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Angela Dodd

Resources to Help You Manage Stress and Mental Health This Holiday Season and Beyond

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It’s not a secret the holidays are stressful. Between family gatherings, shopping for and affording gifts, and the change in the seasons, it’s common for people to feel overwhelmed, anxious, and even depressed. While this time of year is often associated with love and happiness, these unpleasant feelings and behaviors can creep in. So, what can you do if the holidays (or the rest of the year) is affecting your mental health?

What is stress?

Let’s start with what stress is. The Mayo Clinic defines it as “a normal psychological and physical reaction to the demands of life.” There is such a thing as good stress that helps motivate you, but there is also bad stress that pushes you beyond your ability to cope. Our brains have a sort of alarm system that we’re born with to help protect us. When we perceive a threat, that part of the brain signals your body to release hormones that increase our heart rate and raise our blood pressure, commonly known as a “fight-or-flight” response. Once the threat is gone, our bodies should return to a relaxed state, but modern life often complicates our responses, and sometimes people’s alarm systems don’t shut off. 

This is where stress management tools come into play. They can help your mind and body adapt, so you’re not always on high alert. Stress can be damaging to your health and your relationships, so it’s helpful to arm your arsenal with stress management techniques. 

There are holistic approaches to reducing stress, which take into account physical, mental, social, and spiritual factors. These include activities such as exercise, meditation, getting a good night’s sleep, journaling, practicing breathing exercises, spending time with friends and family, practicing yoga, and eating a healthy diet. These techniques are factors of a healthy lifestyle and thus play a role in reducing your stress naturally. 

A few helpful stress management apps

There are also apps that can assist you in stress management right at your fingertips. Breathe2Relax provides information on stress, how it affects the body and helps you learn to manage stress through diaphragmatic breathing exercises. Calm helps you find less stress and better sleep. Headspace is an app that makes meditation simple. Center Meditation Timer provides you with distraction-free meditation, insights, and tips. 

But when stress and anxiety become too much, there are plenty of resources available for you to seek the help you or your loved ones need. Let me preface this by saying I’m not a mental health professional. This is not meant to be prescriptive. It’s always recommended that you contact your doctor or mental health professional for medical advice. This is a simply a list of resources to assist you if you or someone you know needs to talk to someone this holiday season.

If you’re looking for someone to talk to

Psychology Today’s website has a myriad of resources to help you on your journey. Whether you’re looking for a therapist, a psychiatrist, a support group, a treatment center, or even teletherapy, they can point you in the right direction. They also have numerous resources available to inform and educate you about mental health.

If you’re not sure where to start, here’s a quick rundown. A therapist is a licensed medical professional that can evaluate, diagnose, and treat emotional and mental disorders. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor that specializes in mental health, including substance use disorder. They use medications, talk therapy, and other treatments to treat mental health conditions. A support group is when a group of people meets to share personal experiences, feelings, coping strategies, and firsthand experiences about diseases or treatments. A treatment center is a healthcare facility that provides therapy for mental and behavioral conditions (sometimes referred to as rehab). Teletherapy refers to mental health counseling that takes place online or over the phone.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is also a wealth of knowledge to learn more about mental health and to connect you with more specific information based on your needs. They also offer the NAMI HelpLine, a free, nationwide peer-support service that provides information, resource referrals, and support to people living with mental health conditions, their family members and caregivers, mental health providers, and the public. You can contact the NAMI HelpLine Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST by calling 800-950-NAMI (6264), or you can send them an email at info@nami.org

Please note, if you’re dealing with an emergency situation, call 911.

Other helpful resources

The holidays affect us all differently. It’s OK to seek help for you or someone you know. Here is a list of resources should you need them.

The 6 Best Career Gifts To Give Yourself

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The holiday season is among us, and while our celebrations may look a bit different this year, our careers don’t have to. So, when you’re creating your holiday shopping list, don’t forget to add a few things for yourself. While you might think to get yourself a new pair of shoes or a fancy bottle of wine, who says your wish list is only for material things? Sometimes the best gifts are the intangible ones that you can feel the impact of instead of see. Give yourself the gift of a new skill, a more efficient job search, or a better career. Here are six ideas if you’re looking for a place to start.

Join a Networking Group

Studies have shown that upwards of 80% of jobs are found through networking. That fact alone is reason enough to network, but the cherry on top is that it’s estimated that 70% of jobs aren’t even posted online. These days there are plenty of ways to make new connections both in-person and online. Try googling local organizations in your areas of interest to see where you can make connections with professionals in your city. Or if you’re looking for a virtual network of women, check out Females In Food, a professional development, networking, and recruitment platform that unites and accelerates women’s careers across every segment of the food and beverage industry.

Customize Your Work Station

If you’re looking for a tangible gift that will impact your career, use this as an opportunity to finally invest in your work station. With more and more people working from home for the foreseeable future, it’s as important as ever to enjoy your workspace. That means investing in an ergonomic desk chair, hanging up that motivational wall art, or finally getting a pair of wireless headphones. Indulge in something that makes you happy when you log on for the day or something that makes your day a little bit easier. This goes for if you’re working in an office, too! 

Hire a Resume Writer

If you’ve ever been on the job hunt, you know it’s a full-time job. Between researching positions and companies, updating your resume, writing cover letters, preparing for the interview, and perfecting the perfect interview outfit, it’s a huge investment of time. It’s frustrating when you apply for job after job, and all you hear is crickets. Unfortunately, the culprit is most likely your resume. If your job search leaves much to be desired, hire a resume writer. Their expertise is to write a resume that gets you noticed and gets you the job. Don’t let your resume be what’s standing in the way between you and your dream career.

Take an Online Course

Online learning has become more and more accessible. This year, give yourself the gift of a new skill. There’s no excuse not to learn about that one thing you’ve been putting off adding to your resume. Check out websites like Skillshare, MasterClass, and Career Contessa to sharpen your skillset and improve your arsenal of expertise.

Work with a Career Coach

The value that comes with working with a career coach is endless. They help you build confidence in your career and help you recognize your value as a professional. If you’re feeling stuck in your current role or need help getting to that next level, there is no better time than now to hire a career coach.

Give Yourself Permission 

Perhaps one of the most important gifts you can give yourself this holiday season is permission. Permission to leave a toxic work environment. Permission to move on from a career that no longer suits your ambitions and purpose. Permission to do what’s best for you right here and now. Release yourself from any preconceived notions about your career and what it should be. Give yourself the permission to live your best career today.

Pro Tips For A Successful Job Search

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“Fall Seven Times, Stand Up Eight”

Feeling like your job is at a standstill? That it just doesn’t seem to be moving in any direction? – You feel stuck, performing the same uninspiring tasks day in and day out, waiting to be challenged? Feeling your self-confidence slipping away as others around you are promoted? Familiar with the feeling? If you are eager and excited about moving up and becoming more of a key player in your company and actively seeking opportunities to do so then Females in Food Membership Community may be what you’re looking for. Tap into a network of women in the industry who can offer you all the guidance and support you need. Take a peek, what have you got to lose!

Job searching made easier

Maybe you want to land your dream job and you have no idea how to go about applying – after all, isn’t it just about sending off your resume and hoping against all odds that they pick your resume? After all, you’ve got all that it takes – or so you thought. Whether you are looking at getting promoted at your current company or ready to apply for that dream job, here are some good tips to start getting noticed at work – Later, we’ll review and revamp your resume and help you stand out in this hugely competitive market.

  • Do an outstanding job no matter what you do, every day. That will get you seen by your boss and other top leadership because of the valuable contributions that you are adding to the company
  • Volunteer your services and use your skills so that management and co-workers see what an invaluable asset you are.
  • Don’t be confrontational and try to get along with everyone: Treat others as you want to be treated.
  • Help co-workers if you think they might need some assistance without expecting favors in return – do it just because you are kind and want to.
  • Become an expert in a particular area because people turn to problem solvers, from peers to upper management. Look for great opportunities where you can apply these skills, then volunteer for projects where you can show them off.
  • Continuously prove that you are the best thing that happened to your company! Not just one time. Every day when you go to work, you need to show your boss your value.
  • Always remember that your career is your responsibility. Continuously strive to improve yourself, and work to define your career aspirations and plans. Share this with your boss, asking for his or her help and support. Register for classes, seminars, conferences, etc

Making you and your resume stand out

At last you find the dream job you’ve been searching for. You want it desperately but there’s going to be plenty of competition applying for the same position. How do you make yourself stand out to recruiters and hiring managers? Here are some helpful reminders:

  1. First, how does your resume look?  It is important that your qualifications match the job you’re applying for. An appealing all-important cover letter should be next on the list. You’ll need to highlight your professional qualifications so that they match the hiring requirements. What you are offering needs to be presentable and match with the networking sites you might be on, i.e. LinkedIn, Facebook.
  2. Use your connections to boost your search – they could bolster your resume or even get you an interview. Don’t procrastinate when you see something you want – go for it!
  3. Practice your interview that might come – do you know everything about the company you want to join when they ask you questions? Are you ready with the right interview clothes so you look professional? Remember, first impressions count and you want yours to be positive!
  4. Always follow up with Thank You Emails! It’s a small gesture that goes a long way in helping you stay memorable.

Modern job searching is constantly evolving. It’s no longer the simple format of applying for the job and hoping to get a call for an interview.  It is rare to get offered a job after simply putting in an application, going to a job interview, and getting an offer. Today’s job market is a very competitive, network-driven job market. A successful woman will have used a variety of strategies in order to reach her goals. She will establish a social presence; she will target companies she wants to work at, and she will have made it easy for employers to find her online.

Look what the experts say are key tips to successful job searches today in the competitive marketplace

  • Keep your résumé short and concise: The experts say that the hiring managers and the computer algorithms they use to sift through all the resumes are rapid. That means you need your CV to be one that reads quickly and is in small bites., using key terms. Today, typical CVs are scanned in a matter of 6-10 seconds. Use just one contact email address, one phone number, and your LinkedIn profile URL, for example.
  • People consider hiring a coach so that they are up to date with video interviewing skills. As you know, many employers rely on video conferencing for long-distance screening interviews. That means lots of job seekers use coaches so that they can excel in their video interviews.
  • You may not have known this, but in the last couple of years, LinkedIn has been one of the key platforms for connecting employers with qualified candidates. When you have a sharp LinkedIn profile, it is considered by some as being even more important than having a great résumé.
  • Go beyond the usual: If you want to impress your boss, you need to differentiate yourself from others. These three things will set you apart:
    • Your attitude
    • How you treat others
    • How you act when you think no one can see you

When you’ve landed the job, here are fab ways to make and keep your good impressions at the workplace

  • Be a trailblazer – forthcoming with new ideas, originating new proposals, not being afraid to make your own tracks.
  • Keep people informed because then you save them from distractions, speculation, and rumors.
  • Be the go-to person – That really does make a big impression – a person of value.
  • Think Long-Term While everyone is worrying about today’s problems, be the one to think about the solutions for tomorrow. Be sensitive to issues and trends before they become a problem.
  • Speak with confidence, sharing what you know, letting others know you can be helpful and supportive.
  • Be an initiator because making an impact means seeing what needs to get done and taking the initiative to do it.
  • Be an active listener by paying attention to what people say. Focus on the speaker instead of thinking about how you will answer.
  • Go the extra mile and do your job with excellence.

With this positive mindset, you will be able to take on tasks with enthusiasm and pleasure – it will take you far. By taking the lead by serving others, not only will you stand out, but you will leave strong and lasting impressions behind!

The Power of Women in the Food Industry

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Where Do Women Stand  In The Food Industry

The acceptance of women in the industry has come a long way, but not far enough. In some industries, such as the food industry, gender equality is still severely lacking.  The good news is that women can be empowered to make the changes necessary that will allow for a better balance in gender equality. This can be done when women recognize the power that they already have in the food industry.

The Power of Women In The Food Industry

Many surveys and studies have been completed that support the role that women play in the food industry. This research is showing:

Main Food Shoppers

The individual that normally takes on the responsibility of doing the grocery shopping is 71.3% of the women.

By Age Group:

Ages 18 to 24: it is 36.1% women

Ages 25 to 64: it is 76.5% women

Ages 65 and older:  it is 74.2% women

Main Food Preparers

Statistical figures show that it is 73.8% women who are food preparers.:

By Age Group:

Age 18 to 24: 39.9% women

Age 25 to 64: 77.3% women

Age 65 and older:  81.9% women

What Are The Statistics For Women In The Food Industry?

McKinsey compiled a report based on research for 2017 that clearly outlines the gender equality in the food industry, showing the following:

Source: McKinsey

What Are The Reasons For The Gender Gap?

Knowing what the figures are is a start. To take it, a step further is to determine why women are lagging behind in the executive roles of the food industry. There are some causes that are easier to identify compared to others. For example:

Hiring:

Hiring outside of the company is more favorable towards men than women in the three major areas of the food industry, which are:

  • Manufacturing:
    • At entry level positions, women are well represented.  First promotions for women are at 2.7% and men are at 10.5%
  • Distribution:
    • Lowest representation of women
  • Operators:
    • More progress has been seen in this sector compared to the other two. There are better rates of promotion.

Improvement Opportunities

There are some improvement programs, but less than what is found in other industries.

Ambition Gap

Research has shown that fewer women in the food industry want to enter into the executive level compared to their male counterparts.

What Are The Problem Solvers?

Although the current statistics are somewhat bleak, and the causes are challenging to overcome, there are several positive steps that can be taken to close the gender gap in the food industry. All of which upon success can create some extremely positive outcomes for the industry.

From The Bottom Up

By increasing the number of women that are hired at the entry-level, it provides more opportunities for in-house promotions.

Better and More Improvement Programs

Setting up lower-level employees for success at management levels with the right training and programs will provide a better pool of employees to choose from for higher-level positions.

Creating A Desire

If there are more opportunities for advancement within the companies, then there is more incentive for women to have a desire to fill these.

Leadership Support

The management level has to provide the type of positive leadership that treats women equally in the workplace. They need to allow women to have a voice in the company.

These are not difficult changes to be made but ones that will have a major impact on the gender equality that will not only serve to benefit the females but the companies within this industry.

The Four Tactics You Need to Engage and Retain Talent

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women sitting at a table

According to a recent Gallup survey, only 36% of U.S. employees are engaged in their work and workplace. If that’s not enough of a reason to focus on engaging and retaining your current talent, then maybe the fact that 41 percent of the global workforce is likely to consider leaving their current employer within the next year, according to the 2021 Work Trend Index by Microsoft, will seal the deal. After a year and a half of uncertainty in the world, a shift to remote work, and an increased risk of burnout, employees are tired, which means that now more than ever, we need to focus our attention on engaging and retaining our current workforce.

 

The Importance of Engaging Your People

Plain and simple, engagement at work leads to retention. Retention leads to more engaged employees, reduced turnover, reduced costs related to turnover and training new employees, and more fulfillment at work for employees. Engaged employees are loyal and the best ambassadors of your company and brand. They feel a stronger connection to the company’s mission and feel a sense of purpose linked to the work they do every day.

 

How to Engage and Retain Your Talent

According to research by Human Resource expert and professor of management at San Francisco State University, John Sullivan, 70% of millennials quit a job within two years of starting, and that was pre-pandemic! Millennials are quickly becoming the majority of the workforce and stepping into leadership roles and positions of influence daily as Baby Boomers get closer to retirement. So how can we keep this population of individuals and those coming before and after them engaged? Here are four ways.

 

Establish a Connected Culture

Employees want to be a part of something bigger than themselves. They want to connect with their leaders and coworkers. Human connection deepens bonds and builds trust. Employees cannot operate in silos, and now that remote work has become a part of everyday life for many employees, any existing silos have only become more apparent.

 

Work to establish a connected culture across your organization and with your team. This requires being intentional with gatherings and touchpoints. Create ways to foster relationships and generate conversations. When people feel connected to their organizations and coworkers, in addition to the value they provide, they’ll be more likely to stay.

 

Be Flexible About Flexible Work

Flexible and remote work is here to stay. Whether that looks like a full-time or a hybrid approach, ignoring the fact that many employees enjoy and value this new way of working would be naive. Understand that requiring employees to return to the office with zero flexibility on remote work, something they’ve proven they could successfully handle for an extended period in most cases, is going to be a major cause of concern for people. Many employees don’t want to return to a commute and are more productive from home, so if their current employees don’t have flexibility on what work looks like, they’ll find one who will.

 

Define Career Paths for Your People

Employees want to know what to expect and where you see their expertise playing out in the grand scheme of things. They want clearly defined career paths and a direction to follow. If a person is coming to work each day, not knowing where their efforts will lead, it’s very easy to become unmotivated and uninspired. Be thoughtful and intentional with your employee’s expertise and career aspirations. When you show you genuinely care about your people, they’ll be more likely to care about you.

 

Bring Your “Human” to Work

Caring about your people goes a long way. Many of us come to work for the day, do our job, and go home. But it’s unreasonable to believe that when we walk through the door of the office (physically or metaphorically) that we can turn off every other piece of our lives. When we’re working, we’re still thinking about our children and pets, we’re still concerned about our sick friends or parents, and we’re still struggling with our mental or physical health, among so many other things.

 

Remember that we’re all human at the end of the day, and we all have lives outside of our careers. When we acknowledge that and bring compassion and empathy into the workplace, our employees will build meaningful relationships and will be more likely to commit their time and talents to us because we’ve committed our time and attention to them.

Leadership vs. Management: What’s the Difference and Why it Matters

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Every manager isn’t a leader, and every leader isn’t necessarily a manager. It’s easy to assume that the two positions are one-in-the-same, but they’re actually not mutually exclusive. And if that’s true, then the concept of leadership and management must be vastly different. So, what is the difference between leadership and management, and why does it matter? Let’s dive in.

 

What is Management?

Indeed.com defines management as “the coordination and administration of tasks to achieve a goal. Such administration activities include setting the organization’s strategy and coordinating the efforts of staff to accomplish these objectives through the application of available resources.” All that to say that a manager is the person responsible for administering and guiding the tasks. Common skills of a manager include critical thinking, problem-solving, time management, goal setting, and execution. They’re the tactical person on the team that sets expectations, plans, performs, and manages the team along the way.

 

What is Leadership?

Leadership is the act of leading. It’s when an individual, group of individuals, or organization is in a position to influence or guide others. Leaders motivate employees to accomplish a common goal and lead by example. They’re innovative, empathic, communicative, and have a vision. Leaders are self-aware employees who focus on developing others for the common good of the individual and the organization.

 

Key Differences Between Being a Leader and Being a Manager

The key difference between managers and leaders is that managers define goals and instruct employees to achieve them while leaders inspire employees to achieve those goals. Leaders earn the respect of others and foster a respectful team environment. Their actions speak louder than words, and they make the right decision even when it’s not the easiest decision.

 

Why it Matters & How You Can Become a Leader

Great managers are also great leaders, but great leaders can come from any level in an organization. A manager, by definition, is in a position of authority at a business to manage a team. But leaders, on the other hand, can exist at any level of a business no matter where the individual is in their career. From individual contributors to managers to executives, everyone has the ability to lead others.

 

So, what steps can you take today to position yourself as a leader in your organization? Try these:

 

Lead By Example

Be the type of leader you want to work with by leading by example. You never know who is watching and who may become inspired by your actions because everyone can inspire.

 

Develop and Foster Relationships

Connect with individuals across your organization. From interns to directors, everyone matters, and everyone plays an integral part in a company’s success. Make it a point to foster the working relationships you have and reach out to those you don’t know.

 

Be Equitable and Inclusive

Leaders are thoughtful. They take everyone into consideration when making decisions, and they’re equitable. From their views on gender parity and race to remembering to pick up a special treat for the employee with a food allergy during a birthday celebration, they’re inclusive and recognize every individual’s efforts and contributions.

 

Communicate Effectively

Regardless of your position, communication is vital. Every employee needs to be able to communicate their aspirations and needs. Great leaders communicate often and effectively.

 

Have a Positive Attitude

Carrying around a negative attitude isn’t going to inspire or motivate anyone. There’s always a silver lining to be found, even in the toughest of situations. Be kind and have a positive attitude. It’s more contagious than you think.

Member Spotlight – Sherrill Cropper

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We have the opportunity to feature another one of our amazing FIF community members, Sherrill Cropper. Her career in the food industry has been all about finding her true calling and figuring out where she could grow doing what she loved most. Sherrill has had some great experiences academically and professionally that led her to a position where she can truly put her skills and expertise to the test. Above all else, Sherrill has learned and truly values the connections she’s made along the way.

Q. Let’s start from the beginning. Where did you grow up? What inspired you to start a career in the F&B industry?

A. I grew up on a small dairy farm in southern Ohio. I spent my whole life being around agriculture, which included being involved in 4-H and FFA. For me, having that connection and understanding of where our food comes from is something that I have always highly valued.

What drew me to the food industry was that it was a unique field with jobs that weren’t broadly advertised, unlike some other careers. A role in this field also contained aspects of all the subjects that I really enjoyed in school (physics, math, chemistry) while still allowing me to utilize my understanding of agricultural. In addition, the appeal of seeing your product on the shelf is pretty cool.

Q. Can you share what your career journey has entailed? Where are you today?

A. Like many, my career journey has not been a straight path. I had to make some strategic decisions and move around to help me figure out what I was truly passionate about. Currently, I am the New Product Development Lab Manager at Lesaffre Corporation, where I do functional ingredient development for the bakery industry. It took me a while to figure out what I really enjoyed, but through graduate school and being on the job I realized my favorite parts of science was doing experimental design and technical problem solving.

After finishing my B.S. and M.S. in Food Science at The Ohio State University, I completed two internships in two different divisions at Heinz North America. At the time, due to the economy, Heinz couldn’t hire me and I found myself transitioning into a Food Technologist role at Roskam Baking in Grand Rapids. I spent a year and three months doing food service product development and it was there that I realized that I wanted to do more with my career.

After being out of school for two years, I applied for my Ph.D. in Grain Science at Kansas State University where I studied cereal chemistry. During my Ph.D., I had the opportunity to also intern at Cargill which was where I got my first exposure to working at an ingredient company. It was through my connections at KSU that lead me to my current position.

Q. What career achievements have been the most impactful to you and those that you have helped along the way?

A. One of my biggest career achievements was launching my first ingredient that I developed for Lesaffre back in 2017. It took almost two years to get it from ideation to launch, but it really helped me decide how I would setup future experimental testing and what our process would be for launching new ingredients for the business. This experience really provided me a better understanding of my role and skills, but also how I was going to make the transition from life in academia back into the industry.

It also gave me the confidence that I needed to find within myself and to recognize what I could actually do. I think as women, we sometimes are our own worst critics and it’s important that we also take the time to recognize the accomplishments and the journey that got us to where we are. In addition, although it may not be the biggest career achievement, getting to lobby on Capitol Hill with the American Baker’s Association back in 2016 was also a pretty great experience.

Q. What are your areas of expertise for Females in Food members to connect with you on?

A. My areas of expertise probably vary due to my random journey, but ingredient functionality is one of the areas that I have been heavily involved with for most of my education and career, whether it be gums and emulsifiers in ice cream chemistry to enzymes and antimicrobials in the baking industry. Currently, my expertise is mostly focused on providing understanding of the baking process and ingredient functionality (dough improvers, yeast, emulsifiers, etc.) for small, medium, and industrial bakeries.

Q. What do you enjoy doing most in your free time?

A. In my free time, I enjoy walking long distance (5-7 miles), reading, riding my bicycle, spin classes and traveling.

Q. What advice would you give your younger self? Or What advice do you have for those who are just coming into the food industry?

A. The advice that I would give to my younger self is “Relax, it’s okay that you don’t have your career planned out and you don’t know what you’re going to do with the rest of your life. Enjoy the people and the experiences along the journey because that’s what makes life worth it.”

For those coming into the food industry, I would say “Put yourself out there and try and meet and get to know as many people as possible. One never knows how that one connection may lead you to a new opportunity, be an ally for you, or even become a dear friend.”

Q. What is your favorite “on the go” breakfast?

A. Two slices of toast with peanut butter or grape jelly.

The Impact Of Motherhood In The Workforce

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55% of U.S. mothers with children younger than 18 at home are employed full time.

The modern-day woman is still living with an age-old concept. That which is based on the belief that women belong in the kitchen and raising babies while the men are the breadwinners. Except in today’s world, it often takes two paychecks just to live an average lifestyle. Women not only can use the power of motherhood to further their careers in their chosen industries, but they can also use it to change the current working environment that Mothers deal with.

The Working Mother Environment

The environment that the working mother is subjected to is not one of their own making. It is one that the working world has created by what their perception of the working mother is. It is automatically assumed that the mother that is transitioning back into her work environment is not in a position to be an asset to a company.

No Such Thing As Flexibility

In general, there is no thought given to allowing for flexibility for the working Mom. There is no desire for making adjustments to accommodate her new role even if it would have no impact on the company itself, or even if it might be a betterment for the company.

Moms Are Caregivers

Not too many would argue that Mothers, by nature, are caregivers. The skills for this come partly from their maternal instincts as well as skills they have developed during their own experiences in the world. As babies go through their growing stages, the care that Mothers have to provide changes.

What Does Leadership and Motherhood Have In Common?

Women in management can clearly identify what they have learned from being a Mother that has helped them be successful in their leadership roles. Some examples are:

When to Stay Involved and When To Stand Aside

Mothers have to know when to push their kids to achieve certain goals in their lives. They also need to know when to stand back and let the kids take on the responsibilities that they are capable of. For example, a Mom may have to push to get their kids out of bed on time on a school day. But they are the ones that are responsible for dressing appropriately and making sure their backpack has everything they need for the day.

The leader in a company has to know when their employees need direction and also know when to stand back and let them complete what is expected of them. Employees have to reach a point where they can think on their own make decisions, and yet their leader has to be there in the event they are going in the wrong direction.

Flexibility

Motherhood requires flexibility. When one thing does not work with a child, then it means changing to plan B.

A leader has to be able to be flexible in the workplace. If a concept is not working well, then changes have to be made, and the leader has to be able to accept this without being set in their ways.

Balancing Personalization With Professionalism

Mothers of more than one child soon learn that each of their children has distinct personalities. As such, they have different ways of handling their kids.

This same concept applies to the leader of a company and the employees they are responsible for. Each worker is different, and the leader has to recognize their personality. Being able to do this allows the leader to use different approaches with each employee to reach the same goals.

  • Additional commonalities between the Motherhood role and the leadership role are:
    • Being prepared for the unknown
    • Resolving conflicts
    • Recognizing that workers have a life besides the work environment.
    • Empathy
    • Balance
    • Prioritizing
    • Time Management

When looking at the skills set of a Mother the similarities between these and the requirements for leadership are parallel.

Being Penalized For Being A Mother

First-time mothers who return to the workforce are often shocked when they realize they are being penalized for their new role in life. The penalties include:

  • A cut in pay while their male counterparts receive an increase in pay
  • No consideration for many meaningful job positions

The bottom line is Mothers in the workforce are discriminated against.

Member Spotlight – Susan Stevens

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We are so excited to be featuring one of our incredible FIF community members, Susan Stevens. Her journey in the food industry has grown from setting her roots in engineering roles to expanding her expertise as a supervisor. In this Q&A interview, Susan shows us the power of team management and what it means to know the operations and people side of the business, creating a healthy culture and focusing on self-development to boot.

Q. Let’s start from the beginning. Where did you grow up? What inspired you to start a career in the F&B industry?

A. I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, IL. My parents taught me from a young age that hard work and grit were tools that I would need in my tool kit. I was an extremely shy child and spent much of my childhood as a dancer to build confidence.

I didn’t intentionally set out for the food and beverage industry. I found myself gravitating towards food companies and their approach to improvement and continuous learning. I joined Cargill in an operations/engineering role after college graduation and really enjoyed the responsibility and pace of that function.

Q. Can you share what your career journey has entailed? Where are you today?

A. I joined Cargill in an operations/engineering role after college graduation. I held several engineering roles and a maintenance role before I landed in Operations Management. For 6 years, I worked as the front-line supervisor and then the manager of one section of their ingredient plant in Hammond IN. Because the technology I worked in was very specialized, I worked with several global teams and was able to support a plant start up in China in 2018 with several onsite visits.

Working in Operations Management helped me realized that I have a passion for people management and development in addition to “the work”. In 2018, I completed the CTI Co-Active Coaching program to continue to develop myself as a leader.

In March 2020 (what timing!) I accepted a new role at Fifty Gazelles (an innovation agency) in Chicago, IL. Today, I lead commercialization projects for new product launches (food service, retail, etc) for large and emerging brands.

Q. What career achievements have been the most impactful to you and those that you have helped along the way?

A. I am most proud of the work that I did to develop the culture of my team in my operations manager role. I was the first woman to occupy that role (and the first woman to occupy the supervisor role before it) and I really leveraged that to create a culture built on determination, curiosity and helping others.

Our team accomplished great things and was so collaborative from the newest operator all the way up the chain. It was so rewarding to see that even in that “rough” culture that those types of work places are possible.

Q. What are your areas of expertise for Females in Food members to connect with you on?

A. You should shoot me a note or give me a call when you want to talk operations management, external manufacturing, product commercialization or how to get a toddler down for bed.

Q. What do you enjoy doing most in your free time?

A. My husband and I have a two-year-old (Ben) and we love to take him on adventures.  Pre-covid, we had great plans to travel a bit with Ben.  Currently, we spend a lot of time outside with him, exploring parks in downtown Chicago. (Our record is 4 playground in one day)

In my child free downtime, I am an avid reader.  I’m typically reading 2-3 books at a time.  I’m currently reading the Bridgerton series and “Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men” by Caroline Criado Perez.  I also love a good book recommendation to help me learn more about the world.

Q. What advice would you give your younger self? Or What advice do you have for those who are just coming into the food industry?

A. It is important to do a good job at work and you should focus on developing yourself. Developing yourself is not “taking a bunch of classes”. I found that I developed the most when I was taking stretch assignments outside of my comfort zone or really working to apply something that I learned (from a book, class, podcast etc).

Build your network. I made the mistake of only building my network within my own company and realized this only when I realized I was ready to leave. Continuing to check in with your network helps both them and you and it is important to take the time/effort to do it!

Q. What is your favorite “on the go” breakfast?

A. I’m a terrible breakfast eater. If I had my way, I’d eat a full hot breakfast every day and it would always have hashbrowns (extra crispy).

Imposter Syndrome – How to Quiet Your Inner Critic

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Do you ever hear a little voice in your head saying, “You’re not ready. It’s already been done. I just got lucky. What will everyone think? Do I know enough to be here?” If you’re nodding your head right now, then you have been impacted by imposter syndrome.

Imposter syndrome has been everywhere in the last few years. Michelle Obama talked about it in her book, Becoming. There are articles on imposter syndrome in every kind of publication, from Harvard Business Review to Elle magazine. You can find quote after quote from successful people that have suffered from imposter syndrome. But what is it, exactly? And more importantly – what can you do about it? That’s where we’re headed now!

To a certain degree imposter syndrome is self-explanatory. It’s feeling like an imposter or a fraud or questioning if you really belong – even though you are successful. The crux of imposter syndrome is thinking of your skills, qualifications, and experiences as lower or worse than they actually are. We all know people who overinflate their skills and abilities. Imposter syndrome is the opposite.

Imposter syndrome is also something you experience, not something you have. Even though it’s called a “syndrome,” it’s not an actual diagnosis. You will also hear it referred to as the imposter complex or imposter phenomenon, which are probably more accurate terms, but imposter syndrome just rolls off the tongue more easily, doesn’t it?

There is a huge spectrum of how people experience imposter syndrome. It’s a daily companion for many.  I’ve had multiple individuals tell me that every day they feel like today’s going to be the day their company finally realizes they have no idea what they’re doing and someone is going to come tap them on the shoulder and escort them out of the building.

For most people imposter syndrome is more situational. You might feel completely confident most of the time and then you have to present to a group of senior leaders and you suddenly feel like you have no business even being in the room, let alone presenting. Or you’re great in your current role, but the moment you start to think about a job change, you wonder if your success is just because of the company, team, or boss and not because of YOU. Or you go after a big new client and after they sign on the dotted line you feel like you won’t be able to pull it off, that you’ve just gotten lucky and have been fooling them.

Sound familiar? You’re not alone. At least 70% of people experience imposter syndrome. It shows up in all the places you don’t want it – around executives, negotiating your salary, sharing ideas, speaking up in a meeting, applying for new jobs, thinking about starting a business, going after bigger clients, sharing on social media, public speaking – the list goes on and on. Imposter syndrome is more likely to make an appearance anytime you’re outside of your comfort zone.

The good news is you can do something about it! While you can’t make imposter syndrome go away entirely, you can learn to quiet the inner critic and take action even when imposter syndrome is raging. Here are two simple actions you can start using today to combat imposter syndrome the next time it makes an unwanted appearance.

Call Out Your Inner Critic:

When you hear that negative, ruminating voice in your head saying that you’re not good enough, don’t know enough, and just WHO ARE YOU to think you can go do that big thing, stop and take a breath. Hear the inner critic talking and notice that it’s not you. It’s just a voice in your head. And you don’t have to pay attention to it.

For example, my imposter syndrome pops up most often when I’m called an expert (on imposter syndrome, of all things. Is there anything more ironic than getting imposter syndrome about being called an expert on imposter syndrome?) and when I’m sharing in public, particularly if I’m giving advice. My inner critic jumps right in telling me I don’t have a PhD in Psychology, I’m not really an expert, who are you to put yourself out there and think people will listen? Isn’t that arrogant and conceited of you!

I hear the inner critic. I feel the anxiety start to rumble up in my belly.  And then I stop. I tell myself that I’m just taking up a bigger space than I’m used to and that’s why imposter syndrome has shown up. It’s different and weird and uncomfortable – and also completely fine. Naming the inner critic doesn’t make it go away immediately, but it does make the inner critic lose power. It’s kryptonite for imposter syndrome.

Recover Fast When Doubt Strikes:

Imposter syndrome is going to happen. That’s inevitable. The goal is to shorten the time you spend circling in doubt and get back to a place where you can take action quickly. To do that, create a personalized doubt recovery toolkit. This isn’t anything fancy – just 3-5 activities that make you feel good and confident and grounded and ready to take on whatever is coming at you, no matter how much imposter syndrome wants to drag you down.

Hiking, cross-country skiing, listening to any podcast with Brené Brown, dancing and painting are all in my doubt recovery toolkit. They work wonders for me. If I’m feeling nervous before a big client call, all I have to do is turn on Lizzo’s Good As Hell and three minutes later I’m good to go. The imposter syndrome is gone.

Try these steps. Call out your inner critic. Know what’s in your doubt recovery toolkit and pull out one of the actions the next time imposter syndrome shows up. Most importantly, however, is giving yourself grace. Imposter syndrome is normal. Don’t beat yourself up if you call out your inner critic and it’s back again two minutes later. Call it out again. And again. As many times as it takes. This is all a practice. Be kind to yourself.

Heather Whelpley is a speaker, coach, and writer that works with overachievers, perfectionists, and people pleasers to let go of expectations and create their own rules for life. You can dig deeper into imposter syndrome through her online course, The Five Steps To Overcome Imposter Syndrome.

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Females in Food strives to provide an inclusive environment and defines ‘women’ and ‘female’ as including all individuals who identify, or have been identified as women or female. No matter your age, race, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, or political beliefs. Whether you identify with any of these or none, we invite you to join our community. 

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