Community Stories

Celebrating International Women’s Day 2020 with the TFF Community!

Across industries, women are stepping up to raise their voices and demonstrate that the global challenges we face can be tackled in new ways, based on higher levels of empathy, collaboration, and creativity. At TFF, we are a woman-powered core team, and we have the chance to work with thousands of female food and agri-tech entrepreneurs who leverage cutting-edge technologies and inclusive business models to create real impact.

There is something empowering about watching women independently create their own success whether it’s a well-known businesswoman, fellow entrepreneur, colleague, mother or friend. That’s why it is so important to commemorate a day like International Women’s Day and in our own TFF tribute, we want to feature some of our community’s favourite female leaders. Hopefully, they inspire you to become a bold next-gen leader, too! Remember, this is all about building women up and creating an inclusive and diverse global community.

Divya Mohan (Sweden)

Tell us a bit about yourself, your work and what you do to empower other women in food and ag.

I am a food innovator who thrives in chaos! I am the Founder of Ooble Innovations, formerly called the edibles where, over the last three years, I have developed straws that you can eat! So with the edible straws, you can sip on your beverage, gulp it down and munch into your straw while being kind to our planet! I also work on developing functional probiotic food and beverages at Probi, helping people have happier guts. Having taken a deep dive into the food industry, I learn every day how big an impact it has on our lives and our planet—which is a huge responsibility.

In every step of my way I have met incredible people who guided me, gave me an extra push or friendly advice driving my journey here. I try and extend that kindness forward as no one is empowered unless everyone is.

How are female leaders changing the food and agriculture industry today?

Growing up, when someone spoke of a CEO or a leader, I pictured a man in a suit standing tall with a briefcase. Then I heard a talk by Indra Nooyi in 2010, she was leading one of the biggest food companies on the planet—seeing that subconsciously changed my definition of a leader. Being a leader goes beyond gender and it inspired me to see her steering the ship. With the industry’s landscape changing dramatically, such leaders allow stereotypes to be erased, mental roadblocks to be broken, which in turn will finally allow a ‘female CEO’ to be a CEO.

Evangelista Chekera (Zimbabwe)

Tell us a bit about yourself, your work and what you do to empower other women in food and ag.

I am the Founder and Lead Innovator at Passion Poultry, a company that focuses on designing, manufacturing and distribution of poultry equipment for small-scale farmers. I am currently building a new production facility.

2019 was a big year for me! In July 2019, I was a Youth Connekt Provincial Finalist for the Harare Province. I had the chance to join the Royal Academy Global Grand Challenges as a keynote speaker as the first Zimbabwean to speak there. I was also the only woman invited to exhibit at the Harare Agriculture Show. The Ministry of Agriculture later on awarded me with the Young Farmers Award and I was appointed as the Harare Provincial Ambassador for Youth in Agriculture. Some of the other awards I have been given include the Women in Agriculture Zimbabwe Award, the Green Innovator Award, and the Proweb Young Business Woman Award.

I strongly believe in motivating other young women and have thus partnered with the National Executive to help get more women involved in the agricultural sector. Since December 2019, I have also been engaging with a local radio station where I talk to young agripreneurs. 60% of the people we have interviewed so far are women and we are dedicating March exclusively to female guests.

How are female leaders changing the food and agriculture industry today?

I believe that female leaders are changing the food and agricultural industry mainly by focusing on what small-scale farmers can do in order to make a significant impact. This is because women are mainly involved at this stage of the food value chain. I see that it is still a challenge for women to access land and financial resources hence we are now focusing more on small-scale farming such as horticulture and poultry. While women in Zimbabwe and Sub-Saharan Africa are currently more into value addition of agricultural products such as peanut butter production and spice making, I believe there is great potential for them to step up and influence the future of our food systems in big ways.

Hallie Supak (USA)

Tell us a bit about yourself, your work and what you do to empower other women in food and ag.

Being a Biological and Agricultural Engineering major at Texas A&M, my two passions are improving our world’s agriculture and empowering women, and I am lucky enough to be able to work with some pretty amazing women to do just that.
For the past three years, I have been working on a research project that focuses on providing resources for women in agriculture, specifically women in more rural areas and countries. Having the opportunity to potentially impact these women and girls is such a huge motivation for me to see it come to fruition. I really owe it all to having amazing female role models and mentors who showed me that we can do anything we want to and truly make a change if we put our minds to it!

How are female leaders changing the food and agriculture industry today?

Growing up, I remember seeing only men as the face of industry and change. Luckily, that is not the case anymore. We now live in a world where people like Greta Thunberg, Jane Fonda, and our founder of TFF Christine Gould can be the face of change and use their platforms to educate the world on major problems such as world hunger and climate change. They aren’t just women; they are global change-makers that little girls and boys will be able to look up to as role models.

Kimberly Pellosis (Australia)

Tell us a bit about yourself, your work and what you do to empower other women in food and ag.

I’m Kimberly Pellosis and I currently work as an Agronomist in Australia. My role involves providing technical recommendations in crop production and soil management to broadacre and horticulture growers, and identifying and resolving issues which may negatively affect the productivity of their farms. Support other women instead of competing fiercely against them – it’s important to build each other up. Avoid needless apologies – women say sorry too often!

How are female leaders changing the food and agriculture industry today?

By existing! Having female role models in senior leadership within the food and agriculture sector is important for students, graduates and aspiring professionals – you can’t be what you can’t see. So if you’re an employer, get serious about addressing work/life balance, make sure all employees have the same access to opportunity (drive skills development equally), and acknowledge and reward different leadership styles.

Lethícia Magno (Brazil/ France)

Tell us a bit about yourself, your work and maybe even what you do to empower other women in food and ag.

I’m Brazilian, 25 years old and an agricultural engineer currently getting my double degree in France. I am very passionate about travel, nature and cooking. As a Europe TFF Ambassador and PhD student in France, I’m focusing my work on researching the impacts of climate change in agriculture. Since 2013, I have been working on various topics related to agribusiness and have found motivation in projects focused on innovation, technology and sustainable development. As an engineer and researcher, I try to share my experience and motivate others to chase their dreams! It’s great to see that more and more women are now engaging in the agriculture and food sectors, both in science and industry.

How are female leaders changing the food and agriculture industry today?

The scenario of women in agribusiness is changing. In 2020 women account for roughly 60% of enrollments in French agriculture engineering schools and more women work in the engineering sector than ever before. I think that female leaders are contributing with a different way of looking at things and with their sensitivity and creativity in solving complex problems. In the same way, women can support to promote innovation, creating more equitable and sustainable food systems.

 

There are plenty more women in the TFF Community and our extended team who deserve to be celebrated especially today, but really any day of the year!

Our team of TFF Regional Coordinators:

  • Ayna Arora is well-versed in food science, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship. Ayna is currently the accelerator manager at ZX Ventures and a mentor at Food-X & Big Idea Ventures, and one of the most passionate and experienced food experts in our Regional Coordinator Team!
  • Brittany Dahl is a Geospatial Consultant at Geoplex and Oceania TFF Regional Coordinator who inspires us every day with her passion for good data and ag!
  • Jéssica Tambalo is an agronomist, engineer and analyst and works in the innovation ecosystem at OCP. Her dedication to TFF and to the future of food and agriculture is unparalleled!
  • Maame Ekua Manful just completed her Master’s in Food Science and Engineering, is a member of the Institute of Food Technologists and runs the food supplement startup Sweetpot Yoghurt. She is one of the most empathetic young leaders in our community!
  • Maeva Dang has French roots and has lived across Austria and the Netherlands in the past years. She is an expert in Urban Parametric Design & Green Infrastructure Planning and really thrives in her work!
  • Sujala Balaji is a Biosystems engineer and the Founder & CEO of Kosha Foods. With a base in Canada, she helps TFF lead and grow the North America community in big ways!

Our woman-powered TFF Core Team:

  • Christine Gould is the Founder & CEO of TFF and she has dedicated her life to inspiring the next generation of food & ag entrepreneurs. And with her larger-than-life energy, she also manages to inspire the core team every single day!
  • Chelcie Vallely is focused on leveraging innovation for social impact and action. She is a real geek and loves to immerse herself in the world of tech, agriculture and food.
  • Marie Brueser has a PhD in plant genetics & breeding. Marie is driven by topics like innovative solutions, food security and sustainability and possesses the leadership skills and deep industry knowledge required to help lead the startups at TFF to success.
  • Jana Stolz is an expert in communications & project management with dedication to sustainability and a passion for food & nutrition. She is also a passionate yogi and tries to bring some zen energy to the team whenever she can.
  • Annora Mack grew up in the US and Switzerland and has been connected to the food and agriculture corporate industry throughout her whole life. With an educational background in Health Science and Fine Arts, she brings the multispectral mindset, creative thinking and field knowledge which we consider core attributes to our team.
  • Caroline Steiblin combines her analytical skillset and passion for research to create tangible impact in corporate development for TFF. Using her background managing and supporting data-driven and cross-departmental projects, she is streamlining TFF’s food and agriculture innovation.
  • Kitty Leering is the mastermind behind the TFF Summits. She works with artists, designers, scientists, visionary thinkers, philosophers, entrepreneurs, and preferably with all of them at the same time, to create unconventional meetings of minds, organise mash-ups of ideas and shape experiences to design for social impact.