Women Who Make It - A Females in Food Podcast with Angela Dodd

Doing great work isn't always enough to get ahead. Sometimes, the missing piece is visibility.

In this episode of Women Who Make It, Angela Dodd sits down with Maha Aboulenein, CEO and founder of Digital & Savvy, bestselling author of The Seven Rules of Self-Reliance, and a personal branding expert with more than 30 years of experience in communications.

Following the release of the second annual State of Women in the Industry report, which found that 38% of women surveyed identified a lack of visibility and recognition as a barrier to career advancement, Angela and Maha unpack what it really takes to get noticed for the value you bring.

They discuss how to build your reputation from the inside out, strengthen professional relationships without overwhelming your schedule, and create a personal brand that reflects your expertise. Maha also shares practical ways to use LinkedIn, invest in a few meaningful connections, and help others recognize—and advocate for—your strengths.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why great work can go unnoticed without intentional communication
• How to build your network in just 10 minutes a day
• Why adding value to others is one of the best ways to grow your reputation
• How to clarify what you want to be known for
• Why your unique perspective is worth sharing, even if someone else has said something similar
• How to start building visibility before you feel completely ready

You don't have to become an influencer or add a dozen new tasks to your calendar. You just have to start showing up differently.

Listen in for practical advice on building your personal brand, making your expertise visible, and creating more opportunities for yourself and other women in the food and beverage industry.

FULL SHOW NOTES 

Tune in for new episodes every other Thursday. 

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Kimberly Ratcliff didn't take the traditional path into ranching.

After building a career at Bloomberg in New York, she made the decision to return home to her family's ranch in rural Texas. What started as a desire to protect her family's land eventually became Ratcliff Premium Meats—a growing business built around local producers, community, and a different way of thinking about the food supply chain.

In this episode, Kimberly shares what it was really like coming home, learning to listen instead of trying to change everything, and earning the trust of her family and community. She also opens up about the challenges facing ranchers and food producers today, from rising fuel and labor costs to transportation and packaging challenges.

We also talk about what consumers can do to better understand where their food comes from, why Kimberly believes businesses need to put more emphasis on the story behind a product, and how she's working to take a local brand national without losing the community that made it possible.

Plus, Kimberly shares her unique philosophy on leadership, why she loves having a team that tells her when she's wrong, and why she believes our resources are meant to be shared—not taken to the grave.

This is a conversation about food, business, leadership, community, and what it really means to build something that lasts.

FULL SHOW NOTES 

Tune in for new episodes every other Thursday. 

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How do you go from HR intern to CEO?

In this episode of Women Who Make It, Angela Dodd sits down with Shawna Nelson, CEO of Organic Valley, to explore the career journey that took her from an internship to leading America's largest organic farmer-owned cooperative.

Shawna shares the pivotal moments that shaped her leadership, why taking risks outside your comfort zone can transform your career, and how sponsors helped open doors she never imagined. She also discusses interviewing for the CEO role twice, balancing executive leadership with motherhood, and leading through change in today's evolving dairy industry.

Whether you're aspiring to leadership or simply navigating your next career move, this conversation is filled with practical insights on growth, resilience, and leading with purpose.

FULL SHOW NOTES 

Tune in for new episodes every other Thursday. 

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What does it really take to build a celebrity-founded brand into a lasting consumer products company?

In this episode of Women Who Make It, Angela Dodd sits down with Haley Ludwigson, CEO of Cravings by Chrissy Teigen, to explore how the company is disrupting the baking aisle through clean ingredients, nostalgic flavors, and thoughtful innovation.

Haley shares her journey from CFO to CEO, explains why flavor always comes before function, and discusses how changing consumer behaviors—including the rise of GLP-1 medications—are influencing product development. Together, they dive into retail strategy, branding, leadership, and why celebrity may drive the first purchase, but great products create loyal customers.

Whether you're a food industry professional, entrepreneur, or brand builder, this episode is filled with practical insights on leadership, innovation, and creating products consumers truly love.

FULL SHOW NOTES

Tune in for new episodes every other Thursday. 

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Have you ever thought of the perfect response... twenty minutes after the conversation ended?

In this solo episode, Angela Dodd shares an unexpected personal story that led her down a fascinating rabbit hole into neuroscience, leadership, and emotional regulation. After being pulled over and asked to complete a field sobriety test despite being completely sober, Angela realized the most frustrating part wasn't the traffic stop—it was that she couldn't access the confident, articulate version of herself she knew so well.

Why does this happen?

The answer lies in our nervous system.

Angela explores why high-achieving women often struggle to think clearly during stressful moments and shares five practical strategies you can begin using today to stay calm, communicate more effectively, and remain connected to your best thinking under pressure.

If you've ever left a meeting replaying everything you wish you'd said, this episode is for you.

FULL SHOW NOTES

Tune in for new episodes every other Thursday. 

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Can your career be bigger than your job title?

In this episode of Women Who Make It, Angela sits down with Tamanna Ramesh to explore what it means to build a career with intention. From immigrating to the United States with no professional network to building a successful corporate career at global food companies while creating a thriving coaching business, Tamanna shares how curiosity, consistency, and personal branding transformed her professional journey.

Together, they discuss why your employer can't fulfill every creative ambition, how to confidently build something outside of your day job, and why showing up online has become one of the most valuable career investments professionals can make.

Whether you're considering a side business, looking to strengthen your personal brand, or wondering how to create more meaningful impact through your work, this conversation offers practical advice and an inspiring perspective for professionals at every stage of their careers.

FULL SHOW NOTES

Tune in for new episodes every other Thursday. 

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What does it take to grow from a manager to an executive leader while navigating industry disruption, organizational change, and the realities of being a working parent?

In this episode, Angela Dodd sits down with Lauren McNamara, Senior VP of Business Management at SunOpta, to discuss her journey from brand management and marketing roles to executive leadership. Lauren shares the pivotal career decision that changed everything, the lessons she's learned leading through acquisitions and organizational growth, and why cross-functional experience is one of the most valuable investments young professionals can make.

The conversation also explores the future of food and beverage, including plant-based innovation, private label growth, supply chain challenges, protein trends, sustainability, and how manufacturers are helping brands bring products to market faster than ever before.

Whether you're an emerging professional, an experienced leader, or simply fascinated by where the food industry is headed, this episode is packed with practical insights on leadership, career growth, and navigating change with confidence.

FULL SHOW NOTES 

Tune in for new episodes every other Thursday. 

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What does “wellness” actually mean in today’s food and beverage industry — and how do brands build trust in a space full of trends, noise, and overhyped claims?

In this episode of Women Who Make It, Angela Dodd sits down with Lisa Govro, founder and CEO of Big Heart Tea Co., for an honest conversation about entrepreneurship, herbal healing, sustainability, and the evolving wellness movement.

Lisa shares how Big Heart Tea grew from a farmers market trailer into a nationally recognized brand, why ingredient sourcing and packaging transparency matter more than ever, and how wellness brands can stay authentic in an increasingly saturated market. Together, they unpack trends like adaptogens, consumer trust, personalized wellness, and the growing demand for rituals that help people slow down and reconnect.

If you care about wellness, food innovation, sustainability, or building a purpose-driven business, this conversation is packed with insight.

FULL SHOW NOTES

Tune in for new episodes every other Thursday. 

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Leadership today feels different — and harder. Expectations are higher, organizations are moving faster, and employees are looking for more than just direction and performance metrics. They want connection, growth, visibility, and a sense of belonging.

In this episode of Women Who Make It, Angela sits down with Roxanne Davis, SVP of Manufacturing at Post Consumer Brands, to discuss what it really takes to retain and develop talent in modern organizations. From building intentional mentorship and community programs to creating systems that improve internal visibility and career growth, Roxanne shares the leadership practices helping people thrive in fast-moving environments.

The conversation explores how leadership expectations have shifted in recent years, why connection has become one of the biggest drivers of retention, and what organizations are still underestimating when it comes to burnout and sustainability. Roxanne also opens up about the personal boundaries she’s created throughout her career, how her perspective on leadership and personal brand has evolved, and why companies that truly prioritize talent through culture and leadership behavior will be the ones that succeed long term.

This episode is filled with practical leadership insight for anyone building teams, navigating change, or trying to create a more sustainable and people-centered workplace in today’s food and beverage industry.

FULL SHOW NOTES 

Tune in for new episodes every other Thursday. 

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Jennifer Jorgensen, CEO of Back to Nature Foods, shares how she went from leading billion-dollar brands at General Mills to becoming the sole employee tasked with turning around a legacy snack company.

In this episode, Jennifer breaks down what it really takes to rebuild a brand—from creating a high-performance culture and redefining strategy to taking bold creative risks that reignited growth. She also shares powerful insights on leadership, work-life boundaries, and why joy—not perfection—should be at the center of how we think about food.

If you’re navigating change, building a team, or trying to stand out in a crowded market, this conversation is packed with practical lessons and honest perspective.

FULL SHOW NOTES 

Tune in for new episodes every other Thursday. 

If you enjoy this podcast, please subscribe & leave a review!

Follow Females in Food on LinkedIn and Instagram

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