jason Buechel, Whole Foods Market, Dan Roth, and LinkedIn News on LinkedIn.