5 minute read
Angela Dodd
females in food
HOw FEMAlES In FOOD IS wORKInG tO ClOSE tHE GEnDER GAP In tHE FOOD AnD BEvERAGE InDUStRY
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. 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, datadriven 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:
• 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
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.
careers by delivering resources for everyday realities. The organization offers resources to help all women, regardless of where they are in their career journey, and by providing women with the tools to accelerate their careers, Females in Food is putting women back in the driver’s seat.
• CReATinG OPPORTUniTies:
Females in Food works as a talent connector and provides visibility while advocating for change at both the company and policy level. The F&B industry needs to change and adapt to become more sustainable for women and their future. By advocating for opportunities to improve companies and careers, Females in Food is changing the industry for the better. Females in Food is equipping and connecting women with tools and a network to transform their careers. The Females in Food team builds a powerful ecosystem that facilitates connections and elevates memberships. Community members are provided with exclusive content and resources to female professionals that include:
• Curated Content: The platform consistently posts original and sourced articles that offer advice on how to boost a career, gain industry insights and learn how women in the F&B industry are breaking the glass ceiling. • Job Board: The job board with pre-vetted careers at female-forward companies is an exclusive benefit to the Females in Food community members. With the goal to help women and companies achieve their greatest potential, Females in Food connects job seekers with exceptional opportunities in the F&B industry.
• Job search Accelerator: Females in Food community members gain exclusive access to this course designed to help launch a successful job search with a strategic approach to the process.
At the conclusion, participants will have an actionable plan to successfully launch a job search, tools needed to implement a plan, a head start among other job applicants and clarity on a next career move.
• Career Coaches: The Females in Food community provides a network of career coaches to help navigate career paths.
The trained career coaches will help each member get where she wants to be. • Resume Reviews: All members of the
Females in Food community receive free resume reviews. Yes, free! Since the
Females in Food community consists of members of the F&B industry, they know what job seekers are looking for and how to position each member to make her the most marketable.
• employee Reviews: To ensure that female voices are heard, Females in
Food also provides a safe space for employer profile reviews -- written for women by women. Women who work in the F&B industry can anonymously rate current and previous employers on female friendliness factors, such as equal opportunities for both men and women, maternity and adoptive leave and female representation in leadership with the intent of helping women find companies where they can achieve their goals.
• Corporate Partnerships: Females in
Food’s corporate partnership program takes a 360-degree approach to help companies increase gender diversity and attract high-level female talent.
Corporate partners create an employer profile, where they can include details about why their company is a rewarding place for women to work as well as job postings. Other resources provided to corporate partners include professional development tools and coaching, access to Females in Food’s growing database of talent, thought leadership and impact events, sponsored content creation, user testing and focus groups, and co-branded research and insights. They proudly work with employers who are committed to designing and supporting a better workplace for women.
Females in Food is committed to helping women advance in the food and beverage industry, including closing the gender gap at the top. Its initiatives empower careers, provide visibility and help companies close the gaps across parity, pipeline and policy.
For more information about the Females in Food Community, visit www.femalesinfood.community and follow @FemalesinFood.Community on Facebook and Instagram.
about Females in Food
females in food is a membershipbased cause-driven community, data-driven platform and talent marketplace committed to closing the gender gap that exists at the top in the food and beverage industry.
