Food as Fuel and Culture
Quality food is increasingly recognized as a key component of employee wellness. Our fuelgood service has grown across businesses because organizations are seeing how chef-prepared meals not only energize teams but also create community. When employees share meals and eat well, it impacts morale, collaboration, and productivity — reminding us that wellness can be as tangible as what’s on your plate.
The pandemic pause brought us to a moment of collective reckoning about what it means to live well and to work well. As a result, employees are sending employers an urgent signal that they are no longer willing to choose one — life or work — at the cost of the other. Working from home brought life literally into our work. And as the world now goes hybrid, employees are drawing firmer boundaries about how much of their work comes into their life. Where does this leave employers? And which perspectives and programs contribute most to progress? In our newest interview series, Working Well: How Companies Are Creating Cultures That Support & Sustain Mental, Emotional, Social, Physical & Financial Wellness, we are talking to successful executives, entrepreneurs, managers, leaders, and thought leaders across all industries to share ideas about how to shift company cultures in light of this new expectation. We’re discovering strategies and steps employers and employees can take together to live well and to work well.
As a part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Jodi Fyfe, Founder of The Paramount Group (Paramount Events, Eden, FuelGood, Lake Street Staffing).
Jodi Fyfe, founder of The Paramount Group, has spent over three decades in hospitality, growing her woman-owned collective — which includes Paramount Events, Eden, FuelGood, and Lake Street Staffing — from a two-person operation in 2011 to a 500-member team. Known for championing sustainability, local sourcing, and a values-driven workplace culture, she serves on the boards of Green City Market and The Evolved Network, sits on the Illinois Restaurant Association’s Advisory Council, and founded Tickled Pink, a nonprofit supporting initiatives that empower women. A sought-after speaker and dedicated community advocate, she is recognized for her leadership in shaping more thoughtful, community-focused hospitality experiences.
Thank you for making time to visit with us about the topic of our time. Our readers would like to get to know you better. Tell us about a formative experience that prompted you to change your relationship with work and how work shows up in your life.
Early in my career, I was fueled entirely by hustle — I believed long hours and nonstop motion were the only way forward. But experiencing the pandemic shifted my perspective. I realized the true measure of success isn’t just what you achieve, but how you integrate work into life in a way that feels sustainable. Facing burnout firsthand pushed me to rethink my relationship with work and embrace a mindset of work-life fusion.
Today, I view work not as a grind but as a craft — something that can be deeply fulfilling when supported by balance, purpose, and a culture of wellness. A big part of that for me is my regular yoga practice, which grounds me, helps me recharge, and reminds me that making time for personal passions is just as important as making time for professional ones. That perspective has shaped how I lead. I want my team to feel empowered to nurture their lives outside of the office while thriving in their roles. When people feel whole, they bring their best selves to the table, and that’s what creates lasting success.
Harvard Business Review predicts that wellness will become the newest metric employers will use to analyze and to assess their employees’ mental, physical and financial health. How does your organization define wellness, and how does your organization measure wellness?
At The Paramount Group, we define wellness as holistic — supporting the mind, body, and spirit. With more than 500 team members, our business is built on creating extraordinary hospitality experiences for others, and I believe that starts with creating that same environment for our own team.
Food is central to who we are, and I’ve always believed that when you eat well, you feel well. That’s why our office provides complimentary, chef-prepared meals each day — fuel that keeps our team energized and cared for. Beyond nourishment, wellness also means offering tangible benefits: full-time employees receive paid time off, health insurance, and 401K contributions to support their financial stability and future planning.
We also invest in spaces and experiences that nurture balance. Our meditation room gives team members a quiet place to reset, while our beauty bar — where professional nail technicians and stylists visit regularly — offers a unique way to prioritize self-care during the workday.
We measure wellness not just through traditional metrics like retention or productivity, but through the daily energy and engagement we see in our team. When people feel good, they show up fully — for our clients, for our guests, and for one another. That, to me, is the truest measure of wellness in action.
Based on your experience or research, how do you correlate and quantify the impact of a well workforce on your organization’s productivity and profitability?
The correlation is direct. When employees feel well, they show up as their best selves — more focused, creative, and collaborative. For a service-driven company like ours, wellness translates into better guest experiences, stronger client relationships, and, ultimately, profitability.
Even though most leaders have good intentions when it comes to employee wellness, programs that require funding are beholden to business cases like any other initiative. The World Health Organization estimates for every $1 invested into treatment for common mental health disorders, there is a return of $4 in improved health and productivity. That sounds like a great ROI. And, yet many employers struggle to fund wellness programs that seem to come “at the cost of the business.” What advice do you have to offer to other organizations and leaders who feel stuck between intention and impact?
My advice is to start with the basics: fuel your team. At The Paramount Group, we created our fuelgood service around the belief that when people are nourished and cared for, they can perform at their best. Providing chef-prepared meals is one way we ensure our team feels supported and energized throughout the day. Wellness doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. It has to be consistent and authentic. Whether it’s food, mental health resources, or financial planning tools, the real impact comes from weaving wellness into daily life, not treating it as a one-off initiative. When employees feel fueled both literally and figuratively, they bring more energy, creativity, and commitment to the business.
Speaking of money matters, a recent Gallup study reveals employees of all generations rank well-being as one of their top three employer search criteria. How are you incorporating wellness programs into your talent recruitment and hiring processes?
Candidates today are looking for more than a paycheck; they want to feel part of a community where they’re supported. At The Paramount Group, we make that clear from the very first conversation. We highlight our culture of mentorship, healthy meals we provide and the ways we invest in both personal and professional growth. Wellness is not presented as a benefit on the side, but as part of the community experience here. We want every new team member to know they’re joining more than a workplace. They’re joining a community that is committed to helping them thrive.’
We’ve all heard of the four-day work week, unlimited PTO, mental health days, and on-demand mental health services. What innovative new programs and pilots are you launching to address employee wellness? And, what are you discovering? We would benefit from an example in each of these areas.
Because our business is built on caring for others, it’s essential that our team feels cared for in every aspect of their lives. Here are a few ways we’re approaching wellness across different dimensions:
What we’ve discovered is that wellness doesn’t have to be one-size-fits-all. When you create a variety of touchpoints — whether it’s meditation, self-care, social connection, or financial planning — you give people the chance to choose what’s most meaningful to them. That flexibility is what creates a culture of true well-being.
Can you please tell us more about a couple of specific ways workplaces would benefit from investing in your ideas above to improve employee wellness?
One of the biggest benefits is retention. When employees feel cared for, they’re more likely to stay, which reduces turnover costs and preserves institutional knowledge. Another benefit is innovation. A team that feels mentally and emotionally well is more willing to take risks, share ideas, and collaborate — fueling creativity that directly impacts business growth.
How are you reskilling leaders in your organization to support a “Work Well” culture?
We’re training leaders to be coaches, not just managers. That means equipping them with tools to recognize signs of burnout, lead with empathy, and foster psychological safety. We’re also emphasizing active listening — because often, the most powerful way to support wellness is to truly hear your people.
Ideas take time to implement. What is one small step every individual, team, or organization can take to get started on these ideas — to get well?
Normalize the check-in. Wellness begins with human connection, and that can be as simple as a leader saying “good morning” when they walk into the office or asking “How are you, really?” at the start of a meeting. Those small gestures signal that people are seen and valued.
As leaders, it’s our responsibility to create moments of connection, whether it’s a quick greeting in the hallway or a longer conversation about how someone is doing outside of work. These touchpoints don’t cost anything, but they build trust. Over time, they lay the foundation for larger wellness initiatives to take hold, because employees know that care for their well-being isn’t just a policy — it’s part of the culture.
What are your “Top 5 Trends To Track In the Future of Workplace Wellness?”
(As seen by The Paramount Group)
What is your greatest source of optimism about the future of workplace wellness?
My greatest source of optimism is seeing a cultural shift where wellness is no longer treated as a nice-to-have, but as a core part of building strong, sustainable workplaces. Employees today expect to be supported and organizations respond in meaningful ways.
For us, one example of this shift is the growth of our fuelgood service. More and more businesses are prioritizing quality food as a key part of wellness — recognizing that when teams are well-nourished, they bring more energy, focus, and engagement to their work.
Our readers often like to continue the conversation with our featured interviewees. How can they best connect with you and stay current on what you’re discovering?
I love connecting with people and continuing these conversations. The best way to reach me is through my social channels — Instagram or LinkedIn — where I share insights, updates, and what we’re discovering at The Paramount Group. I’m always happy to engage and share ideas with others who are passionate about workplace wellness, hospitality, and creating thriving teams.
Thank you for sharing your insights and predictions. We appreciate the gift of your time and wish you continued success and wellness.
About The Interviewer: Karen Mangia is one of the most sought-after keynote speakers in the world, sharing her thought leadership with over 10,000 organizations during the course of her career. As Vice President of Customer and Market Insights at Salesforce, she helps individuals and organizations define, design and deliver the future. Discover her proven strategies to access your own success in her fourth book Success from Anywhere and by connecting with her on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Editor and journalist at Authority Magazine, sharing in-depth executive interviews, leadership insights, and empowering stories from world-class founders and creators.
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