Consumer Brands President and CEO Melissa Hockstad's career path has included disparate milestones ranging from becoming a licensed forklift operator, getting a bachelor's degree in engineering and receiving a master's in materials science in addition to spending several years on factory floors before successively more responsible roles in advocacy and management. "I took that industry knowledge and applied it in the trade association space, transitioning to Washington, D.C., and working in various association roles." She bases her leadership style on what she calls the Four H's: Hard work, hustle, humility, and heart. "You have to lead with passion," she said. "When you believe in what you do every day, it shows in your enthusiasm and commitment. I absolutely love what I do."

Angela and Charnita Block, franchisees for Rita's Italian Ice in Washington, D.C., share lessons from 20 years of building a business rooted in community. They emphasize the importance of grassroots marketing, the power of team members as brand ambassadors and the need to adapt to the local community. Their efforts have created lasting relationships and a sense of belonging among customers and employees.

Communication, empathy and adaptability are crucial components of effective leadership. Here are some experts on how to integrate these traits to motivate staff and build organizational resilience.

• Your leader isn't a mind reader: If you're feeling frustrated by your manager's leadership style, the best advice might be to ask for what you need, writes leadership coach Kristin Hendrix, who shares examples from her own career.

• Blank stares from your team or boss? When your boss or team doesn't seem to understand you, see it as an opportunity to uncover new knowledge and share your perspective instead of as an obstacle, write Karin Hurt and David Dye from Let's Grow Leaders, who offer several ways to start the conversation.

• Addressing loneliness in the workplace: Loneliness is reshaping workplaces, quietly eroding trust, team cohesion and performance, write Kristin Gleitsman and Luis Velasquez. Leaders should embed connection into daily work through practices such as building team cohesion, designing collaboration to foster trust and modeling vulnerability.

• Leaders can inspire by offering employees hope: Giving employees hope is one of the most effective leadership strategies, especially in these turbulent times, writes Julie Winkle Giulioni, a leadership speaker and author. These leaders are "helping employees see possibilities, navigate obstacles and believe in their own capacity to succeed," Winkle Giulioni writes.

• Complex change efforts demand adaptability Instead of addressing complex changes with unrealistic goals and timelines, leaders should start with manageable steps and celebrate small wins to sustain motivation and resilience, writes Michelle McQuaid, a workplace well-being instructor.


• How to adapt your personality to improve leadership: Personality traits such as openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness and emotional stability play a significant role in leadership success, according to Eva Asselmann, a professor at HMU Health and Medical University. Self-awareness and adaptability can enhance a person's overall skills, and some exercises to stay authentic while developing personality traits include setting boundaries for those who are too agreeable and practicing speaking last for those who always talk first.

Bon Appetit has listed its 20 best new restaurants of 2025, highlighting establishments that offer unique dining experiences and deeply personal storytelling through their menus. Notable mentions include Minnie Bell's Soul Movement in San Francisco, which celebrates familial and cultural heritage with soul food; Lenox in Seattle, where Jhonny Reyes blends Puerto Rican roots with local ingredients; and Vinai in Minneapolis, where Yia Vang honors Hmong culture. Other standout restaurants include Baan Mae in Washington, D.C.; Acamaya in New Orleans; Avize in Atlanta; Feld in Chicago; and Camelia in Los Angeles.

The global cheese market is on track to hit $178.5 billion in the next 10 years, according to Future Market Insights. Rapid expansion of pizza chains and quickservice restaurants in the Middle East and Asia is boosting mozzarella and processed cheese consumption, while Europe and North America, with high per-capita cheese intake, are seeing demand shift towards specialty and premium varieties, and private-label products. Latin America presents a diverse picture, with Brazil, Mexico and Argentina each exhibiting consumption patterns influenced by local traditions and economic factors. Plant-based cheese, while still small compared to traditional dairy cheese, is emerging as a dynamic sub-segment with double-digit growth.

A new generation of Asian-American wine bars in New York City is redefining how wine pairs with Asian cuisine. Rather than relying solely on riesling, these bars -- including Lei, Sunn's, Tolo and Lai Rai -- curate diverse wine lists that match the complexity and regional variety of their dishes. This movement encourages diners to explore classic and unconventional pairings, positioning wine as a central part of the Asian dining experience.

Chef Mashama Bailey, after years of acclaim in Savannah, has opened L'Arrêt by the Grey in Paris, adapting Black Southern cuisine to a new cultural and culinary landscape. Facing challenges with ingredients and language, she's reinterpreting her roots through a global lens, continuing a legacy of Black American cooks shaping food far from home. "Instead of soft shell crab, I'm going to use langoustines," she said, "...I'm excited to push the narrative of Black food on the move, I want young cooks in America to see that."

Caregiving responsibilities can have a significant impact on women's careers, often causing them to leave jobs or delay advancement, but some leverage their caregiving experiences to embark on new professional paths, such as health advocacy or content creation. Employers are beginning to recognize the value of these experiences and appreciate openness about caregiving on resumes, viewing it more favorably than employment gaps.