Young Chefs Academy CEO Leigh Feldman Nominated for 2026 Compassionate Leaders Circle Award
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At Young Chefs Academy, we’re thrilled to announce that CEO Leigh Feldman has received a compassionate leadership award nomination from the 2026 Compassionate Leaders Circle — a recognition honoring leaders who drive progress through empathy and action. Moreover, this nomination speaks directly to the culture Leigh has built: one where people come first, and where leading with heart is never optional.
For anyone who knows Young Chefs Academy, this recognition makes perfect sense. Since day one, our mission has been about more than teaching kids to cook. It’s about building confidence, nurturing curiosity, and showing children what it looks like when the adults around them show up with both skill and compassion. Leigh has embodied that from the start.
About the Compassionate Leaders Circle Awards
Now celebrating its 6th Annual ceremony, the Compassionate Leaders Circle Awards recognize individuals who inspire others by leading with love. Specifically, the CLC evaluates each nominee’s demonstration of what they call the 7Cs of Compassionate Leadership:
- Compassion
- Confidence
- Collaboration
- Contemplation
- Civility
- Curiosity
- Courage
These traits define what the CLC calls transformative, compassionate leadership. Furthermore, they aren’t abstract ideals — for anyone who has worked alongside Leigh or partnered with Young Chefs Academy, they’re a recognizable description of how she leads every single day.
Why This Compassionate Leadership Award Nomination Matters
In the franchise world, it’s easy to measure success by unit count or revenue. However, Leigh has always insisted on a different standard: are your people growing? Are your communities better for your presence? As a result, Young Chefs Academy has built a franchise network where franchisees feel supported, instructors feel valued, and families keep coming back, not just for the cooking, but for the experience.
Consequently, this kind of recognition matters beyond the individual. It validates a way of doing business that puts people at the center — and it sends a clear message to the next generation of leaders watching from the sidelines.
Join the Virtual Awards Ceremony — April 20, 2026
The 2026 CLC Awards will be celebrated at a free virtual ceremony on Monday, April 20, 2026. Award honorees will be announced live during the event. Additionally, attendees are encouraged to bring their own networks — this is a celebration worth sharing.
Registration is free and open to all. Mark your calendar and invite your community to celebrate alongside us.
2026 CLC Award Partners
The CLC Awards are made possible by partners who share a genuine commitment to purpose-driven community building:
- Angles, Inc. — Inaugural CLC partner, promoting compassion through their unique digital marketing platform.
- Canyon Ranch — Enhancing community wellness with special upgrades at its properties.
- Greater Good Science Center (UC Berkeley) — A not-for-profit delivering powerful, science-based insights for a more meaningful life.
Leadership That Starts in the Kitchen
At Young Chefs Academy, we’ve always believed cooking teaches more than recipes. In fact, it teaches kids to collaborate, to try again after a mistake, and to take real pride in something they made with their own hands. Leigh has carried that same spirit into every aspect of how he leads. Therefore, this compassionate leadership award nomination feels like a natural reflection of the organization he has built — one where empathy and action go hand in hand.
Want to learn more about what makes Young Chefs Academy different? Also, explore what it means to be part of a franchise built on values.
Congratulations, Leigh. We’re proud to follow your lead — and even prouder to see the world taking notice.