WOMEN IN FRANCHISING: Angela Dodd | Founder of the Females in Food Community
females in food How Females in Food is Working to Close the Gender Gap in the Food and Beverage Industry About Angela Dodd A seasoned F&B industry professional, Angela Dodd is the founder of the Females in Food Community. Dodd understands that the best way to bring about systemic change is through active sector participation and also serves as the Senior Director of Business Development for Solecta. driven platform and talent marketplace dedicated to advancing women in the F&B industry. From women who aspire to hold a managerial role to women who already do, Females in Food supports women throughout their career journey, and its mission is simple – to advance women in the food and beverage industry. To help the F&B industry become a career destination for talented, ambitious women, and to close the gender gap within the industry, Females in Food focuses on three main commitments:
80 percent of food-buying decisions are made by women globally, yet representation at senior-level leadership positions across the food and beverage industry is less than 20 percent. This statistic is jarring, but most of all, it’s not sustainable for the future of the
food and beverage (F&B) industry. Angela Dodd, founder of Females in Food, is out to change things.
20 Franchising MAGAZINE USA
For many years, Dodd envisioned an industry where women could access the resources they needed to empower their careers. She imagined a network that easily connected women with femalefriendly organizations and she dreamed of a world where women didn’t have to choose between motherhood and career advancement. Fueled by the need to give women in the F&B industry a voice, the Females in Food community was born. Today, it’s the only membership-based and cause-driven community, data-
• Cultivated Community: Females in Food unites women across every F&B industry segment and allows women to support each other, access real-time feedback and form lasting relationships through their mentorship program and curated events. The community establishes intentional bonds and meaningful relationships to help women support women. • Career Acceleration: From job-search strategies to personal branding to enhancing executive presence, Females in Food empowers
