Initially, the kitchen at Lottē Wichita, Kansas, struck me as pure culinary chaos, filled with the loud call-and-response of the chef and his cooks. Yet, upon closer observation, I realized that the precise choreography, managed by Chef de Cuisine Zakk, wasn’t a result of shouting or rigid rules. This remarkable uniformity and cohesion led me, out of pure curiosity, to approach the kitchen and humbly inquire about the source of their team’s synergy. Zakk was extremely kind enough to take time out of his busy night to share a piece of his story and the philosophy behind his team’s cohesion.
How It All Started
His enrollment in culinary school was primarily a gesture to please his parents. He openly admitted he wasn’t a “book person” suited for a highly educated professional path; rather, he found a great love for the art of cooking. The crucial life lesson here is clear: you don’t have to follow a rigid professional path. The goal is to surrender to life, pay attention, and curiously lean into what brings you joy and fulfillment, even if it isn’t the path, you initially planned.
After years of working and traveling, Zakk realized that consistent success wasn’t built solely on his formal training; it was built on a core philosophy that transcended the kitchen: Relationship Capital.
Relationship Capital – The Foundation of Success
Zakk realized his biggest life lesson transcended the kitchen: success is determined not only by qualifications, but by the quality of your relationships. He found that nurturing genuine connections is a much-needed ingredient for opportunity, no matter where you are in life. For Zakk, the real value of culinary school wasn’t the diploma which he noted was “worth the same as the guy who skated by” but the intentional effort he made to build relationships and networks. The connections he built with classmates, instructors, and mentors became the direct levers that elevated him, satisfying his drive for greater ambition than his peers who settled for smaller establishments.
Zakk believes people are the ultimate resource, and he consistently invests in those bonds. This experience affirms one of my core beliefs, which is that the quality of our relationships will determine the quality of our life and opportunities. Focusing on being vulnerable and actively interested in engaging with others is the significant key to unlocking life’s numerous treasures.
Relational Leadership as Opposed to Command-and-Control
As Chef de Cuisine, Zakk rejects the volatile, command-and-control hierarchy of the traditional kitchen. His team’s powerful cohesion stems directly from his relationship-based leadership, which is founded on acknowledging individuality. He simply stated that his primary lesson in leading his team is the deep understanding that “everyone is different, and you cannot manage everyone the same”. This isn’t just empathy; it’s a profound commitment to knowing the person behind the station. He knows his workers’ strengths and weaknesses, but crucially, as he boldly stated, “I know these people outside of work and these are all people I would hang out with outside of work”. This genuine connection creates a high-trust, low-fear environment where his team feels seen as individuals, not just cogs in a culinary machine. He uses the same principle when hiring, “yeah, experience is important”, he stated, but he focuses on their attitude to ensure they will mesh with his team.
For Zakk, a successful kitchen is built on respect and the shared understanding that they are all just people striving for their best within the conditions they work in. The evidence of this is the obvious brotherhood and warmth I observed in the kitchen. The crew’s constant interactions filled with laughter and jokes showed that their synergy is born out of a genuine, shared bond, making their collective effort seamless and effective.
Zakk’s commitment allows him to manage based on individual needs, strengths, and external pressures that influence his team’s behavior. This deep contextual knowledge informs better decision-making, creating an environment where everyone feels seen and valued, which is exactly the feeling you get from observing these professionals in action. As one of his workers told me when I asked what he loves most about what he did, “we love working here and with Zakk because we all feel we are working to achieve the same goal, we have fun and make sure we to get our customers the best meal and service”
My Takeaway: The Ultimate Ingredient
Zakk’s journey from an unenthusiastic culinary student to Chef de Cuisine is a powerful testament that true success is cultivated through relationship capital and honoring your own authentic interests. His success proves that you don’t have to follow a rigid professional path; the goal is to courageously lean into what brings you joy and fulfillment. Zakk’s philosophy leaves us with a critical insight: Leadership is not about commanding compliance or creating a culture of fear; it’s about creating and nurturing a trusting environment where everyone feels valued. That feeling of value is what brings the best out of people.
The ultimate ingredient for both a fulfilling life and a successful career isn’t just skill or education; it is the strength and depth of the human connection you choose to cultivate.
The question I derived from watching these amazing talents and Zakk in action is this: As leaders are we focused on managing tasks, or are we leading people by investing in the connections that truly unlock their potential?
We had an incredible experience at Lottē. The food, energy, and the staff were all exceptional. If you are ever in Wichita, Kansas, it is a must visit. It is not just about food; it is an immersive experience.
Full disclosure: I generally don’t eat sweets, but I couldn’t believe these words came out of my mouth (“Okay, I can seriously get down with this”, which I did by the way, I ate the whole thing) when my friend Ivan insisted, I try their pumpkin cheesecake, which came out drizzled with pomegranate. OMG!! SO GOOD!!!
I highly recommend this restaurant, not only for the sensational cuisine but also for the profound example of human synergy that the kitchen staff and the entire team embody.
