What a 900-Degree Pizza Oven Taught Me About Leadership
Lifelong Learning: The Leadership Edge That Never Dulls
I recently went back to school… for pizza.
At Pizza University, I spent three days learning how to make authentic Neapolitan and New York–style pizzas.
You might be wondering “what does pizza have to do with leadership?” The answer: everything.
Back to School… for Pizza
For three days, I was a student again surrounded by expert chefs, entrepreneurs, and enthusiasts.
I was not the teacher. I was not the CEO. I was simply a student, curious, open, and hungry to learn (and hungry to eat my creations).
I made mistakes. I asked questions. I listened to people who live their craft every day.
And in that environment, outside my comfort zone, humbled, and learning by doing, I rediscovered something essential: Leadership starts with learning.
Lessons from the Pizza Kitchen
1. Humility opens the door to growth.
You cannot learn with a full cup. Drop the ego, and suddenly every experience becomes a lesson.
2. Mastery requires repetition.
In Navy Special Operations, we trained until execution was instinctive. Making pizza is no different — precision, timing, and repetition lead to mastery.
I hand-made 56 pizzas in three days. We tested variations of dough, sauce, and cheese to understand how excellence is achieved through consistency and refinement.
3. Learning recharges creativity.
When you expose yourself to something completely new, it fires up the brain in ways your day-to-day can’t. Leadership lessons can come from mixing and stretching dough — not just from spreadsheets and data.
4. Discomfort builds adaptability.
New skills test your patience and problem-solving. Discomfort is where growth lives. My first few 18-inch pizzas were far from perfect, but each one made me better.
The Lifelong Learner’s Mindset
That experience reminded me why lifelong learning is the foundation of effective leadership.
When you keep learning, you stay relevant. You stay humble. You stay sharp.
The best leaders I have met — in combat and in business — never rely solely on experience. They build on it. They learn from everyone and everything.
My Challenge to You
Learn something new this month that has nothing to do with your profession.
Take a class. Pick up a new skill. Get curious again.
Leadership is about growing.
And who knows, your next great leadership insight might just rise out of a 900-degree pizza oven.