The first time a core memory was made involving Edna was in the summer of 2013. A small group of us were gathered around a grand piano in a hotel lobby somewhere in Dallas. “After hours” at a conference I was photographing. I had long, black hair & felt particularly dapper in a striped tie. To my left, a woman singing Elton John just a loud as I was. Lo and behold it was Edna Morris…one of those badass women who came out on stage at Women’s Foodservice Forum a few months back! I found out a bit later I was belting out Piano Man with the original founding President of WFF. RAD! Someone snapped a photo of us together that night after the laughter & singing dwindled down. I’m thankful for that photo.

Another memory is when she sent me a picture of her wearing one of my Promote Love shirts. In the photo she had a small owl on her shoulder!! I immediately thought to myself…this person is someone I hope to laugh with again in the future. I am lucky enough to say I did just that over the next few years but more importantly I was able to witness in real time the impact she was making on other leaders. She nails it when it comes to creating safe environments for robust conversations and debate. I know I am not alone when I say that Edna has a unique talent for helping us connect the dots & effortlessly translates complicated to simple. She is driven and strategic in her approach and meets people where they’re at. I trust women who are consistently showing up for others & aren’t afraid to shake things up! We need that type of leadership more than ever right now.

Here we are now [10 years after serenading the masses in that hotel lobby] I’m invited to her home to capture portraits of her. Bonus: I’d also get to spend time with her husband David. Not only is Edna one of the most hilarious individuals you’ll ever meet…she is incredibly thoughtful. I was welcomed with framed photos in the guestroom where I was staying of memories from our times together. She’s also a phenomenal storyteller. One that includes you in her story & listens when you share. Then actually remembers the little details & down the road brings it up casually or sends a gift in the mail.

Getting to photograph this time in her life as she shared stories with me & showed me her scrapbooks jam packed with old photographs was an honor. I watched her quietly sipping her morning coffee on the patio. I snapped a film photo of her in that scene & felt a wave of happiness come over me. I am thankful that she has trusted me to share a bit of her story here with you. She’s the real deal. 🖤

STEPH GRANT: IF A 10 YO ASKED YOU WHAT YOU DO FOR WORK WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?

EDNA MORRIS: This reminds me of the time I spoke to a first grade class when I was the EVP of Hardee’s HR. Talk about getting to the core of it. No jargon or terminology.

Ok, 10 year old……I have been the leader/captain of different groups in the food & restaurant business. I make decisions after listening to different people. I changed “rules” for organizations that made things better for everyone. I help folks uncover and relish their gifts. I encourage them to let go of fear and go after what they want, while remaining true to themselves. Both of my parents modeled being true to themselves; thank you to both. I have many joys in my work. Some disappointments I learned from and recovered from. I made lifelong friends.

What was your first job in the food service industry?

I was a waitress in Lake Placid, NY at Whiteface Inn, with college buds for a summer. I LOVED the pace, the team, the customers, the food & the chef. My first adult job in food service was a Job Analyst with Hardee’s.

If you could hang out w/ 17 year old Edna what would you tell her about who you are today?

If I could hang out with my 17 year old self, I would tell her you can overcome challenges no matter how tough. Most things you think are so bad right now will not matter in 5 years…possibly even 1. What has always mattered to me [then and now] is knowing who I am, being true to that and treating others with respect.

There was a cook at Red Lobster who was teaching me…they asked me, “Edna, what makes you mad?” I answered with two things:

Treating anyone disrespectfully. Period.
If you say you will do something and don’t do it. Say what you will do and do what you say. Period.

Can you share an embarrassing moment that might make us laugh & remind us not to take ourselves too seriously?

How long do we have? Once I was speaking at a Hardee’s franchise convention between Ronald Reagan and Coach Lou Holtz.

I had found the most beautiful suit and heels for the occasion. I had written my own speech and practiced so I could appear natural and confident. I confidently and successfully climbed the stairs to the stage and proceeded to walk out of one of my beautiful shoes when it caught on the stage wires. I bent down, corrected course, walked to the microphone and said “Hi. My name is Cinderella”.

You've always seemed very approachable...what experiences shaped that vibe as a leader?

It gets back to staying true to oneself. You cannot lead for long if you are not getting results so that is a given. I know a leader can combine drive, brains & determination with a heart that is respectful. As Tom Hanks says “do not mistake kindness/niceness for lack of toughness”. I cannot tell you how many times I have had to help people understand this. My parents raised us to work for what we wanted, stand up for what we believe in and be kind and respectful.

In my early 20’s, I had an experience that was profound for me as a leader. A good reminder to continue to be true to who I am & to combine good business judgement with respectful humanity. A story that may seem small yet had a huge impact on how I approached business situations and individuals:

I was 28 years old & the only female in a management position in a food processing business. I was working mostly with “meat men” (think stockyards, slaughter houses). I was the Human Resources Manager for 3 plants. Each was led by a gruff Plant Manager…the gruffest of whom I’ll call “Lou”. Lou called me to say that I needed to prepare a termination package for the 3rd shift sanitation supervisor whom I will call “John”. Critical job; hard to find the right person and until now, we had that person in John.

The conversation, punctuated with Lou’s fist pounding and finger pointing, between Lou and me went a little like this:

Me: Why Termination?

Lou: The plant has not been right the past 4 days.

Me: Did you ask him what was wrong? John and his team have kept this plant sparkling and safe for years.

Lou: We didn’t take him to raise…we are not his parents. All I know is he is not doing his job & we are firing him tomorrow night.

That night, I came in to talk with John & I asked him what was wrong. Did he know and understand the problems happening on his shift?This proud, quiet man told me we had changed cleaning supply companies recently. All new products and procedures.

Why was this a problem, I asked. With downcast eyes, John softly said “I cannot read”.

The next day, John and I went to the local community college where he enrolled in adult literacy classes. Lou huffed and puffed. John learned to read, ran the best third shift in the company and retired 20 years later.

At that time, people did not speak up to these gruff plant managers, which I found both insulting and illogical. My beliefs around respect empowered me to speak up & to challenge the status quo. The consequences were positive: a valued employee saved, severance and hiring costs avoided, performance improved and loyalty preserved.

What do you spend your time & energy on outside of work?

Living and loving my life! Relishing time with my husband David, my close friends from every decade of my life, and a family I cherish. I love to travel, enjoy wine and food at home and in restaurants. Biking, Pilates, read/read/read, and to quote an author from my hometown, “be a beach walker, porch talker”. I enjoy talking, listening & laughing.

In 2009, I wrote a purpose statement….”To earn enough money to have continued personal freedom to support people and causes I believe in…in a way that uses my gifts of authenticity, leadership, inspiration, friendship, connecting, curiosity, learning and mentoring…in order to live fully and joyously, love and be loved by David and to create gender equity in America (and beyond if I live long enough).

Still guides me. I truly enjoy life, friendships and work…which I take seriously while keeping my heart light.

what legacy to you hope to leave behind?

I have mixed views on legacy. My reality is that I live my life in a way that matters to me, doing what I believe is right. In the end, people decide how they remember us and how they are influenced by us. I hope I will be remembered as a trusted, beautiful life partner, a friend, sibling, aunt & leader who cared and who could find beauty in the world. Reminds me of a card a friend once gave me that says “be the woman who fixes another woman’s crown without telling the world it was crooked.” I hope that’s part of what people remember. I hope I leave behind a legacy of goodness, sharing what may be helpful and making folks feel seen, heard, known and appreciated. I hope I will be remembered as someone who brought humanity to business and helped people understand that marriage of the two produces better results. I hope I will be remembered as a person who listened when it mattered to you, versus listening only when it mattered to me.

what KEEPS YOU UP AT NIGHT?

Lack of common ground in the world.

What’s one song that defines you at this point in your life & why?

One song has resonated with me since it came out in 1965 is “We Can Work It Out’ by the Beatles. Because we really can if we want to. And more than ever, right now RESPECT because we need more of it. Everywhere.

How would you like to see the world differently in your lifetime?

Leaders who know, believe & demonstrate that stellar results are more likely with a diverse team. Leaders who explode talent for the good of the organization and the individuals.

Why did you decide to book with SGS & do you have a memory that sticks out from your session?

I am grateful that my dear friend Denny Post suggested it. I’ve always respected Stephanie’s work as she uses her platform for powerful things using written expression. Smart exploration of topics, genuine appreciation of joy, talented in photography & music were all already on my “Stephanie is great at” list…add to that how she hears and processes information from others. She heard me. She understood what I meant. That’s rare. Plus, I had fun with her at WFF years ago so it sounded like a good way to enjoy fellowship and get some updated pictures! Since that wonderful time [where we all forgot we were in a photo session] I have recommended to others in and out of our industry to book a session with Steph.

A memory that sticks out: Dancing around my living room with you sipping champagne from a coupe glass that was a wedding present to my parents. My sentimental side emerged as I was dancing in front of chairs that were in my paternal grandparents home. I played queen and king on those chairs as I thought they looked like thrones. 🥂

Steph, I loved our time together in my living room; you look though the lens and capture what you have learned about our soul.