Episode No. 6

Building Trust Through Transparency with Ryan Smith

“We're building trust through a really great foundation of transparency. One of my pet peeves is I shouldn't be walking into a situation and somebody says, ‘I didn't know that.’ When somebody says, ‘I didn't know that,’ then I am not doing my job [as a leader].” — Ryan Smith

In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette is joined by Ryan Smith, the executive vice president of Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition North America. Ryan has a long history in the food and beverage industry, beginning in retail and merchandising. Early in his career, he experienced the traumatic loss of his mentor, colleague, and friend, and he says this moment set him on the path to who he is today and how he shows up as a leader.

Ryan shares a world of wisdom in this episode, from the lessons he’s learned from leaders that came before him to the lessons that he imparts to his team. While he’s been told that he’s too kind, it’s his kindness that makes him such a strong, well-liked leader, and at the core of his message is the importance of trust in all of our relationships—with consumers and colleagues alike.

In this episode of Owning Your Legacy:

🦋 Ryan’s wake-up call

🦋 Being a thoughtful leader

🦋 The truth about MSG

🦋 The art of change management

🦋 Embracing risk through a growth mindset