More Than a Meal: Q&A with Senior Area Executive Chef Kisha Marshall

For Senior Area Executive Chef Kisha, food has always been about more than what’s on the plate. It’s about comfort, community, and creating moments that make a difference. 

With more than 25 years of culinary experience spanning sports and entertainment, healthcare, nonprofit food systems, luxury hospitality, and now K-12 schools, Kisha has built a career rooted in purpose. Inspired by family, shaped by personal experiences, and driven by a passion for nourishing others, they believe every meal has the power to impact someone’s day. 

Get to know Kisha as she shares her culinary journey, the experiences that shaped her career, and the passion that continues to inspire her every day. 

What do you enjoy most about your role and working at Sodexo? 

“I enjoy creating dishes that are fun and comforting for students. There are so many things I enjoy working on with Sodexo! If I have to choose one, it's my current team! They are the most interesting and talented people. The amount of experience and knowledge that we collectively have is phenomenal! (Magic happens when we are in one room together).”

What inspired your passion for cooking?

“My passion for food began long before my professional career. Inspired by my grandmother and father, both of whom worked in culinary, I grew up watching my family create meaningful meals with limited resources. Those experiences shaped my belief that food is medicine and that a single meal can completely change someone’s day. I want people to feel comfort, peace, and joy when they eat my food, even if only for a moment. My leadership style is rooted in collaboration, creativity, and compassion, and my team would describe me as loyal, supportive, and understanding. Through my work with community organizations and crisis-response efforts, including supporting meal programs during COVID-19, I have seen firsthand the power food has to heal and bring people together. Today, I remain deeply passionate about creating healthier school meal programs and inspiring the next generation of chefs to take risks, stay creative, and always feed those in need. Ultimately, I hope to build a future culinary and arts space that nourishes both community and culture.”

What makes you proud to do the work you do every day?

“I’m proud of the impact I can make each day. Growing up, school meals were sometimes my only meal, which inspires me to ensure every student has access to nourishing foods that fuel learning, support well-being, and can even inspire future chefs, I’m honored to be part of that every day.”

How does Sodexo support your growth and creativity as a chef? 

“My leaders create space to answer any of my questions as well as opportunity to share ideas. Through these ideations, my leaders share the history of the brands as well as Sodexo, which allows me to leverage information and motivation grow. This with the never-ending career growth opportunities, I have found training and educational tools that have helped me grow. Creatively, I have several chefs within Sodexo that I connect with. I am able to share collaborate and skill share in order to create new dishes and also upgrade classic ones!”

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