Kwame Onwuachi shares the wisdom he has gained and lessons learned on his journey to becoming an award-winning chef. He jokingly talks about becoming the first employee of his mother’s catering company at just five years old and how her hard work keeps him inspired. Kwame tells the story of how his mother sent him on a two week trip to Nigeria that turned into two years and how those formative experiences shaped his perspective and appreciation for food. He talks about his fierce tenacity and how he approaches every experience like it’s the first time. He reveals the reason he decided to attend culinary school and the entrepreneurial way he paid for tuition. Kwame shares his thoughts on what it means to be a leader and cultivate culture in his kitchens and how he persevered through the disappointment of his first restaurant closing. He talks about how important it is to pause and celebrate your achievements and how it felt to be recognized as a James Beard award winner. Kwame shares the full circle story of sleeping on the green room floor of Chopped, hoping to film, and how it felt to finally be a judge on the show. Start Your Free Trial of discovery+: https://www.discoveryplus.com/foodobsessedConnect with the podcast: https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/food-network-obsessed-the-official-podcast-of-food-networkFollow Food Network on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foodnetworkFollow Jaymee on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaymeesireFollow Kwame Onwuachi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefkwameonwuachi/Learn More About Chopped: https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/chopped