Friday, 7 August 2026

Grace Harding said failure, therapy and discomfort are part of leadership; she described herself as a “non-traditional” CEO who learns on the job, not a polished boardroom robot.

She has been at Ocean Basket for 14 years, said COVID brought restaurant leaders closer, and argued the industry should focus on serving people rather than trying to beat competitors.

Harding said she has lived with imposter syndrome and poor maths confidence, linked some struggles to an unstable childhood, and insisted therapy, coaching and feedback are essential.

South Africa’s 2026 Culinary World Cup team, Team Masakane, needs about R3.5 million to take a 20-member contingent to the competition in November.

The junior team said culinary work combines art, science and sport, with six of 10 team members competing and four on standby after a strict selection process.