Emma Bengtsson has always been stubborn and driven, and in many ways, it's served her well. Growing up as an elite athlete, she developed the intense discipline it took to rise to the top, and when she started working in kitchens, the same rules applied. She worked through the often intense pain of a spinal injury for many years, rarely asking for help and steadily getting worse. When her Michelin-starred restaurant Aquavit closed for renovation this past summer, she finally had surgery. She was more than ready for the physical part, but having to take time off and rest—that was a whole different story. Bengtsson opened up about learning to lean on other people, what it taught her as a leader, and the effect an open kitchen design has on a team dynamic.

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