Welcome to The Noodle

It is hard to believe that I celebrated my one-year anniversary with the Academy this month. As I shared with 2023-2024 President Lauri Wright, the time flew by as I met hundreds of Academy members, dietetic practitioners, students and leaders who shared their experiences, challenges and aspirations.

For my next year with the Academy, I am launching this blog to share thoughts, plans and even some crazy ideas with Academy members. "The Noodle" reflects my introspective approach to leadership and decision-making. As many of you know, I value thoughtful contemplation and deep analysis of ideas, impacts and implications before making decisions. I often use the term "noodling" to describe this process — taking time to thoroughly explore and understand concepts from all angles. The Noodle will serve as a platform to share my insights, with the intent to foster thoughtful dialogue and strategic thinking within our organization and beyond.

This inaugural post focuses on lessons from my first year as the Academy CEO. In future posts, I will address how these lessons, which relate to the current state of the Academy, informed the creation of the Academy Board of Directors' "future state vision" (where we want to be as an organization) and why achieving operational excellence is critical to our ability to deliver on the promise of improving the nutritional status of people and our communities.

As I mentioned, I spent much of my first year engaging with members, nonmember practitioners, external partners and other constituents. These conversations took place in small groups and one-on-one interactions, in person and virtually, planned and serendipitously. They gave me the opportunity to understand the Academy's strengths and areas for enhancement. As one member put it in a recent conversation, the Academy had "lost its heart." I found a fractured organization where members, member leaders and staff felt undervalued, not heard and not seen. I also discovered an organization of passionate, talented individuals committed to their craft and who have an overwhelming desire to make a difference in the lives of others — that of their families, colleagues, communities and the world.

During those early months, I pondered how I, the new CEO with a mandate by the Board, would not only help this organization reclaim its heart, vitality and visibility, but do so against a backdrop of organizational friction? How could I help focus our priorities, simplify our structure and approaches, clarify our messages, roles and responsibilities, and implement necessary changes in a way that is acceptable and moves us forward?

The weight of these questions was overwhelming. But as I listened and sought to understand the original core purpose for which the organization was founded, a small spark emerged.

In the next installment of The Noodle, I will share more about this spark and how I believe it — fueled by member commitment and passion — will become the flame to guide us over the bridge from our current state to the future state vision that 2024-2025 President Livleen Gill outlined in her July message to Academy members.

For now, I close with the following announcement: I am creating a CEO Advisory Panel — an informal group who will serve as a sounding board to inform my thinking.

The initial panel of 10 individuals will be asked their thoughts on a variety of topics, such as:

• What is your reaction to proposed strategies for increasing member value?
• What are the right questions for the focus groups we're hosting at FNCE^® to inform a new strategic plan?
• Working with our new organizational consultant and the IDEA Committee, how can we best embed inclusion and equity into the fabric of the Academy?
• How can we ignite a powerful change movement that demonstrates the value of nutrition and dietetics practitioners to the public, legislators and other health care professionals?

More information on how to submit your application for consideration to serve on the inaugural CEO Advisory Panel will be shared soon.

Until the next Noodle, continue to flame the sparks of your passions that enable you to serve as strong practitioners and leaders.

In appreciation,
Wylecia