Naturally Network’s Women in CPG Summit 2024
This is a recap of the 2024 Naturally Network’s Women in CPG Summit, presented by ForceBrands, in partnership with Moss Adams.
One of our key priorities as an organization is to support and advocate for the success of diverse-owned businesses. We were thrilled to organize this highly anticipated, nationwide summit designed to inspire and connect women and non-binary CPG professionals, their supporters, and allies.
Naturally Network’s Women in CPG Summit, presented by ForceBrands in partnership with Moss Adams was held on November 12 and 13, and was designed for current and future entrepreneurs, with a strong emphasis on networking and community building. Attendees had the opportunity to foster meaningful connections, share diverse and inclusive stories, and leave with actionable takeaways. With both virtual programming and in-person events held by local chapters, it’s hard to quantify the full impact, but we are confident that the connections made will spark a ripple effect that will shape the future of our industry.
2024 Women in CPG Summit by the Numbers
600+ virtual registrants
30+ inspiring speakers
5 in-person events with 427 registered attendees
Countless invaluable stories, learnings, and connections were shared.
Read on for key takeaways, photos from the in-person events, and recordings from each of the virtual sessions.
DAY 1
Connecting Generations: Storytelling Across Time
in CPG
Moderator: Celeste Haberman | Speakers: Corinne Shindelar, Pallavi Pande, Kathryn Peters, Julie Fabricant
For the first time in history, the workforce spans four generations. This session will showcase the unique insights and experiences of four women, aiming to inspire understanding, foster empathy, and unlock opportunities across generations.
Key Takeaways:
As an OG being the only woman in the room, there's an opportunity for us as women leaders to think about how we lead. - Corinne Shindelar
We all have the same goal, just with different perspectives. - Pallavi Pande
Younger generations are better at saying ‘this isn’t working for me’ and moving on. - Kathryn Peters
One thing I wish I had done more of is ask more questions of all the women around me. - Julie Fabricant
TESTIMONIAL
“Thank you to this panel. You are delightful and full of inspiration. Special shout out to Celeste who works with me at Red's and I can attest to her passion and values driven vision. And to Corinne our fearless leader on the Naturally MN Board and a true pioneer in this industry. And Pallavi a OSC peer mentoring circle member and fearless founder. So fun to see so many women across the industry on this panel. Thank you!” - Angi Rassi
Breaking Through: Celebrating Cultural Authenticity While Fostering Belonging through CPG
Moderator: Krystal S. Dawson | Speakers: Veena Krishnan, Lynda Glass, Saida Abdala
By 2060, one in every two people in the United States will be a person of color, and this demographic shift is already influencing consumer preferences. This session will highlight how cultural authenticity is driving this trend and how representation and inclusion on store shelves can create opportunities for the next generation of consumers and brands.
Key Takeaways:
I’ve never believed in tweaking who I am to make somebody more comfortable. - Krystal S. Dawson
Make your whole self present. Stand in your truth and what's important to you as you navigate through the space. - Lynda Glass
Authenticity adds meaning to the work we are doing […] when we show up with our hearts and minds open to understand culture we can honor that and feel more proud of the work we are doing. - Saida Abdala
[As a consumer, what do you want to see in regard to diversity in this industry?] I don’t want to be limited to the one aisle, I want to see things more integrated, for example, naan shouldn’t just be in the multicultural aisle, it should be with the bread! - Veena Krishnan
Fueling Your Vision: Navigating Funding for Women-Led CPG Brands
Moderator: Monika Coyle | Speakers: Heather Terry, Danielle Goss, Luba Safran, Karen Galivan
It's well-known that women receive less funding despite delivering greater outcomes for companies. In this session, hear from three women who successfully raised capital this year, and gain key insights and strategies to fuel your own growth. Attendees will also have the opportunity to join breakout rooms tailored to their specific stage of business.
Key Takeaways:
Be aware of your gaps and close them. Learn by watching people, and asking people questions. Once you start to watch, you realize there are a lot of other people that also don’t know what they are doing. - Luba Safran
Make sure who you are reaching out to for help, make sure those sources are vetted and that they’re the right fit for YOUR business. Are you talking with someone who has actually built a business? - Danielle Goss
Women especially have to know everything about our business. We have to hold ourselves to a higher standard than our male counterparts. - Heather Terry
Don’t be afraid to ask and put yourself out there. Have the confidence to say yes, it may give you the kick start you need. - Karen Galivan
TESTIMONIAL
I wanted to take a moment to sincerely thank you for putting together such a powerful and impactful panel today. The meeting was incredibly inspiring, and I’m deeply grateful for the knowledge and connections you provide to female founders like myself. Hearing from someone who truly understands the challenges of raising capital, especially as female co-founders as well in the LGBTQ+ community and entering a new space, was both reassuring and empowering. - Cori Cauble, CEO, Just Add Ice Cocktails
DAY 2
Our Legacy: Women Building a Better World
Moderator: Carol Suruki-Carmany | Speakers: Annalea Krebs. Alisha Real, Gannon Toolan, Suzanne Sengelmann
Many of us are driven by purpose and a desire to create an impact that extends beyond our professional careers. In this session, hear from remarkable women as they share their journeys of impact, the transformative experiences that reshaped their perspectives, and the valuable lessons we can apply as we reflect on our own legacies.
Key Takeaways:
Balancing good and business - balance starts with how you set up your business. We found mission aligned investors. From there, we communicated our impact to get the right people. We have impact metrics that we measure our organization on. - Annalea Krebs
What’s good for business can be good for society. - Alisha Real
Legacy isn't just about what you’re leaving behind but what you’re doing everyday to set a standard. - Gannon Toolan
Be the change you want to see in the world. We can never give up hope, never give up modeling the world that we want to live in. I will continue to be who I am, my best self, and be the change I want to see in the world. - Suzanne Sengelmann
Growth Stages and Stories: Passing down tribal knowledge
Moderator: W.E. Da'Cruz | Speakers: Ayeshah Abuelhiga, Lauren Haynes
Key Takeaways:
Hindsight may be 20/20, but growth can't wait. In this session, four founders will interview each other, sharing key lessons learned as they navigate different stages of business maturity. From unexpected insights to critical mindset shifts, we're passing down tribal knowledge in this session.
We get into a habit of over-extending ourselves and always saying yes. Need to realize that you are not missing out on something by saying no if it isn’t the time for you. - W.E. Da'Cruz
There’s major segmentation in this industry - it’s an important perspective to have as you grow your business: what segment are you really in, how big is that and how much can you really own? Knowing this sets the tone for how fast you can grow. - Ayeshah Abuelhiga
People love to give advice. At the end of the day, you have to be centered and grounded in what you’re doing and your why. You have to be grounded in where you are and what you need at that time. Only you know what you’re dealing with. Lauren Haynes
Our superpower as women is we are active listeners. - Ayeshah Abuelhiga
What We Give, What We Get: Tackling Unique Challenges Together
Moderator: Angela McElwee | Speakers: Kareena Fagwani, Emily Green, Alexandra Clarke, Karin Samelson, Nikki McNeil, Heidi Traore, Jahnavi Brenner, Allison Smith, Alexandra Rains
This final session tapped into the collective strength of the attendees of this summit. In this interactive "give and get" session, people had the opportunity to share their needs, access valuable resources, and support each other by offering their own proven solutions.
Key Resources:
So many incredible books and articles were shared throughout the event, below are some links to ones that were mentioned:
Books
The Art of Startup Fundraising
The Six Secrets of Raising Capital
Article
How to Talk to Your Team the Day After the Election
Resource
Regional In-Person Events
In-person events were held at regional chapters across the country, in Colorado, Minnesota, San Diego, New York, and Chicago, allowing women and supporters to come together IRL and celebrate, connect, and build necessary connections.
Naturally Colorado
Naturally Colorado celebrated Women in CPG at Rayback Collective in Boulder, CO on November 11. The sold-out event brought together founders, brand leaders, and industry professionals for an empowering evening of connection and growth. Jane Miller, CEO of Rudi’s Rocky Mountain Bakery, shared her leadership journey and insights into navigating the CPG industry. The event featured structured and open networking sessions, fostering meaningful conversations and a supportive community atmosphere.
Naturally Chicago
Naturally Chicago celebrated their 3rd annual Women in CPG Celebration at Time Out Market in Chicago's Fulton Market District on, November 12, bringing together influential women leaders and Naturally Chicago partners. The event was an inspiring opportunity to recognize women driving innovation and leadership in building a better food system, filled with networking, camaraderie, and a shared commitment to honoring these trailblazers.
Naturally Minnesota
Naturally Minnesota and WE* hosted the WE* TALKS x Women in CPG event, uniting founders, students, and CPG enthusiasts for an evening of inspiration and networking on November 13. Featured speaker Dana Thompson, an Indigenous entrepreneur, shared her journey co-founding Owamni, Minnesota’s first Indigenous restaurant and James Beard Award winner, along with her initiatives NĀTIFS and Heti.
Naturally New York
Naturally New York and CBX celebrated Women in CPG on November 13. The event recognized the remarkable contributions of female founders, entrepreneurs, and leaders in the CPG community. Attendees, from industry veterans to emerging entrepreneurs, came together to honor female leadership in the field.
Naturally San Diego
Naturally San Diego hosted an event focused on strategy-led CPG packaging to celebrate Women in CPG on November 14. Julie Sweet of Purely Righteous Brands and Becky Dahl of BexBrands shared insights on why strategy and brand positioning are essential for successful packaging. The event featured a panel with Kristin Fracassi of Root and Splendor, who collaborated with Julie on their rebrand, and Hilary Cocalis of Sipwell Wine Co., who worked with Becky on her refreshed look. It was a valuable session for CPG brand owners seeking strategic packaging perspectives.
Looking Forward
We are grateful to our partners ForceBrands and Moss Adams for making this event possible. Keep your eyes on this space for upcoming evens and opportunities!