What if a chocolate shop could change your view of leadership?

For Tyler and Megan Ryan, co-owners of Nuance Chocolate in Fort Collins, that idea is far from abstract. Their journey from chocolate lovers to business owners is a testament to how everyday decisions about ingredients, partnerships, and even compost bins can create meaningful ripples across the community. But their story also offers a grounded roadmap for sustainability and impact leaders seeking to do business differently.

We had the opportunity to sit down with Tyler, tour the Nuance factory, and experience firsthand how their values come to life everywhere from bean selection and packaging to team culture and community partnerships. What we learned confirmed what many already sense: Nuance is more than a chocolate shop; it’s a living case study in regenerative leadership.

Founded in 2014 by Toby and Alix Gadd after a life-changing trip to Costa Rica, Nuance was never your average chocolate company. The Gadds were among the early U.S. pioneers of true bean-to-bar chocolate where every step from roasting to refining to tempering happens in-house. Their mission was rooted in quality, transparency, and small-batch excellence, eventually becoming home to the world’s largest selection of single-origin dark chocolate.

Tyler and Megan were more than regulars. They were drawn to the spirit behind the chocolate. When the Gadds chose to step away, the Ryans took a leap. As Tyler recalls, “They saw something in us. Something that felt right.” Not just eager buyers, but stewards of shared values, the Ryans brought a rare blend of purpose, precision, and open-hearted leadership redefining what small business can mean for people, planet, and place.

Rooted in Craft, Fueled by Passion

If Tyler sounds like someone living a dream, it’s because he is. “My favorite movie growing up was Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Now my son’s favorite is Wonka. Owning a chocolate factory? It’s surreal.”

But it’s more than a feel-good story. It’s about craft, intentionality, and vision. As a former Navy nuclear electrician and plant supervisor, Tyler brings precision and systems thinking to the chocolate-making process. Megan, with a background in coffee and hospitality, brings creativity and warmth. Together, they’ve reimagined leadership not as command-and-control, but as co-creation.

“Everything we do is with intention,” Tyler explains. That includes how they select beans, roast them, melange them, and even how they serve chocolate in the café. “When you pick up one of our bars or try a truffle, you’ll know exactly why it’s part of our lineup. You can taste its place.”

That kind of clarity doesn’t happen by accident; it’s the result of a team aligned around purpose and process. It’s regenerative business in motion… human-centered, values-led, and committed to continuous refinement.

Sustainability: Not a Trend, But a Practice

From the outset, Nuance has walked the sustainability talk. Under Toby and Alix, the company invested in wind credits and electric vehicles. Tyler and Megan have taken that legacy further by embedding sustainability more deeply into everyday operations and partnerships.

“We’re almost zero-waste,” Tyler says, pointing to their collaboration with Compost Queen, who compost everything that can’t be recycled. “Yes, we still have some gloves and hair nets. But all our chocolate waste, our paper, our scraps—they’re composted or recycled. That makes a huge difference.”

Nuance also partners with Sagrada Botanical Gardens, a local nonprofit focused on biodiversity and environmental education. Through volunteer events and shared programming, they’ve made environmental stewardship a visible, relational practice.

And most recently, Nuance has partnered with Root Shoot Malting and Spirits to use their award-winning whiskey in a soon-to-be-released spirit bar—something we’re really excited about. “They’re doing impressive work in regenerative agriculture and farmland preservation, which aligns beautifully with our values around sustainability and transparency.”

It’s sustainability as culture, not compliance. “We’re not perfect. I don’t think anyone is,” Tyler shares. “But we’re getting better every day. Bean by bean.”

A Regenerative Culture Built on Trust

One of the greatest challenges Tyler has faced in his leadership journey? Letting go of the need to have all the answers.

“When we took over, we got to keep all of the original staff. I had to learn to lean on them,” he explains. “They surprised me in the best ways. They found sustainability partners. They developed new recipes. They helped every step of the way.”

This trust-over-control approach is a hallmark of regenerative leadership. When people feel trusted, they bring more of themselves to their work. They step into ownership, ideation, and impact. And that’s exactly what’s happened at Nuance.

The staff aren’t just following orders; they’re shaping the vision. When someone suggests a new local partnership or finds a new way to minimize waste, it’s embraced. “They’re fully bought in… not just to the chocolate, but to how we produce it.”

Sustainability as an Expectation, Not a Perk

How does Nuance maintain such a strong culture of passion and purpose?

“It’s not just encouraged, it’s expected,” Tyler says. “We want staff to bring ideas. Even if it’s not your idea, it might be the right idea.”

That simple, open stance creates a culture of innovation. It also signals that sustainability isn’t just a side initiative; it’s foundational. And that expectation doesn’t stifle creativity. It fuels it.

Team members are proud to represent Nuance when they’re out in the community, whether shopping at other sustainable businesses or sharing chocolate samples with their friends or kids’ teachers. “It’s all embodied here,” Tyler says. “It’s who we are.”

More Than Chocolate: A Living Ecosystem

At the end of the day, Nuance is about more than food. It’s about rethinking how business can operate. It’s about mutuality, care, and craftsmanship. As Tyler beautifully puts it: “Nuance is more than just a chocolate shop. It’s a place where community, sustainability, and craftsmanship all meet.”

That trifecta—community, sustainability, and craft—is at the heart of what regenerative leaders are building across industries. And it’s what makes Nuance a model for others to learn from. No, it’s not perfect. But that’s the point. Regenerative business isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress, responsiveness, and integrity.

Nuance invites us to imagine what’s possible when passion meets purpose, and when leadership becomes a shared practice.

With Gratitude and an Invitation

At Bridge and Rhino, we’re continually inspired by leaders who embody sustainability not just in words, but in daily practice. Tyler and Megan Ryan are among those leaders. Their work at Nuance Chocolate is a shining example of regenerative enterprise in action. We’re grateful for their time, their transparency, and their commitment to making business a force for good.

If you’re in or near Fort Collins, we wholeheartedly encourage you to experience Nuance for yourself. Taste their single-origin chocolate, feel the warmth of their café, and witness firsthand what leadership rooted in craft and care can produce.

👉 Follow Nuance Chocolate on Instagram @nuancechocolate
👉 Explore their chocolate lineup online.
👉 Visit their store in Old Town Fort Collins