Change doesn’t scare Shaun Tanner, it energizes him. As CEO of Winston Foodservice, Tanner brings an unconventional background to the corner office: he trained as a chef, traveled the world, and learned early on that admitting what you don’t know is often the smartest thing you can do.
His leadership philosophy? Stay approachable, keep it genuine, and never underestimate the power of humor to build connections. “Leaders need to be confident, but they have to be humble,” he says. “And you can even be confidently humble, which is even weirder.”
In this conversation, Tanner opens up about his perfect weekend, why people need change even when they don’t like it, and what separates a customer from a true partner. Fair warning: this isn’t your typical corporate interview. But as Tanner puts it: “I’m. Not. Normal.”
You trained as a chef. Maybe not everybody knows that you've traveled all over the world. How does that impact how you lead?
I think as a chef, it’s really interesting, you learn very quickly that there are always ingredients you don’t know and dishes you’ve never cooked. You realize you don’t know it all. And travel is the same way: you just don’t know everything. When you get immersed in your own world, you forget there’s always more to learn.
What I try to do is stay confident in my ignorance, and I encourage everyone else to do the same. Be okay with not knowing and always keep gaining perspective.
Describe your perfect weekend.
Okay, my perfect weekend. Honestly, it probably starts with my wife and kid being on vacation somewhere else. Now, I love them, and I love spending time with them, but having a little time with zero pressure is huge.
I’d get up first thing in the morning and go golfing. I’d probably play 36 holes in a day – and do it both days. Then I’d wrap up the night by staying up late and watching Netflix.
What excites you most about the future of Winston?
Change. I don’t know if it’s just Winston or the world in general, but there is so much change happening right now, more than I can ever remember. And it’s not just because I’m the one in charge now. It’s happening everywhere: AI, generational shifts, you name it.
If you look at how we operated as a company 10 years ago, we’re a better company today. One of the biggest reasons is that we’ve embraced change in a real way. There are so many opportunities for growth, which is great, but even more than that, doing things differently and not staying stagnant is huge.
I get bored very easily, so change is actually a good thing for me.
Do you think people like change?
No, I think people need change, but most people don’t like it.
So how do you lead an organization that's made up of people through change?
You introduce a little change, then you press the gas pedal a bit more, and then a bit more. I think the key is showing people how it can make life better, not harder.
What’s the last TV show that you binged?
The Boys.
At Winston we talk a lot about partnership. What's the difference between a customer and a partner?
It’s the relationship. With customers, it’s funny, a customer could be someone you work with, but that doesn’t automatically make it a partnership. The difference is pretty simple: a customer relationship is transactional. You do something because it’s expected, and that’s the end of it.
A partnership is different. You’re looking out for each other’s best interests, and the effort is shared. Ideally, it’s proportional, like, you give 50% and I give 50%. That balance is what makes it a true partnership.
Sum up your leadership style in three words.
I’m. Not. Normal. It’s a great question. Approachable – that’s a big one for me. I think approachability has to be at the core. Genuine and Levity. Humor and levity build connections better than almost anything else. When I’ve traveled overseas, making jokes and using a little self-deprecating humor goes a long way. It opens people up.
I think that’s what leaders should be: confident, but humble. You can even be confidently humble, which is a weird mix, but that’s where I land. I always want to be myself, and I always want to work hard. If I’m doing the right things, everything else follows.
