Sharing Our Heart: The Bryant Chamber Lunch N Learn Experience

What an incredible day we had at the Bryant Chamber of Commerce Lunch N Learn on May 28th! When we were invited to share our story of “Leading with the Heart: How Heart Leadership Changed Our Business,” we knew this was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up. There’s nothing we love more than connecting with fellow business leaders who are passionate about creating positive workplace cultures.

A door is open to a meeting room with people seated at tables facing a presenter and a projected screen. A sign by the door reads Greater Bryant Chamber of Commerce. The room has wood flooring and modern decor.

Our Journey to Heart Leadership

The presentation took us back to where it all started at that pivotal moment when we attended the Make It Better Everyday (MIBE) conference in Denver, Colorado. That experience completely transformed how we think about running a business. We came back energized and ready to implement something revolutionary: putting our people first, always.

That’s when our MIVE Culture Club was born – “Make It Vibrant Everyday.” But this wasn’t just another corporate initiative that would be forgotten in six months. This became the heartbeat of everything we do.

Several people sit at tables in a classroom or meeting room, facing forward. Lunch boxes and bottles of water are in front of them. The background includes a brick wall and large windows with shades.

People sit at tables in a conference room, listening attentively. Some are eating from takeout boxes, with drinks like soda on the tables. The room has a modern design, with stone walls and plants visible.

A large screen displays a colorful chameleon with the text Our Culture Club Mascot: Leo. Two women with long hair sit in front of the screen, one with white hair and one with brown hair.

Meet Leo: Our Culture Club Mascot

One of the highlights of our presentation was introducing the audience to Leo, our chameleon mascot! Leo represents everything our Culture Club stands for: adaptability, vibrancy, and the beautiful way different personalities can come together to create something amazing. Just like a chameleon changes colors, our team members bring their unique personalities and strengths to create a workplace that’s constantly evolving and growing.

Leo isn’t just a cute logo – he’s a symbol of how we embrace the diversity of our team and help everyone feel valued for exactly who they are.

Two women stand at a podium in front of a screen displaying information about the Enneagram, including colorful boxes for nine personality types and a chameleon mascot. The woman on the right is speaking.

The Power of Understanding: Our Enneagram Journey

One of the most impactful tools we’ve implemented is having our entire team take the Enneagram personality assessment. Talk about a game-changer! When team members understand not just their own motivations and communication styles, but also their coworkers’, everything clicks into place.

During the presentation, we shared how the Enneagram has helped us build empathy and stronger connections across our team. Our chameleon mascot, featuring all nine Enneagram colors, symbolizes how diverse personalities unite toward a shared goal. It’s beautiful to watch team members who might naturally approach problems differently find common ground and support each other’s growth.

A woman gestures toward a colorful presentation slide displaying MIVE 5 with the phrases: Be Kind, Do Whats Right, Grow Your Heart & Mind, Think Outside The Box, and Have Fun, along with a motivational quote.

Our MIVE 5 Core Values in Action

We were excited to share our five core values that guide everything we do:

Be Kind
Do What’s Right
Grow Your Heart & Mind
Think Outside The Box
Have Fun

These aren’t just words on our wall – they’re living, breathing principles that our team embodies every single day. As Harrison Owen said, “When the spirit of people is strong, focused, and vibrant, wonderful things happen.” That quote captures exactly what we’ve experienced since implementing heart leadership principles.

A man stands in front of a screen displaying four positive customer testimonials about Vibrant Occasions, praising their food, service, attention to detail, and adaptability during events.

The Results Speak for Themselves

We were proud to share some concrete results of our heart leadership approach:

A remarkable 7.6% turnover rate for regular full and part-time staff over the past four years
Being named finalists for both “Best of Catering” AND “Best Place to Work” by AY Magazine readers and winning “AY Magazine’s Best of Catering 2025” award
A team that genuinely enjoys coming to work and supports each other’s success

But honestly, the numbers only tell part of the story. The real magic happens in those everyday moments when team members go above and beyond for each other and our clients – not because they have to, but because they want to.

A display screen reads What is Culture Club? with a description and a collage of smiling people at events. Below, two women sit and talk at a table, facing the audience.

Two women sit at a table in front of a screen displaying a collage of group photos. The screen text reads, Culture Club turns work into something worth celebrating.

Creating Connection, Fun, and Growth

Our Culture Club is all about creating connection, fun, and growth at work. From team-building games and employee recognition to creative workshops, we focus on celebrating our team and keeping energy high. It’s more than just good vibes, it’s about open communication, mutual support, and making work a place where people thrive.

Whether team members are learning something new, bonding with a coworker, or just enjoying the moment, the Culture Club is here to make every day a little more awesome.

Two women stand at a podium presenting in front of a screen displaying the text How do you fix a broken wheel? and a colorful circular flowchart. Both women wear black shirts and jeans.

Heart Leadership in Practice

At Vibrant Occasions Catering, we foster an environment that attracts and retains exceptional staff who are passionate about what they do. Our Culture Club embodies the principles of Heart Leadership, recognizing that our most valuable asset is our staff. We celebrate their contributions to the company and to one another, fostering a sense of belonging and purpose.

We firmly believe that when our team is happy, it translates into unforgettable experiences for our clients and their guests. It’s not just a nice philosophy, it’s a business strategy that works.

A man stands and speaks near a round table while a large screen behind him displays a colorful circular diagram with sections labeled Culinary, Catering, Marketing, Sales, and Leadership.

The Ripple Effect

What we’ve learned is that heart leadership creates a beautiful ripple effect. When team members feel valued, supported, and empowered, that positive energy naturally extends to every client interaction. Our clients consistently tell us that our team’s genuine enthusiasm and care made their events even more special.

As we shared with the Bryant Chamber audience, this approach has directly contributed to our business growth and success. Happy teams create happy clients, and happy clients become our biggest advocates.

A woman stands in front of a large screen displaying a quote by Maya Angelou and her photo. The quote reads, Ive learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

Looking Ahead

We left the Bryant Chamber event feeling so grateful for the opportunity to connect with other business leaders who share our passion for creating positive workplace cultures. The questions and engagement from attendees reminded us why we love sharing this message because we know it works, and we want to see other businesses experience the same transformation.

Heart leadership isn’t just a buzzword for us. It’s how we operate every single day. And as we continue to grow and evolve, our commitment to putting our people first will always be at the center of everything we do.

Thank you to the Bryant Chamber of Commerce for having us, and to everyone who attended for their enthusiasm and thoughtful questions. Here’s to building a business community filled with heart leaders who believe that when we take care of our people, everything else falls into place.

Remember: We are happy people making people happy!

Want to learn more about our heart leadership approach or experience our team’s passion firsthand? Contact us at mary@vibrantoccasionscatering.com or call 501-408-2111. Follow our journey on Instagram @vibrantoccasionscatering and YouTube at “Cooking with the Kriks.”