There’s no shortage of success stories in Nashville, and many of those stories belong to the incredible women who are paving their own path and opening doors for generations to come.
Whether they’re building an idea from the ground up, crunching numbers, or working to make a difference in the lives of others, these are the trailblazing women of Music City — and their stories are sure to inspire you.
Jordan Arcuri Executive Chef at Harper’s
DAY IN THE LIFE
I lead the kitchen at Harper’s — menu development, execution, ordering, scheduling, training, all of it. My job is making sure everything runs smoothly, even when things don’t go as planned. Trucks don’t show up? Short-staffed? We still deliver. I focus a lot on developing my team. Sharing what I know and building people up is the most rewarding part of what I do. If they win, I win.
EARLY ASPIRATIONS
Cooking has always been part of who I am. I was born on Thanksgiving, so maybe it was destiny. I grew up in the kitchen with my mom and grandma and used to make sandwiches with my grandpa. I did culinary competitions, studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Orlando, and later graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in New York. I even drew myself as a chef when I was little. I took a quick detour into nursing school, but food called me back. Seeing people’s reaction to a dish I’ve made never gets old
STEPS TAKEN
I worked hard — really hard. In this industry, especially as a woman, you don’t wait around for opportunities, you create them. I’m competitive and driven. I’ve always asked myself, “What do I need to learn to get to the next level?” I put in the time, showed up early, stayed late, and proved myself. Over the years, I developed more precision in the way I cook and lead. Every role taught me something new