An Inspired Chat with Jon Berne of Los Angeles

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Jon Berne. Check out our conversation below.

Jon , 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 is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Since hiring staff this year, I’ve finally had time to rebalance my life and reconnect with the parts of LA I love most. One of my favorite things to do is pick a new hole-in-the-wall spot—usually somewhere deep in the SGV—put on my headphones, and go to town on some incredible food. The less English being spoken, the better. People tend to make LA feel small, but I try to remind myself how much there is to explore—and not let the fear of traffic stop me from an adventure.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Jon Berne, a former fine dining chef who spent over a decade in Michelin-rated kitchens before launching Bernie’s, a chef-crafted Italian ice brand based in Los Angeles. I wanted to take the craft and care of restaurant cooking and bring it to something fun, nostalgic, and unexpected. Everything we serve is made from real fruit, balanced like a plated dessert, and finished with our signature hand-torched marshmallow meringue.

What started as a farmers market booth has grown into a dessert experience for music festivals, corporate events, and luxury brands — all built around the idea that something simple can still feel special when it’s made with intention. Right now, we’re working on expanding into a food truck and exploring ways to make Bernie’s more accessible across LA while keeping that same chef-driven soul.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
I think the part of me that’s served its purpose is the version that believed everything had to be done perfectly and entirely by me. That mindset got me far as a private chef, but it doesn’t scale in business or in life. Letting go of that need for control has opened up space for creativity, collaboration, and trust — and it’s honestly made the work more fun again.

What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
I used to think working harder would always fix everything — that if something failed, it meant I just hadn’t pushed hard enough. But I’ve learned that sometimes failure isn’t about effort, it’s about approach. I burned out trying to do everything myself and realized that success isn’t sustainable without trust, delegation, and balance. Now, I see failure less as a reflection of me and more as data — a sign to adjust, not grind harder.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
They’d probably say I care deeply about creating experiences that make people feel something — that’s really what Bernie’s is built on. For me, it’s never just been about serving dessert. It’s about crafting a moment of nostalgia and joy. I love that Italian ice can be both simple and elevated — it’s familiar, but when made with real fruit and technique, it can totally surprise people. My friends know I get obsessed with details — the texture of the ice, the balance of flavors, even the way the spoon hits the cup — because all those little things add up to how someone feels in that moment.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I know my team has my back. Running a small business can be chaotic — there’s always a new challenge, something breaking that you weren’t expecting, or a last-minute curveball at an event. But when I look around and see everyone moving in sync — taking ownership, caring about the details, acting as if this was their own company, it’s such a cool feeling. Knowing that I’ve created a little community, that I can step away for a moment and everything will still run smoothly. That kind of trust doesn’t happen overnight though, it’s something we’ve built together through long days and sometimes high-pressure moments

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