We recently had the chance to connect with John Oz Layne and have shared our conversation below.
John Oz, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
Most people think that Great Urban Eats is a restaurant or just a food service company but, we aren’t. We are a Food Media company.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is John Oz Layne (Oz because I mainly exist “Behind the Curtain”, helping people obtain their needs). I am the Founder of Great Urban Eats – A Food Media Company. (GUE)
Great Urban Eats was created to bring attention to and highlight Urban Food Culture via Television Shows, Social Media, Collaborations, and Community Involvement.
Our brand is one-of-a-kind in that no other company focuses on creating media dedicated to Urban Food and it’s participants/creators.
We currently have 2 show concepts that are in development. One will have the viewpoint of the internal workings of Urban Restaurants and the other is competition-based.
We also have developed “Great Urban Eats Presents . . .” which is a 3 pronged program highlighting Minority Owned Products in the food space and offering placement of those products in various Big Box and other Brick and Mortar retail locations throughout the US. (https://greaturbaneats.com/great-urban-eats-presents/)
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before GUE, amongst many jobs that I’ve held, I was an Educator.
I spent 6 years working in the Pittsburgh Public Schools classrooms mainly focused on Conflict Resolution. It’s the one job that I actually miss.
From that time until now, I have worked in Call Centers for various companies and was also a Center Manager and VP of Marketing for one of the biggest Executive Suite companies in Atlanta.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Oh boy!! That’s a great question.
I would tell my younger self: “Take all of this awkwardness, peer rejection, family life pain and loss, and try to understand it. You were never meant to fit in with the crowd. Not having your Mom for 4 of the most crucial years of your life exposed you to a lifestyle that would not have happened otherwise. And, once you accept that you are different for a reason, take that and run with it! You are way more intelligent and strong that you know!!!”
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
With me, what you see is what you get.
I wear everything about myself on my sleeve.
I’ve actually heard people say to me and others who they didn’t know were close to me, that I must be fake. “No one is that nice all the time!”
I truly get my satisfaction from seeing others become successful. this is why I mess teaching in the classroom so much but, I get to teach through GUE and for that, I’m thankful.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I pray that people say that He truly cared.
He cared for people and their happiness. He cared for their success. He cared about them as a person and for those whom they love.
The world is a cold place and there are more sharks out there than dolphins. I use my ability to appear as a shark in order to help the other dolphins out there, like myself, avoid being consumed by the sharks.
I want them to say, “Oz the Dolphin, swam with Sharks to protect the remaining Dolphins. He cared that much!”
Contact Info:
- Website: www.greaturbaneats.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greaturbaneats/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/greaturbaneats
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GreatUrbanEatsTM
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@ozdafoodwizard
Image Credits
Jamestown Filmworks
