Women Who
Make It
A Females in Food Podcast with Angela Dodd
Episode 4
Beating Burnout and Building Resilience with Dorsey Standish
“What does it look like to redefine, for ourselves, what it means to honor our humanity—with little moments to be rather than do? Moments to honor that social connection, to support others and feel supported by them. So much of burnout is trying to do it all ourselves and never pausing to give ourselves a chance to restore. As human beings, we’ve evolved to balance doing with rest, to be in community, and to get that support from each other. I think that’s really something that can carry us into the next decade as our world continues to get more complex.”
In this episode of Women Who Make It, Angela discusses the first-ever State of Women in the Food and Beverage Industry Report—a groundbreaking look at the realities women face across the sector.
Based on insights from about 250 women, the report reveals a stark picture of the systemic challenges still present in the food and beverage industry today. From limited leadership development opportunities and persistent gender bias to work-life imbalance and burnout, the findings make one thing clear: there’s a pressing need for real, actionable change.
Joining the conversation is Dorsey Standish, a neuroscientist and mindfulness expert, who dives into the physiological effects of burnout and how stress impacts the brain and body. Dorsey shares science-backed strategies to help women (and workplaces) cultivate resilience, strengthen human connection, and create conditions for sustainable performance.
Together, Angela and Dorsey challenge leaders to rethink traditional structures of work and support systems. Their message is clear: to advance women in food and beverage, organizations must start by honoring the humanity behind the work—recognizing that thriving employees build thriving companies.
This conversation marks an important moment for the food and beverage industry. The State of Women in Food and Beverage Report is more than just data—it’s a call to action. It invites leaders, allies, and organizations to take an honest look at how we can do better for women, and by extension, for the entire industry.
Episode Highlights
- The Mission: Advancing more women into senior leadership roles across the food and beverage industry.
- Data for Change: The inaugural State of Women in Food and Beverage Report provides critical insights from about 250 women—offering a data-driven foundation for action.
- Leadership Gaps: Many leadership development programs fail to address the unique challenges women face in their career progression.
- The Burnout Barrier: Work-life balance remains one of the biggest obstacles, even as flexible work policies become more common.
- Caregiving vs. Career: With only 5% of women having access to paid family leave, many feel forced to choose between caregiving and career growth.
- Culture Counts: Company culture must evolve to normalize flexibility and support all employees
- A Call to Action: True progress begins when companies use data, empathy, and accountability to redesign systems that work for women—and everyone.
Links and References
- Follow Dorsey on LinkedIn and Instagram
- Learn more about Mastermind Meditate
- Grab the State of Women in the Food and Beverage Industry Report
- Watch Dorsey’s TEDx Talk: Is Scrolling the New Sex? Smartphones & the Birth Rate Decline
- Follow Females in Food on LinkedIn and Instagram
- Follow The Women Who Make It Podcast on LinkedIn and Instagram
- Subscribe to The Women Who Make It Podcast on YouTube
- Learn more about us at femalesinfood.community
More About The Women Who Make It Podcast:
Women Who Make It is the podcast where the real conversations in food and beverage happen. Hosted by Angela Dodd, founder & CEO of Females in Food, the show shares unfiltered stories, hard-won lessons, and leadership insights from the women shaping the future of the food industry.
After years of building a global community and connecting with thousands of women across every sector, Angela noticed something: the most powerful advice didn’t come from panels or press releases. It came from hallway chats and candid, behind-the-scenes moments. This podcast takes those private conversations public.
Whether you’re growing your career, leading a team, launching something new, or navigating what’s next, Women Who Make It delivers honest conversations, actionable takeaways, and the inspiration to make it—on your terms.
Follow Females in Food on LinkedIn and Instagram.
Follow The Women Who Make It Podcast on LinkedIn and Instagram.
Subscribe to The Women Who Make It Podcast on YouTube.
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