IMPACTING THE COMMUNITY

with General Manager Pouneh

October 10th, 2024

In this series, we take a look at the amazing work being accomplished by members of our community. These are the game-changers, the inspirational leaders, and the passion-driven individuals who are changing our community, our health and our planet.

Q:Introduce yourselves: tell us who you are and about your role at the new Impact Kitchen Downtown location:

A: Hi, my name is Pouneh Talebi and I am the General Manager at the new Impact Downtown location.

Q: What has your journey at Impact Kitchen looked like, and what are you most proud of?

A: I started working at Impact Harbourfront as a server during the Summer of 2021. I worked very hard and learned from my fellow team members. After that summer, I got promoted to Barista, then to Manager On Duty, and then to Guest Experience Manager. My most recent promotion to General Manager brought me to Impact Liberty Village and now to our newest Downtown location at 181 Bay Street.

Q: What excites you most about being such a key part of the new Impact location?

A: New challenges always excite me the most including the learning curve that it brings helps me grow tremendously. I am all about learning new things and challenging myself with new opportunities. The new location obviously excites me as well because I get an opportunity to be involved in many aspects of the business.

Q: Tell us about your new management team and what role they play:

A: Our management team consists of Janna, our Guest Experience Manager who has been an amazing team lead at Impact Liberty Village. Jeffin, our Kitchen Manager, became Culinary Manager soon after he was one of the top Culinary team leads at Impact Harbourfront. Last but not least Eli, who is joining us as Assistant Culinary Experience Manager. He was a great asset to our Commissary Kitchen team during his time there. I am confident that my team brings something very valuable and will help us build and grow each and every day.    

Q: Impacting the community is one of our core values. How do you plan to foster a sense of community with your new Downtown team? 

A: To foster a sense of community with our Downtown team, I plan to focus on our existing practice of making our guests feel comfortable and recognized. This personal touch helps create an inviting atmosphere where guests feel like they’re at home. I also believe in encouraging open communication with our team members, sharing positive feedback and experiences. By highlighting the importance of our interactions, we can continue to build a strong sense of community both with our team and with our guests.

Q:Introduce yourselves: tell us who you are and about your role at the new Impact Kitchen Downtown location:

A: Hi, my name is Pouneh Talebi and I am the General Manager at the new Impact Downtown location.

Q: What has your journey at Impact Kitchen looked like, and what are you most proud of?

A: I started working at Impact Harbourfront as a server during the Summer of 2021. I worked very hard and learned from my fellow team members. After that summer, I got promoted to Barista, then to Manager On Duty, and then to Guest Experience Manager. My most recent promotion to General Manager brought me to Impact Liberty Village and now to our newest Downtown location at 181 Bay Street.

Q: What excites you most about being such a key part of the new Impact location?

A: New challenges always excite me the most including the learning curve that it brings helps me grow tremendously. I am all about learning new things and challenging myself with new opportunities. The new location obviously excites me as well because I get an opportunity to be involved in many aspects of the business.

Q: Tell us about your new management team and what role they play:

A: Our management team consists of Janna, our Guest Experience Manager who has been an amazing team lead at Impact Liberty Village. Jeffin, our Kitchen Manager, became Culinary Manager soon after he was one of the top Culinary team leads at Impact Harbourfront. Last but not least Eli, who is joining us as Assistant Culinary Experience Manager. He was a great asset to our Commissary Kitchen team during his time there. I am confident that my team brings something very valuable and will help us build and grow each and every day.    

Q: Impacting the community is one of our core values. How do you plan to foster a sense of community with your new Downtown team? 

A: To foster a sense of community with our Downtown team, I plan to focus on our existing practice of making our guests feel comfortable and recognized. This personal touch helps create an inviting atmosphere where guests feel like they’re at home. I also believe in encouraging open communication with our team members, sharing positive feedback and experiences. By highlighting the importance of our interactions, we can continue to build a strong sense of community both with our team and with our guests.

Q: What is your favourite new Fall menu item? 

A: My favorite new Fall menu item has to be our new Paleo Carrot Cake! It’s a delightful way to enjoy a seasonal treat that’s both healthy and delicious. I love that it fits perfectly within our commitment to delicious food with no refined sugars.

Q: Outside of work, what passions or hobbies fuel your life and keep you inspired and motivated?

A: Outside of work, I find joy in spending quality time with my dog, taking long walks and training him. It’s a rewarding experience that strengthens our bond and keeps us both active. I also enjoy going to the gym, as it helps me stay fit and energized. Staying active fuels my passion for good health, which directly ties into the work we do at Impact. These activities keep me inspired and motivated in both my personal and professional life.

We look forward to introducing you to more members of our community who are making an Impact every day.

Impact Downtown Launch Party 

Join us to celebrate the opening of our 6th location at 181 Bay Street (entrance off of Wellington Street) on October 17th from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. Mix and mingle with the team and enjoy samples from some of our local suppliers.

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