Vegan Women Summit ®

Introducing THE 2100 SUMMIT: Redefining the Future Together

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 18:54:08 GMT

What will life look like in the year 2100? How will we live, work, and thrive on a better, more sustainable planet? This Earth Week, join us to shape the answers .

We’re thrilled to announce THE 2100 SUMMIT — the world’s first global gathering dedicated to transforming how we approach innovation, sustainability, and human connection for a brighter future.

�� When: April 26, 2025
�� Where: Los Angeles, California

This isn’t just another conference. It’s a movement. A call to action. A space to build bold, positive momentum for tomorrow’s world.

Why Attend?

Together, we’ll explore the cutting-edge technologies, brands, and ideas that will define the next century through immersive experiences, brand activations, and talks from groundbreaking speakers.

Here’s a glimpse of the themes we’ll dive into:

Longevity & Wellness
Sustainable Fashion & Beauty
Better Living & Artificial Intelligence
Future of Food & Green Technology

But that’s not all. THE 2100 SUMMIT is your opportunity to network with hundreds of like-minded professionals — innovators, investors, and changemakers — all striving for a better planet.

No doom and gloom here. This is about building a thriving future, starting now.

Why This Event Matters

Our events have a track record of being life-changing. One conversation, one idea, one connection could redefine your path. At THE 2100 SUMMIT, you’ll not only find inspiration but also actionable strategies to make a tangible impact.

This first-of-its-kind event is your chance to help write the story of our future.

Be Part of the Change

�� Get Tickets: Learn more and reserve your spot
�� Become a Sponsor: Schedule a meeting

Let’s make history together at THE 2100 SUMMIT on April 26th, 2025 . The future is ours to shape — and it starts here.

Tabitha Brown: America’s Mom, Vegan Advocate, and Social Media Sensation

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 19:12:19 GMT

Discover how Tabitha Brown captivates nearly 10 million followers with her unique approach to veganism, her latest New York Times bestselling book, and her vibrant Target collaborations.

Tabitha Brown, an Emmy award-winning actress, New York Times bestselling author, and social media star, continues to captivate nearly 10 million followers on TikTok and Instagram with her unique approach to veganism and relatable humor. Known for hosting shows on the Food Network and the Ellen Digital Network, and starring in Showtime’s "The Chi," she has earned the title of “America’s Mom.”

Her latest book, "I Did A New Thing: 30 Days to Living Free," has once again landed her on the New York Times bestseller list, with features on Good Morning America and Oprah. The book encourages readers to try something new daily for 30 days and reflect on the experience, with a significant chapter on ending unfulfilling relationships.

Tabitha’s influence extends to the business realm with her recent limited-edition collaboration with Target. This collection includes eye-catching home goods, kitchen tools, pantry staples, all designed with vibrant patterns like tropical florals and rainbow stripes. The line features snacks, dips, meal kits, and wines, all vegan, as well as dinnerware, cookware, and appliances.

In addition to her professional achievements, Tabitha is a devoted mother to Choyce (22), Quest (11), and a bonus daughter, Tyleah (28). She shares insights on parenting children with a significant age gap, emphasizing individualized parenting and the importance of educating her children about healthy food choices. Her own journey to veganism, sparked by health issues resolved by adopting a plant-based diet, profoundly influenced her life and her family’s eating habits.

Tabitha is also the co-founder of the healthy haircare line Donna’s Recipe and has launched various product lines with Target, including popular McCormick seasoning blends. She encourages her children to dream big, be consistent, stay true to themselves, and work hard.

Throughout her career, Tabitha’s authenticity and honesty have been central to her success, both on social media and in her diverse ventures. Her advice for growing a social media platform is to remain true and honest, as people support genuine personalities. She emphasizes faith, perseverance, and being authentic in achieving one’s dreams.

9 Beauty Brands Driven by Inspiring Women

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 18:01:45 GMT

These beauty brands are committed to cruelty-free practices, avoiding animal testing and animal-derived ingredients. These brands prioritize quality skincare, haircare, and cosmetics without compromising on ethical standards.

HONORABLE MENTION:

Chella

Chris Kolodziejski, a former NFL player and founder of Chella, transitioned his beauty brand to be cruelty-free, vegan, and more sustainable in 2016. Today, the majority of Chella's leadership team is composed of women, driving the brand's focus on eye and brow makeup that is free of harsh chemicals, gluten, and unethical labor practices.

At the 2023 and 2024 Vegan Women Summit, Chella showcased these values, offering free eye makeovers and promoting their sustainable beauty products. And in collaboration with the Vegan Women Summit (VWS), Chella developed the Pathfinder Eyeshadow Palette, further cementing their shared commitment to our mission.

Plant-Based Nuggets Outperform Chicken Nuggets in Blind Tasting

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 05:37:37 GMT

This is a guest post by NECTAR

Plant-based nuggets outperformed chicken nuggets in the world’s largest blind taste test of plant-based meats, finds a new report out today. Impossible Foods, MorningStar Farms, Quorn, Rebellyous Foods, and SIMULATE were top taste performers in the nugget category. The success of plant-based nuggets is a win for the alternative protein industry which has continued to face challenging cultural and media narratives in recent months.

This taste test is the largest sensory analysis of plant-based meats ever conducted, featuring 1,150 American omnivores evaluating 45 plant-based meat products across five categories (burgers, hot dogs, bacon, chicken tenders, and chicken nuggets). Participants ranged in age from 21-69 with an equal split of genders and a range of income levels and ethnicities. All products were tested against an animal-based benchmark to determine how analogous plant-based meats are to animal-based meats.

The Results

The Taste of the Industry 2024 report synthesizes more than 150,000 data points from the world’s largest sensory analysis of plant-based meat. The study was conducted by NECTAR , a new initiative on a mission to accelerate the protein transition with taste.

Taste is widely accepted to be the primary purchase driver for consumers. That’s why the plant-based foods industry is hyper-focused on achieving taste parity with animal-based foods.

While some leading plant-based products have achieved taste parity, Taste of the Industry 2024 shows that the majority of plant-based meat brands fall short. Underperforming category averages across burgers, hot dogs, bacon, and chicken tenders reveal that the average plant-based products are not ready for mainstream adoption.

The only burger that performed within one point in average liking of the animal product (on a seven point liking scale) was a plant-blended patty (50% beef, 50% vegetable). This indicates future promise for plant-blended meat products across all ground meat categories. NECTAR is currently conducting the world’s first sensory landscape of plant-blended meat products and plans to release a report on the findings later this fall.

Taste of the Industry 2024 also reveals a clear mandate from omnivore consumers: plant-based products must be bolder. Consumers are demanding products that are spicier, smokier, sweeter, darker, and juicer. From meatier textures to saltier flavors, there's a growing appetite for products that deliver an authentic and satisfying experience. Plant-based brands will need to embrace boldness in order to capture the hearts and palates of consumers nationwide.

Meet NECTAR

NECTAR is a new initiative of Food System Innovations (FSI) , a philanthropic impact platform that funds and creates efforts to accelerate the protein transition toward a more humane and sustainable future of food.

NECTAR's inaugural report, Taste of the Industry 2024 , offers unprecedented category-level insights into consumer preferences and product performance. By conducting large-scale sensory panels and operationalizing the resulting data in a diversity of pre-competitive ways, NECTAR is setting a new standard for innovation and transparency in the alternative protein industry.

NECTAR leverages data in three ways: First, by inspiring product innovators to continue reaching new heights. Second, by identifying clear calls to action for stakeholders across the alternative protein value chain. And third, by educating eaters about delicious products in distribution.

NECTAR plans to release an annual Taste of the Industry report, as well as more forward-looking Future of the Industry reports. These burgeoning, novel datasets will be used to launch a prize in 2025 that will celebrate great tasting alternative protein products in the market.

Max Elder , Managing Director of FSI, shared his excitement about NECTAR’s launch: “By championing great-tasting products, empowering brands and consumers with data-driven insights, and fostering partnerships across the industry, NECTAR’s launch heralds a new era of innovation and collaboration in the alternative protein space.”

VWS Celebrates the Team Behind NECTAR

NECTAR is led by a team of longtime VWS community members who attended The Vegan Women Summit in May. Caroline Cotto serves as NECTAR's inaugural Director, and Food System Innovations’ team members Max Elder, David Meyer , and Galina Hale serve as key strategic advisors. Meyer was an Ally of the Year finalist at this year’s Vegan Women Summit, and Hale moderated a panel at the event on how to build an executive career that matters.

Caroline Cotto brings extensive industry-building experience to the NECTAR Director position. She spent the last six years building the upcycled food industry from the ground up through her roles as co-founder of Renewal Mill and founding Board President of the Upcycled Food Association . Renewal Mill upcycles the nutritious pulps leftover from plant-based milk production into gluten-free flours and vegan baking mixes that are sold nationwide at Whole Foods Market.

Commenting on the initiative, Cotto stated, "We are thrilled to officially unveil NECTAR and embark on this journey towards a more sustainable and delicious future. Our research underscores the potential of alternative protein products to not only meet but exceed consumer expectations. Despite slowing sales growth and increasingly negative media coverage of plant-based meats, NECTAR will support brands to unlock new levels of taste and satisfaction to ultimately drive more meaningful market adoption.”

NECTAR is currently recruiting plant-based meat brands with products in distribution to participate in its Taste of the Industry 2025 study. Interested parties can reach out to Caroline Cotto directly at caroline@fsi.org .

A Message of Promise

While Taste of the Industry 2024 concludes that plant-based meat products currently in distribution do not consistently meet consumer expectations for taste, this story is ultimately one of optimism.

The success of plant-based nuggets underscores that category leaders with great-tasting products do exist. NECTAR hopes that its data will provide a clear roadmap for future innovations in the sector. By championing bold flavors and data-driven insights, NECTAR is leading the charge in creating a sustainable future where doing good tastes great.

For more information about NECTAR and to access the full Taste of the Industry 2024 report, visit www.nectar.org. To learn more about participating in future NECTAR studies or to discuss uses for NECTAR’s novel datasets, please email us at contact@nectar.org .

10 Women-Led Vegan Restaurants to Check Out

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 07:15:00 GMT

The U.S. restaurant industry is still predominantly male-led, with less than a quarter of chefs and head cooks being women, despite women making up nearly 70% of servers. However, this gender imbalance is gradually changing, especially in the vegan restaurant sector. Women are leading innovative vegan eateries and food businesses across the country, breaking into traditionally male-dominated areas like barbecue and sushi.

The 10 Women-Led Vegan Restaurants to Check Out:

Recap of The Vegan Women Summit 2024

Wed, 15 May 2024 23:18:11 GMT

Highlights from Vegan Women Summit 2024: A Celebration of Innovation, Unity, and the Power of Women

Last weekend, we wrapped VWS Hollywood 2024, and my head is still buzzing from the experience. What an incredible community we've built together. As I heard time and time again from our attendees, this year's summit was more than just a conference; it was a vibrant celebration of the innovative spirit that drives the vegan movement forward.

Held over two packed days, VWS brought together nearly 1,000 guests, including industry leaders, innovative brands, and passionate advocates, all united by a common vision.

Here are some of my favorite highlights from across the two days.

I’m Vegan And I Know It

One of the most unforgettable moments of the summit was when DJ Redfoo of LMFAO transformed his hit "I'm Sexy and I Know It" into a vegan anthem, "I'm Vegan and I Know It." Our team threw shirts emblazoned with this logo into the excited crowd, and everyone enjoyed zero-proof shots of Ritual.

Star-Studded Red Carpet

Our vegan community Showed. Up. on the red carpet, and you all looked incredible! We had about 350 attendees for our VIP reception, who dined on vegan sushi appetizers from MA KIN , Climax Foods cheese, crepes from Crêpe du Jardin , divine chocolate gâteau from 2foods , and enjoyed vegan mocktails from TÖST and a VWS-themed mango lassi mocktail courtesy of Cha’s Organics.

A Call For Unity Within Our Community

Ethan Brown , CEO of Beyond Meat, delivered a keynote that resonated deeply with me and many others at the summit. He spoke about the urgent need for unity within the plant-based industry, emphasizing that "We have a battle on our hands, and we can’t fight amongst each other; we have to come together."

His message is one I echo every day: the importance of collaboration over competition. We must stop the infighting and combat the merchants of doubt who spread fear and misinformation about our movement. We must break down these barriers and showcasing the strength that comes from unity. This feeling is just one of the many reasons why I love coming together at the Vegan Women Summit each year – this is a movement we are building together, and it shows in the love, passion, and effort I could see in every attendee.

VWS Awards: Celebrating Excellence in Veganism

This year, we were proud to recognize these individuals and organizations that exemplify the ethos of VWS:

Creator of the Year : Erin Ireland
Ally of the Year : Ash Kalra
Woman of the Year : Heather Mills
Nonprofit of the Year : Plant Futures
Best Place to Work : Impossible Foods
Company of the Year : MIKUNA
Innovation of the Year : Upside Foods

A Global Culinary Showcase

The summit was a feast for the senses, especially for food lovers. Chef Adjoa Courtney won the Top Chef competition with her veganized soul food, a beautiful representation of how we can honor tradition and innovation simultaneously.

Chef Rebecca Yang and Chef Ratbek Sadvakasov also showcased their culinary talents with traditional dishes from Taiwan and Kazakhstan, respectively. This culinary experience highlighted the diversity and creativity of vegan cuisine, reinforcing that veganism is a global, inclusive movement.

The Future of Food

This year's summit placed a strong emphasis on all facets of the vegan lifestyle, with no shortage of exciting vegan food to try.

Summit attendees had the opportunity to try meals and bites by Impossible foods, 2Foods, Meati, Nature's Fynd, Nelly's Organics, Mellody, Violife, GoodSAM, Beyond Meat, VBites, TiNDLE, Blue Zones Kitchen, Cha's Organics, NotCo, Oatly, Autumn Sons, Never Better Foods, Pura Vita, Mr. Charlie's, and Mauna Loa. Beverages like Topo Chico, Alani Nu, Prime, Good + Bar, and Open Water helped us wash it all down. In addition to all of our incredible vendors and Pathfinder booths, we surprised everyone with a tasting of Climax Foods' cheese, fresh from making headlines on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

The Future of Fashion

Our Fashion marketplace was an absolute hit, and I especially loved how Voes & Co white boots could be seen adorning the feet of many speakers and attendees around the Pacific Design Center. We also got the opportunity to shop incredible brands like Don't Eat The Homies, No. 49, Jeane & Jax, KINDOM, and more.

The Future of Beauty

I loved seeing the hundreds of guests, men and women alike, enjoying their brow makeovers at the Chella booth, while we also got to officially launch our VWS Pathfinder palette in collaboration with Chella. Attendees were able to test out and shop exciting and innovative beauty brands like Pacifica, Skincare Junkie, Saje, Nutrilixir, LA Sol, Juice Beauty, ATA Cosmetics, and others in the Clean Beauty Founder Collective brands.

The Future of Technology

In addition to our incredibly popular Pathfinder booths , featuring Liven Proteins vegan collagen broth, Mooji Meats' incredibly realistic steaks, as well as Niramaya Foods and Prophecy Foods gut-friendly and innovative dips and spreads.

Our first-ever Pitch Slam highlighted the innovative spirit of the vegan business community, with judges Rachel Stinebaugh, Ryan Bethencourt, and Heather Courtney ready to invest. Pitches by Mehek Khera of Niramaya Foods, Luiza Villela of Unclassic Foods, Davina Kaonohi of Element Apothec, and Erin Riley of Cabbage Hill blew the judges away, before they eventually named Deborah Gorman and SorBabes' pitch the winner! This event showcased how technology can accelerate the growth of vegan businesses and ideas.

Looking Ahead

As we wrap up this year's summit, I am energized by the passion and commitment of our community. The discussions, tastings, and presentations have not only entertained but also inspired us to keep pushing for change.

We thank all our speakers, brands, vendors, and attendees for making the Vegan Women Summit 2024 a memorable event. Here’s to another year of empowering women to build a kinder, more sustainable world!

-Jenny Stojkovic

Statement in regards to recent allegations on social media against my person and Vegan Women Summit (VWS) as an organization.

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 23:37:32 GMT

Jennifer Stojkovic, April 16th, 2024

I am deeply saddened and disappointed to see that several accounts on social media have shared images of tweets that I posted on 11/25/23 completely out of context. The way these images have been stitched together makes me look like I am in support of actions of the Israeli Military towards civilians (especially, children) and I have been labeled a “Zionist”. Neither of these points are true.

I want to make a very clear and unwavering statement: As an individual and as the founder of VWS, I condemn the brutality and violence in the current conflict between Israel and Palestine, as I have said time and time again. The loss of innocent lives, particularly children and civilians, is heartbreaking and unacceptable. Like many of you, I call for an immediate ceasefire and urge all parties to prioritize dialogue and diplomacy to find a peaceful resolution. It is crucial that the cycle of violence is stopped, and efforts for lasting peace and justice are prioritized.

VWS has, and always will, welcome people of all backgrounds, races, and genders.

Deliberate effort has been made to editorialize these tweets out of context by adding unrelated articles. The original tweet shared regarding the release of prisoners was in reference to the release of 117 violent offenders with attempted murder charges on November 26th, 2023. As a survivor of gun violence who lost a loved one to a violent murder, I unequivocally oppose the release of violent offenders and have advocated on this issue multiple times.

In regards to the particular post made claiming that neither I nor the Vegan Women Summit supports women, I am compelled to address the allegations made against myself and the VWS community.

It was claimed that we did not make the effort to take down images of this particular person on the stage at the Vegan Women Summit in 2022. This is patently false. While we are legally under no obligation to remove any images or videos, as stated clearly in our Terms & Conditions that every speaker has to approve, we went above and beyond to scrub our digital footprint of this person’s image out of respect for their wishes. The text messages can be found here .
It was claimed that this speaker was not compensated for her time at the summit. This is not accurate and the speaker’s requested premium-class flight receipt can be found here and the speaker’s hotel receipt can be found here .

I find it especially unfortunate that these blanket statements slandering both myself and the Vegan Women Summit have not only spread wildly inaccurate lies that undermine the years of work and effort that all of our team and community members put into our mission to uplift women, but these statements have also been inspiring strangers to threaten violence against myself and those around me.

As a result, I have had to take legal action to protect the safety of myself and others.

This is not the first attack levied against me, and I’m sure it won’t be the last. The senseless, ceaseless bullying has got to end. Everything I stand for, and everything our community of hundreds of thousands of professionals stand for, focuses on uplifting women and creating a more compassionate future for people, animals, and the earth. Anyone who says otherwise is severely misguided.

-Jenny

For all further inquiries please contact candice@frenchpresspr.com

Plan Your Visit to The Vegan Women Summit 2024

Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:34:47 GMT

Plan your visit to #VWS2024

The highly anticipated Vegan Women Summit is set to make its smashing return to the West Coast, taking place at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood on May 9-10, 2024.

What to expect at #VWS2024

Celebrate International Women's Day By Honoring These Women Leaders

Fri, 08 Mar 2024 08:15:28 GMT

JOIN US IN CELEBRATING THESE WOMEN MAKING HISTORY

Join us in celebrating these 150 women building a kinder, more sustainable world!

Celebrate International Women's Day with our exclusive offer! Get 20% off tickets to #VWS2024 for a limited time here.

Activists

Athletes

Chefs

Creators

Doctors

Entertainment

Executive Leaders

Fashion Innovators

Industry Builders

Investors

Media & Event Leaders

Nonprofit Leaders

Political Leaders

Restauranteurs

Scientists

Meet the VWS 2024 Scholarship Awardees

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 23:09:12 GMT

Congratulations to The Vegan Women Summit 2024 Scholarship Awardees. With applications from so many changemakers from around the globe, we’re excited to have these awardees join us at this one-of-a-kind event. Meet our class of scientists, entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, and activists by browsing the list below!

Thank you to our incredible #VWS2024 Host Committee for making this possible.

Celebrate International Women's Day with our exclusive offer! Get 20% off tickets to #VWS2024 for a limited time.

MEET THE VWS 2024 SCHOLARSHIP AWARDEES:

2024 Summit Speaker & Panel Voting

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 03:01:00 GMT

VOTE FOR SPEAKERS • VOTE FOR PANELS

We’re pleased to announce our 2024 speaker and panelist finalists for The Vegan Women Summit in Hollywood, California.

With hundreds of applications from speakers all over the world, we’re excited to showcase leaders from across a wide variety of industries. All are eligible to vote with a voting deadline of 11:59pm PT on Sunday, February 11, 2024.

Speaker and panel voting is now closed. Thank you for voting!

SPEAKER VOTING

PANEL VOTING

VWS Awards: Woman of the Year

Sun, 07 Jan 2024 00:14:25 GMT

Join us in celebrating the remarkable achievements of the Woman of the Year finalists at the VWS Awards, taking place live at The Vegan Women Summit on May 10th, 2024, in Hollywood, California. These women have left a lasting mark on the world through their dedication, vision, and unwavering commitment to creating a kinder, more sustainable world for all. Meet our finalists below.

VWS Awards: Founder of the Year

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 08:23:30 GMT

Join us in celebrating the remarkable achievements of the Founder of the Year finalists at the VWS Awards, taking place live at The Vegan Women Summit on May 10th, 2024, in Hollywood, California. These founders are empowering women and are making a meaningful impact on the planet and animals, with an unwavering commitment to creating a kinder, more sustainable world for all. Meet our finalists below.

VWS Awards: Creator of the Year

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 08:01:38 GMT

Join us in celebrating the remarkable achievements of the Creator of the Year finalists at the VWS Awards, taking place live at The Vegan Women Summit on May 10th, 2024, in Hollywood, California. These creators are using their social media platforms to empower women and are making a meaningful impact on the planet and animals with an unwavering commitment to creating a kinder, more sustainable world for all. Meet our finalists below.

VWS Awards: Innovation of the Year

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 19:55:58 GMT

Join us in celebrating the remarkable achievements of the Innovation of the Year finalists at the VWS Awards, taking place live at The Vegan Women Summit on May 10th, 2024, in Hollywood, California. These innovations are making a meaningful impact on the planet and animals, with an unwavering commitment to creating a kinder, more sustainable world for all. Meet our finalists below.

VWS Awards: Nonprofit of the Year

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 17:22:56 GMT

Join us in celebrating the remarkable achievements of the Nonprofit of the Year finalists at the VWS Awards, taking place live at The Vegan Women Summit on May 10th, 2024, in Hollywood, California. These nonprofits are empowering women and are making a meaningful impact on the planet and animals, with an unwavering commitment to creating a kinder, more sustainable world for all. Meet our finalists below.

VWS Awards: Company of the Year

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 17:15:12 GMT

Join us in celebrating the remarkable achievements of the Company of the Year finalists at the VWS Awards, taking place live at The Vegan Women Summit on May 10th, 2024, in Hollywood, California. These companies are empowering women and are making a meaningful impact on the planet and animals, with an unwavering commitment to creating a kinder, more sustainable world for all. Meet our finalists below.

VWS Awards: Best Place to Work

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 16:43:12 GMT

Join us in celebrating the remarkable achievements of the Best Place to Work finalists at the VWS Awards, taking place live at The Vegan Women Summit on May 10th, 2024, in Hollywood, California. These workplaces are empowering women and are making a meaningful impact on the planet and animals, with an unwavering commitment to creating a kinder, more sustainable world for all. Meet our finalists below.

VWS Awards: Ally of the Year

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 08:12:22 GMT

Join us in celebrating the remarkable achievements of the Ally of the Year finalists at the VWS Awards, taking place live at The Vegan Women Summit on May 10th, 2024, in Hollywood, California. These men are empowering women and are making a meaningful impact on the planet and animals, with an unwavering commitment to creating a kinder, more sustainable world for all. Meet our finalists below.

The 2023 VWS Holiday Gift Guide

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 22:28:10 GMT

See the 2023 VWS Holiday Gift Guide!

The holidays are fast approaching, and we've sought out the best woman-founded sustainable and vegan brands to include in this year’s VWS Holiday Gift Guide . Scroll through the this year's guide below and discover 60+ of our favorite woman-owned sustainable and vegan brands. Plus, we’ve curated some special VWS exclusive discount codes as a thank you to you, our subscribers!

Women Founder Wednesday Preview: Mycelium is Growing, Plus Latine-Owned Food Brands

Wed, 20 Sep 2023 16:19:15 GMT

Our top highlights from this week's #womenfounderwednesday newsletter:

Brands to support this Hispanic Heritage Month and always, vegan cosmetics expansion, plus, the mycelium market is growing.

What: Sr Research Associate - Nutrition and Health, Impossible Foods
Where: Redwood City, US
Why We're Excited: Impossible Foods is transforming the global food system by making the world’s most delicious, nutritious, and sustainable products from plants.

Want to feature your job? Email info@veganwomensummit.com to apply.

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Join 30,000+ high-level founders, investors, advocates, & more to get the full weekly Women Founder Wednesday newsletter now by signing up here !

10 Plant-Based Chefs You Should Be Following Right Now

Tue, 15 Aug 2023 16:30:35 GMT

Join us in celebrating this diverse lineup of ten remarkable plant-based chefs who are dedicated to wholesome, delicious, and conscious eating! From visionary restaurant chefs to talented personal culinary artists and inspiring food bloggers, their mouthwatering creations and innovative recipes are redefining the art of plant-based cuisine.

Women Founder Wednesday Preview: 🌱 Innovating Vegetable Oil Production, Vegan Cakes, & Mycelium Leather

Wed, 09 Aug 2023 15:12:11 GMT

Our top highlights from this week's #womenfounderwednesday newsletter:

Upcycling in oil extraction, vegan cakes abound, and animal-free leather for the future.

What: Category Planning Analyst, Upfield
Where: Toronto, Canada (Hybrid)
Why We're Excited: Upfield's vision for a “Better Plant-Based Future” drives positive change in people’s health, their daily lives, and our planet’s sustainability.

Want to feature your job? Email info@veganwomensummit.com to apply.

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Women Founder Wednesday Preview: Plant-based Ice Cream Delivery, Clean Beauty Win for Canada, & Millions for a Resilient Food System

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 15:13:19 GMT

Our top highlights from this week's #womenfounderwednesday newsletter:

Plant-based ice cream delivery, clean beauty win for Canada, & millions for a resilient food system.

VWS Featured Job of the Week:

What: Head of Sponsorships, Vegan Women Summit

Where: Los Angeles, US (Remote)

Why We're Excited: The Vegan Women Summit 2024 team is looking for a mission-driven change-manger to help us bring our Summit to the next level!

Want to feature your job? Email info@veganwomensummit.com to apply.

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Women Founder Wednesday Preview: Alt Protein From Algae, Bags Made of Bananas, & Vegan Parisian Donuts

Wed, 19 Jul 2023 17:02:30 GMT

Our top highlights from this week's #womenfounderwednesday newsletter:

Alt protein from algae, bags made from innovative banana-based materials, & vegan Parisian donuts.

VWS Featured Job of the Week:

What: Head of Sponsorships, Vegan Women Summit

Where: Los Angeles, US (Remote)

Why We're Excited: The Vegan Women Summit 2024 team is looking for a mission-driven change-manger to help us bring our Summit to the next level!

Want to feature your job? Email info@veganwomensummit.com to apply.

Liked this and want the full newsletter?

Join 30,000+ high-level founders, investors, advocates, & more to get the full weekly Women Founder Wednesday newsletter now by signing up here !

10 of the Best Books By Vegan Women Authors to Check Out This Summer

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 21:54:51 GMT

Enjoy a summer reading experience featuring vegan women authors, insightful perspectives, culinary delights, and conscious living. These books offer delicious recipes, thought-provoking insights, and conscious choices, making your summer reading a transformative and inspiring journey. Whether you’re looking for something educational or just want to try out a new recipe, there’s a book for you!

Women Founder Wednesday Preview: Michelle Obama's Vegan Brand for Kids, Animal-Free Modular Homes, & Celebs Go Sustainable

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 19:43:15 GMT

Our top highlights from this week's #womenfounderwednesday newsletter:

Michelle Obama's nutritious juice brand, vegan modular homes, & celeb-owned sustainable companies.

VWS Featured Job of the Week:

What: Head of Sponsorships, Vegan Women Summit

Where: Los Angeles, US (Remote)

Why We're Excited: The Vegan Women Summit 2024 team is looking for a mission-driven change-manger to help us bring our Summit to the next level!

Want to feature your job? Email info@veganwomensummit.com to apply.

Liked this and want the full newsletter?

Join 30,000+ high-level founders, investors, advocates, & more to get the full weekly Women Founder Wednesday newsletter now by signing up here !

The Vegan Women Summit is Hiring: Head of Sponsorships

Tue, 13 Jun 2023 22:55:17 GMT

WANT TO MAKE A BIG IMPACT AND HELP CHANGE THE WORLD? THE VEGAN WOMEN SUMMIT 2024 TEAM IS LOOKING FOR A MISSION-DRIVEN CHANGE-MAKER TO TAKE OUR SUMMIT TO THE NEXT LEVEL!

VWS is looking for a sales professional with industry experience to sell sponsorships for The Vegan Women Summit 2024. The ideal candidate has a background in sales, sponsorships, and/or fundraising. You will be responsible for the complete sales funnel, from lead generation through closing deals, ensuring that sponsors experience a quality, thoughtful experience with the VWS brand and community.

This is a six month contract role with room for growth on the team.

What you’ll be doing:

Generate leads for potential The Vegan Women Summit sponsors.
Convert leads to The Vegan Women Summit sponsors.
Build and maintain a sales pipeline document to hold yourself and the VWS team accountable.
Meet with potential sponsors, partners, brands, etc. that will accentuate and enhance the VWS brand.

What you’ll need to be successful:

Previous sales, sponsorship, or fundraising experience.
A strong network of brand relationships.
Strong excel and/or CRM skills.
Exceptional people skills, with the ability to maintain relationships and close sponsors.
Knowledge in the vegan space is strongly preferred.

This is a 1099 position. We’re accepting applications from individuals from the US and Canada.

Everything You Need to Know Before The Vegan Women Summit 2023

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 21:45:10 GMT

We Can't Wait to See You at The Vegan Women Summit in New York City!

We know you might have a few questions before you join us in NYC, so we’ve put together this helpful blog of everything you need to know as a Vegan Women Summit 2023 attendee!

VWS Pathfinder Women Founder Showcase: Demo Your Brand at The Vegan Women Summit

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 19:04:45 GMT

Apply Now for a Chance to Demo Your Brand for a Limited Time at The Vegan Women Summit 2023 on May 19th

Are you a woman founder or co-founder of small business or early stage company (pre-seed or earlier) creating an innovative product? Take advantage of the VWS Pathfinder Showcase at The Vegan Women Summit in NYC! Enter now for a chance to win an opportunity to showcase your product in the VWS Pathfinder booth at The Vegan Women Summit 2023.

Click the button below to learn more and apply now.

Announcing The VWS 2023 Scholarship Awardees

Fri, 10 Mar 2023 23:23:22 GMT

Congratulations to The Vegan Women Summit 2023 Scholarship Awardees. With applications from so many women changemakers, we’re excited to have women join us from around the world at this one-of-a-kind event. Meet our class of scientists, advocates, artists, and entrepreneurs by browsing the list below!

Learn more and grab your ticket to The Vegan Women Summit 2023 in NYC now:

Meet the vegan women summit 2023 Scholarship Awardees:

Top 10 Investors for Women Founders

Thu, 23 Feb 2023 03:26:05 GMT

Over 120 women founders and CEOs in the food and animal-alternatives industry participated in this year's annual VWS Women Founder Survey, and the results highlight the experiences, challenges, and opportunities for women innovators.

Along with providing the data to power our annual report on The State of Women in the Future of Food and Animal Alternatives, the results of our survey have allowed us to determine the best global early-stage investors for women founders in the plant-based and food technology industries.

Browse through our list below to find out more about the best sources of funding for women founders, as recommended by women founders!

MEET THE BEST INVESTORS FOR WOMEN IN FOOD:

SIGN UP NOW TO GET THE REPORT ON MARCH 13

Our annual report, The State of Women in the Future of Food and Animal Alternatives, provides the industry’s only data around the barriers, challenges, and opportunities facing women founders and CEOs in the industry. We cover the widespread and increasing bias and discrimination faced by women in the industry, while sharing promising data that shows that a growing number of women change-makers are entering the market with exciting, groundbreaking innovations.

Black Woman-Owned Vegan Businesses to Support All Year Long

Sun, 05 Feb 2023 18:28:22 GMT

In honor of Black History Month, we're excited to spotlight ten incredible Black woman-owned businesses that are building a kinder world. We invite you to learn more about these up-and-coming businesses that empower the community while helping to protect our planet and the animals. While we spotlight Black women founders every day at VWS, we've chosen to highlight small business founders this month to help you meet companies you might not know!

Vote For the Speakers and Panels You Want to See at The Vegan Women Summit 2023 in New York City

Mon, 09 Jan 2023 00:29:41 GMT

We’re pleased to announce our 2023 speaker and panelist finalists for The Vegan Women Summit. With hundreds of applications from speakers all over the world, we’re excited to showcase leaders from across a wide variety of industries.

From now until January 22nd, you’ll have the opportunity to vote for your favorite speakers and panels. All are eligible to vote with a voting deadline of 11:59pm PT on January 22nd.

To get started, enter the name of the speaker or panel in the search bar below, or view speakers and panels from the gallery below.

Speakers:

See All Panels

Panels:

See All Speakers

The VWS 2022 Holiday Gift Guide

Fri, 09 Dec 2022 06:21:42 GMT

Check out our annual VWS Holiday Gift Guide, featuring over 50 of our favorite women-founded sustainable and vegan brands in this year’s VWS Holiday Gift Guide. Plus, we’ve curated some special VWS exclusive discount codes as a thank you to you, our subscribers!

Please note: VWS may receive some compensation for affiliate links shared.

20 Women Trailblazing the Future of Food Science

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 17:40:15 GMT

We love celebrating the powerful scientific breakthroughs and innovations being brought by women around the world each and every day. With leading scientists creating the future of food through plant-based, cell-based, and other exciting technologies, we’re thrilled to share some of their stories below.

We invite you to meet 20 incredible women building the future of food at some of the world’s most influential brands, fastest growing startups, and beyond. Then, share their stories on your network so we can re-envision a future for women in STEM — and build a kinder, more sustainable world for us all.

Natasha Dhayagude’s Journey To Disrupting The Natural Preservatives Space Using Mushroom Extract

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 17:10:12 GMT

Natasha Dhayagude comes with a secret guide to nailing entrepreneurship. She is all things fun and all things wise but what makes her truly inspiring is her unique perspective towards life.

Natasha immigrated to Canada at a very young age. Growing up, she longed to choose a novel path. While everyone around her was pursuing traditional roles, Natasha was determined to use her knowledge to solve a real-world problem creatively.

Chinova Bioworks is the brainchild of Natasha and her co-founder David Brown. They aim to answer the unending quench of society for clean-labeled food, beverages, and cosmetics. While mushrooms are a great alternative protein source, she and her team explored the protective qualities of the most commonly produced white button mushrooms. They discovered the potential of upcycling a fiber from the stems of mushrooms and the impact it can have to improve the freshness, quality, and shelf-life of food and, beverages naturally. Chinova is going back to the basics- using nature to protect food.

Growing up, entrepreneurship was never a part of the plan for Natasha as she considers herself to be risk-averse. Before venturing onto this journey, she actively worked with a start-up incubator. She supported upcoming startups with the resources for growth. This job essentially played a huge role in her life to understand the mindset of a CEO and nurtured her to eventually pursue the journey.

Natasha also credits her father for subconsciously building the foundation of entrepreneurship in her life. He never followed a traditional path and always taught her to put on various hats to make her vision of life come true. On the other hand, she saw her mother transition into a new country and environment and quickly adapting to the new norms particularly different from the traditional values back home. This also added to Natasha’s resilient personality.

The pandemic era has provided Chinova Bioworks a platform to cater to the consumers demanding clean-labeled and sustainably sourced alternatives. Consumers are increasingly demanding a safe and continuous supply chain. Being an ingredient company, Natasha acknowledges the challenges her clients are facing due to the pandemic. Therefore, she and her team came up with the idea of providing in-house food safety R&D trials for her clients to help them develop their products successfully. This makes Natasha truly unique as she looks beyond business and highly values her relationships.

Being a woman entrepreneur herself, she has had her fair share of challenges in the initial days of the business when some investors would look to her co-founder for the final decision on key matters. However, she prides on her co-founder’s support who always gave the reins back to her. She now has a team wherein 90% of it comprises women in STEM who hold decision-making roles. She also values all the mentors and people from within the industry who support her constantly.

“Be humble, reflect on yourself, and identify your weaknesses to become a better version of yourself each day.”

Canadian astronaut, Chris Hadfield has had a strong influence on Natasha’s life growing up. She is in absolute awe of how he created a career path for himself that was practically non-existent in Canada. This is where Natasha draws her inspiration to do something novel and make a positive mark in society. She strongly believes in being over-prepared as it helps her alleviate fear and be more assertive in life and she credits Chris Hadfield for having this attitude toward life.

Natasha strongly believes in learning from experts in the field and not viewing them as competitors. Early on in her journey, she learned to define her measure of success by celebrating all achievements big and small but not comparing herself to her competitors. She clearly remembers selling to her first client as a pivotal moment for Chinova Bioworks and her excitement for the company is equally high five years down the line.

Natasha’s life outside of work is equally exciting. She is the social media manager of glampcamp in New Brunswick. An initiative run by her family, it is an ideal vacation setting with geodesic dome accommodations as a perfect means of glamour and camping. She is learning all things Gen-Z while trying to handle the social media for it. Apart from this, her life is taking a pivotal shift as she is also planning her wedding which is to happen later this year.

“Sweat the small things and be overprepared in your journey to alleviate fear.”

She believes in perfecting the minor details but coming across as the most composed and calmest person. Ask her how she would title a book about her life and she immediately says “Learning to swim like a duck”. She frequents the thought of being overprepared without letting the effort seep onto the surface.

She is assertive and determined to address the challenges faced in the food and cosmetics world. Atypical yet relatable is how one would describe Natasha as her vision towards life and entrepreneurship is different but much needed in today’s day and age.

Tracye McQuirter and Helping 10 Million Black Women Go Vegan

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 17:05:32 GMT

Turning vegan can feel like an arduous process. There is constant experimentation with foods that you have no idea how to cook—scrutinizing every food label. Change is daunting even at the best of times, and going plant-based is no different. It is an experience that can be very isolating and challenging without the proper guidance or support group to help you on your journey.

One person that knows the value of community is Trayce McQuirter. Community is a theme that has followed Trayce throughout her life. It has shaped her opinions on feminism, civil rights, and veganism. Wherever she has been, there is a group of supportive, like-minded people behind her.

Creating her own community with the 10,000 Black Vegan Women Movement, Tracye has established a community to help Black women make the transition to a plant-based lifestyle. Now with over 15,000 members, Tracye has her sights on her latest project: the 10 Million Black Vegan Women Movement.

Raised by a strong-willed mother, Tracye recalls her mother's hardships as a Black woman living in 1930s North Carolina. It was a life littered with racism and sexism. Not just from the outside world but at home. Growing up on a farm, Tracye's mother was born into a world where children were supposed to be seen and not heard. As someone that knew what it felt like to be forced into a stereotypical sexist mould, Trayce's mother made it a point to give her daughter the freedom not afforded to her.

“My mother vowed if she ever had children, they would be able to say what they want.”

Despite the rough rural life, the habits of farm life still permeated Tracye's life in the urban metropolis of Washington DC. She fondly recalls the herbs and vegetables that her aunt and grandmother grew in their backyards. Surrounded by a tight-knit group of strong women, they nurtured Trayce's independence.

While healthy living always played a role in her mother's life, Trayce despised it — a plate full of Brussel sprouts and broccoli was the last thing on her mind. Trayce's love was political activism. Injustice was something she was always aware of. Her mother was quick to point out the embedded racism and sexism found on television or in the media. Even when faced with the untimely assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X, Tracye was undeterred in her push to become an activist. She was going to do it regardless.

The penny dropped for Tracye while at college. Enrolled in various liberal arts courses at Amherst College, Trayce attended a lecture hosted by comedian, civil rights activist, and vegetarian Dick Gregory. His words were a turning point — something just clicked. Suddenly, the connection between the civil and animal rights movements became crystal clear. From that moment, Tracye made the conscious decision never to touch meat again.

Tracye considered her journey as a personal one. She felt no need to preach to her friends or force them to convert. This didn't stop her from convincing her sisters. Excited at the prospect of veganism, the girls decided to do some more research. In a time before, this meant that instead of skimming through Facebook to find a viewpoint that validated your own, research meant reading books. So Tracye and her sisters headed to the library to learn the fundamentals of living a plant-based life.

Books were a start, but they were dry and clinical. Tracye found there was a lack of real-life experience and no practical guidance. Luckily, Tracye found what she was looking for during her second semester at Howard University. There, she discovered a vibrant and bustling vegan community nestled in the heart of DC. It was everything she could possibly want — stores filled with local fresh produce and a restaurant for every niche of veganism you could think of. Most important of all, there were people. From all walks of life, each person came with their own individual motives for turning vegan. Some were spiritual. Some were ethical. Others were like her own, had motives rooted in the push for racial equality. She absorbed it all like a sponge, happy to be around people willing to share their experiences and knowledge.

Grateful for the various communities that influenced her life, Tracye looked for ways to give back as her mother taught her. Knowing the inherent link between the Black community and chronic illnesses, such as heart disease and diabetes, Tracye founded the 10,000 Black Vegan Women Movement.

The 10,000 Black Vegan Movement came into existence to help Black women transition into veganism by offering an array of resources, including fitness classes, meal plans, and a six-week transition course. The goal was to make the transition to a plant-based lifestyle as easy and accessible as possible.

The launch was not easy, however. Right after Tracye’s campaign got off to a good start, the pandemic hit. There was a stutter and stumble as the lockdown forced her close-knit team apart; however, they managed to find a silver lining. With the rise of COVID-19, there also came a greater interest in a plant-based lifestyle. With the virus affecting so many, people sought ways to improve their overall health and help mitigate underlying health conditions. As always, Tracye jumped at the chance to help. Quickly, the movement gained momentum and became a self-sustaining community of 15,000 women. Health benefits were seen across the board, with women reporting drops in cholesterol, blood pressure, and improvement in mental clarity.

But it was not all glory. Looking after the welfare of so many others, Trayce neglected her own. Like for so many of us, Trayce's 2020 was littered with personal tragedies. Losing a friend to cancer and a family member to COVID, Trayce's physical and mental health took a serious blow. She flung herself into her work, spending between 24 to 72 hours awake at a time.

Reflecting on the recklessness of her actions, Trayce is now in a better place. If it is one thing the pandemic taught her, it is the importance of self-care. Now training every day and with her sleep pattern in check, Trayce tells people that despite what societal pressures dictate, your success should not come at the cost of your personal health.

Tracye’s advice to women founders: “Trust yourself and understand that most of the doubt you feel is outside of you and is from societal influence. Your self and your person is rooting for you.”

With the restrictions of the pandemic slowly beginning to lift, the 10,000 Black Vegan Women Movement has now expanded to the 10 Million Black Vegan Women Movement in full swing. Now 55, Tracye has spent 35 years in the activism game and doesn't sugar coat it. Burnout is real. But she doesn't let it stop her. Instead, like she has been doing her entire life, Trayce draws on those around her: to inspire her, to motivate her, and to continue the fight.

Those around her continue to be a source of inspiration, one that undoubtedly will fuel the final decade of her activist career. Setting the ambitious goal of reaching 1 million Black women with her movement, Trayce looks to leave a legacy of a self-sustaining community of women. Much like the one she was born into 55 years ago.

Helene Raudaschl and Trailblazing a Path for Asian Women in Business

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 17:01:22 GMT

If there is one thing we have learned at VWS, it is never to underestimate the power of a mother. Listening to the stories of dozens of women founders, time and time again, it is the matriarch of the family who they cite as their most significant influence. They are their inspiration — the special ingredient that gave them the confidence, skills, and conviction needed to succeed. Nowhere is this more true than Helene Raudaschl.

Helene, the founder of Arlene World , a fast growing plant-based food line out of United Arab Emirates, comes from a long line of food industry lifers. In her early childhood, Helene had developed an extensive palette. She knew the taste of raspberries, blueberries, and smoked salmon back when such things were exotic items in Hong Kong. By the time she hit seven, she was listing European cheeses like nobody's business.

Helene's memories of the summer holidays weren't lazy days lounging on the couch watching cartoons. Instead, Helene was learning the business, while shadowing her mother, a pioneer at the forefront of Hong Kong's food importation. Helene loved every second of it, absorbing every wise word her mother had to offer.

Recounting her mother's journey in vivid detail, Helene based her success on the blueprint laid out by her mother. The two share similar personalities. Both are strong-headed women with unwavering conviction with a passion for food quality and satisfaction.

Helene paints her mother as a conquering hero, and rightfully so — trying to succeed in the male-dominated food industry is no easy task. Add being a mother of two and a culture that constantly seeks to pigeon-hole women into the housewife role, it is easy to understand why Helene speaks of her mother with such reverence.

With her mother the leader of a food empire, Helene knew that she would take over the family business one day… just not right away. She wanted to carve her own path. Deciding to head to Singapore, what was meant to be a two-year stay became 24 years after Helene joined Indoguna Singapore.

But her mom wasn't left in the lurch for long. Recognizing her expertise, Helene brought her into the fold along with her co-founder, an Indonesian Chinese divorced mother of four, who faced the same adversity as her mother. Together with Helene's sister, the four women formed a supergroup of women founders ready to change the world.

While her mother influenced Helene's early career, her son Max is currently shaping her opinions. Upon returning home on weekends while conscripted to the Singapore army, Helene wanted to provide the best food she could for her son. A keen basketball player, Max had always been health conscious. Inspired by the Netflix documentary The Game Changers, Max wanted to give the plant-based diet a shot to see if what Arnold Schwarzenegger and Dotsie Bausch were extolling lived up to the hype. Approaching her son's lifestyle change with an open mind and wanting to provide the food variety she had been gifted as a child, Helene decided to give it a try. The result was a not-so-pleasing experience. Plant-based options were hard to come by in Singapore at the time, and what there was, was horribly bland, giving Helene flashbacks to the Buddhist religious festivals of her adolescence. Knowing that she could do better, Helene began planning what would eventually become Arlene.

COVID accelerated the process. The business was booming before the pandemic. But with production stalling, Helene and her team found themselves with much more free time on their hands. Looking to beat the lockdown blues, they began designing their plant-based range. Helene came to the project with the ethos and ethics instilled by her mother. Quality first, with her own addendum of having as much variety as possible. Now Arlene lives up to Helene's initial vision, delivering a delicious array of plant-based meals from various cuisines.

Arlene World's target is not the hardcore vegan — rather plant-based skeptics. She admits that the prevailing thought in Asia is that plant-based equals bland. “Veggieterrible” is a staple of people's vocabulary. Adopting a level-headed approach to the dismissal and derision of plant-based culture, Helene doesn't want to cram veganism down people's throats. Just take it one meal at a time. As for the hot button topic of whether plant-based products should be emulating their meaty brethren, Helene's philosophy is whatever gets more people eating plant-based. Satisfaction is key. If that means making a veggie patty that looks and tastes like a quarter pounder, so be it.

Challenging people's perceptions of plant-based appears to be Helene's end-game as she enters the back end of her career. She has inherited the Gen Z approach of environmentalism, where the small changes we make to our dinner plate are the key to saving our planet. But Helene is by no means done. Arlene is set to continue its work at proving plant-based is best, looking to capitalize on Singapore's hawker culture with its own line of quick-serve restaurants, as well as preparing for their expansion into the North American market. While her path may be laid out before her, Helene continues to use the perspectives of generations past and present to excel.

Armetha Pihlstrom and Her Journey from South Side Chicago to Plant-based Leadership

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 16:40:46 GMT

While every founder and senior leader likes to paint their story as a fairytale narrative, Armetha Pihlstrom is one of the few where the term rags to riches is not hyperbole. Born on the south side of Chicago, Armetha’s hometown was tarred with the infamous Chi-Raq moniker. Where others saw gang violence and crime, she saw beauty, community, pride—a place where even a rose could blossom from the concrete. This is Armetha’s story.

Breaking Out and Building a Career

Despite Armetha’s love for her mother, her city, and the village that helped raise her, Armetha knew she couldn’t stay in Chicago. Her life had stalled with no hope, no purpose, and no plan. With nothing but a garbage bag full of clothes and a dream of a better life, Armetha hopped on a Greyhound heading for Minneapolis. And so began the start of what would become an illustrious career and a mission to build a diverse and equitable future of food.

Like many folks, Armetha’s first few weeks in Minneapolis were spent couch surfing with relatives until she got her first opportunity, a telemarketing role. Her ambition was enough to impress the interviewer, who would later become her husband. A woman devoted to family, Armetha cites her husband, Thomas, as one of her key influencers, helping her earn her GED, a Bachelor’s degree from Carlson School of Business Management, and eventually a Master’s degree from the University of Minnesota. Twenty-five years later, their relationship is as strong as ever, passing their beliefs of God, family, and being the representation you want to see onto her other greatest influence, their son, Isaiah.

With Minnesota as her new home, Armetha found herself at ground zero of the racial injustice movement that has swept the globe since the death of George Floyd. Yet, for Armetha, this is nothing new, but rather a reality harder to deny in the social media age. While she welcomes the push for diversity that has accompanied the Black Lives Matter movement, she knows a performative gesture when she sees one and, instead, stresses the value of long-term relationships with communities of color, such as her early relationship she cultivated between Impossible Foods and entrepreneur superstar and CEO of Slutty Vegan, Pinky Cole.

“Any company can say Black Lives Matter... But then I look at your board of directors, your promotions, and your representation of people of color communities. When I look at the leadership, and I don’t see representation of color, then I feel like you are being disingenuous and I am giving you the side-eye.”

Lifting Others and Bringing Inclusivity to Industry

Armetha considers herself a multiplier who is willing to pass on her knowledge, and if she doesn’t have what you’re looking for, she knows someone who does. She is a firm believer in being the change you want to see. Don’t wait for an invitation to sit at the table. Bring your own chair. It is a mentality that she carries into her work and an example of an abundancy mindset approach towards her career, a theme often shared in our VWS conversations. There is always space at her table—one now surrounded by an array of different folding chairs. It is through this approach and priority, Armetha shares, that inclusivity of underrepresented communities can be achieved in the industries working towards food systems change.

Armetha’s positive attitude and determination have brought her much success, including roles at Cargill and Impossible Foods—experiences which she looks back upon fondly as a stepping stone for her professional journey. Perhaps the best example of her multiplier effect in action, during Armetha’s tenure at Impossible, she created a first-of-its-kind role at the company by dividing her role to report partially to each sales, social impact, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Building off of each role, Armetha continued her career as a foodservice leader, even founding her own company, Pihlstrom Consulting Group, in 2017 and joining the Plant Based Foods Association as a Board Member. One of Armetha’s core pieces of wisdom for other women, particularly women of color, and their careers is a simple one which she shares without trepidation: "Leave each place better off than how you found it, but move on when you are not being valued."

Building Accessibility in the Plant-based World

In her newest and most exciting role yet, Armetha made her way to Future Farm and began her role as Sr. Director of Foodservice Sales for US & Canada. The company ticked all of her boxes: passion, purpose, and mission, all aligning with her personal goals. With only a few months at the company, Armetha has become fully immersed in its Brazilian culture. If she isn’t flicking through Duolingo learning Portuguese, she is passing on both her Chi-town street smarts and book smarts. Armetha is a multiplier, after all. Her brief time at the company has already altered her mindset, leaving her questioning America’s workaholic culture.

When asked what makes Future Farm most exciting, Armetha points to the leadership’s focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. As “outsiders”, the team doesn’t adhere to the traditional mold of a food company and the team has made a rare commitment from the outset of the company’s launch to build diversity and equity into the company from day one, including diverse leadership, talent development, and recruitment. CEO Alexandre Ruberti explains what his vision for Future Farm is and how they are approaching change in the food system through inclusivity:

"Launching Future Farm in the U.S., we have a big opportunity to democratize the category by offering premium products to consumers. Our mission is to change the way the world eats meat, by giving people delicious options to choose meat from plants, and not animals.

It is quite the honor for us to have Armetha part of our team. Her industry experience and personal passion to make an impact on our communities and overall food system is invaluable; it's something we don't take for granted and will continue making a priority, as we build our team and brand, moving forward.”

The mission is clear and Armetha and her team remain focused, ready, and raring to tackle food inequality. Following the strategy of democratizing the category, her goal is also to make our products available in the the 7/11’s, the street corner bodegas, the mom-and-pop shops, the places most accessible to the less affluent. Armetha sees smaller stores as key proponents in ending food inequality and making plant-based products accessible for all. Together with Future Farm, she looks to provide plant-based food that is accessible and affordable for everyone.

Sandhya Sriram, PhD

Sat, 05 Nov 2022 19:56:41 GMT

Dr. Sandhya Sriram is the Group CEO and Co-founder of Shiok Meats Pte. Ltd., Singapore, the first cell-based seafood & meat company in Southeast Asia and the first cell-based Crustacean company globally. With her at the helm, Shiok Meats has raised USD 30 Million in funding since its inception in 2018, from a global suite of investors - USA, Europe, Singapore, Japan, South Korea to name a few. Shiok Meats also acquired Gaia Foods, a cultivated red meat company, headquartered in Singapore as well.

A stem cell biologist and scientist by training and education, a former business development professional, a serial entrepreneur, and a thought leader - all in one - Sandhya was recently named as part of the 2021 class of Bloomberg New Economy Catalysts and as one of Forbes Women in Tech.

She is also an advisor, mentor and investor to trailblazing Food Tech start-ups and has spoken at leading industry conferences worldwide. A proud mother to an 8-year-old, a conscious lifestyle blogger, and an avid traveller, Sandhya likes to call herself a productive juggler. She is extremely passionate about ecosystem building.

Sandhya has over ten years of experience working with muscle, adipose, cells, and stem cells. After graduating with a Ph.D. from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, Sandhya pursued her postdoctoral work at A*STAR in Singapore. Following four years of postdoctoral work, she took up business development at a research institute.

Charity Morgan

Fri, 28 Oct 2022 18:22:46 GMT

Chef Charity Morgan is most certainly more than a chef, as the many professional athletes and celebrities she has cooked for will attest. Chef Charity Morgan provides vegan meal preparation to several NFL players, and celebrities across the board. She is also known for single handedly catering a 100% plant-based menu for Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth’s intimate Nashville wedding. Chef Charity Morgan has been featured in several media outlets including ESPN, Sports USA Today, NFL Network, and The London Times just to name a few, highlighting her awesome homemade meals that have encouraged professional athletes to educate themselves, improve their athletic performance and their overall health.

As a lover of food, and self proclaimed foodie, her goal is to assist people in making an easy transition from animal products to well balanced vegan meals. She does this by providing nutrient rich and savory easy to follow recipe's along with educating about the benefits a plant-based lifestyle has on the body and overall well being.

Emily Deschanel

Fri, 28 Oct 2022 18:16:29 GMT

Emily Erin Deschanel is an American actress. She portrayed Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan in the Fox crime procedural series Bones (2005–2017).

Deschanel is a vegan and a supporter of animal rights causes. She has said she went vegan after watching the film Diet for a New America. She collaborated with PETA on a video encouraging mothers to raise their children as vegans.

In September 2014, she joined the board of directors at Farm Sanctuary.

Deborah Torres

Fri, 28 Oct 2022 18:09:10 GMT

Entrepreneur Deborah Torres turned heads when she turned down an eye-popping $1 million offer in 2019 from billionaire investor Marc Cuban and guest investor Rohan Oza on the ABC television show “Shark Tank.” Cuban and Oza wanted 100% of her vegan fried chicken start-up Atlas Monre. That wasn’t in the cards for Torres and her goal to deliver on healthy, plant-based alternatives to her family’s favorite foods.

Atlas Monroe has since gone on a business growth trajectory expanding nationwide and reaching over millions in sales, fulfilled tens of thousands of orders, and has also expanded to producing more products which include vegan bacon, applewood smoked ribs, deep-fried and stuffed turkeys, signature sauces as well as bakery items and more.

Since the “Shark Tank” episode, Atlas Monroe has acquired its own multi-million dollar manufacturing plant at a two-story, 10,000-square-foot warehouse in San Diego, California.

Alicia Silverstone

Fri, 28 Oct 2022 17:59:23 GMT

Alicia Silverstone is an American actress best-known for her role in the film Clueless. She began her acting career at a very young age and went on to become a teenage sensation and idol. She was also considered to be one of the most appealing actresses in Hollywood after she appeared in an Aerosmith music video, playing a foxy, rebellious teenager. After her excellent performance in the film Clueless, she signed a multi-million dollar deal with Columbia-TriStar and also set up her own production company.

Apart from her career in films, she has also appeared as a matchmaker in a television series titled Miss Match. She is also active in a number of charitable causes. She has managed to present herself as an ideal lifestyle icon by promoting veganism and supporting animal rights. Alicia Silverstone also has her very own plant-based cookbook The Kind Diet .

Tabitha Brown

Sat, 27 Nov 2021 02:47:00 GMT

Born and raised in the small town of Eden, North Carolina, Tabitha Brown is an actor, wife, mother, and vegan influencer. With a whopping 3.3m followers on Instagram, Tabitha shot to fame thanks to her food reviews that showcased her unique blend of honesty and comedy. Her Tik Tok recipes get millions of hits, and fans tune in every week for her live-stream cooking shows, making Tabitha a powerhouse in the influencer world. She is responsible for Whole Food's TTLA breaking the internet and has since become an ambassador for the health food giants Plant-based Living division.

As an actress, Tabitha has made appearances on Freeform's Switched at Birth , Will & Grace , The Ellen Degeneres Show (NBC), Stone Cold Christmas (Netflix), and I am Still Here (now playing on Amazon Prime). Despite all her accomplishments and impressive filmography, what Tabitha loves most is spreading love and helping people change their eating habits to benefit humankind. Today she continues to speak across the United States, sharing her story about how going plant-based has changed her life.

Suzy Amis Cameron

Sat, 27 Nov 2021 02:46:00 GMT

The founder of the One Meal a Day movement and author of The OMD Plan: Swap One Meal a Day to Save your Health and Save the Planet, Suzy Amis Cameron is committed to changing the world's eating habits and expanding the accessibility of climate-friendly healthy foods. It is her passion, one inherently linked with her children, the planet, and her family's health. As someone who grew up deep in the BBQ-loving state of Oklahoma, Suzy recognizes the challenges of getting meat and dairy off the menu, but she knows that even the most minor changes can make a huge difference.

In 2005 she and her sister Rebecca Amis founded MUSE School CA, the first solar-powered, zero-waste school in the United States. The duo would launch MUSE Global in 2018, introducing their initiative to the world.

As an actor in over 25 films, including Titanic and The Usual Suspects, Amis uses her celebrity to change Hollywood for the better. Her Red Carpet Green Dress fashion campaign has partnered with the Oscars to showcase environmentally responsible fashion. She was an executive producer on The Game Changers; the hit Netflix documentary on elite plant-based athletes. And with the help of her husband, James Cameron, Suzy has established a number of initiatives, including Cameron Family Farms, Food Forest Organics, and Plant Power Task Force.

Genesis Butler

Sat, 27 Nov 2021 02:46:00 GMT

A great-niece of Cesar Chavez, activism is in Genesis's blood. Turning vegan at the ripe old age of 6, Genesis went plant-based after learning that the milk she drank came from a mother cow. Now she tirelessly campaigns for animal rights and has traveled across the globe as an ambassador to veganism.

She has snapped up a whole host of awards for her activism, including Vegan Kid of the Year award from Vegans Are Cool, PETA's Youth Activist of the Year, Animal Hero Kids' Sir Paul McCartney Young Veg Advocate award, and the Lisa Shapiro Youth Activist award. Genesis also appears in several documentaries, including Cesar Chavez: Respect for All about her great-uncle, as well as Vegan: Everyday Stories , and The Invisible Vegan, a documentary showcasing the lives of vegan people of color. Getting to live out any comic-book fan's dream Genesis featured as a Marvel Hero on Disney's Marvel Hero Project.

Genesis regularly holds regular talks about her veganism and activism and has traveled from Rome to Paris, Milan, Brazil, and the UK to deliver her message. Despite her whirlwind schedule, Genesis still finds time to be a kid and can be found playing football, sewing, drawing, singing, and spending time with her friends.

Maggie Baird

Sat, 27 Nov 2021 02:44:00 GMT

A long-time vegan, voice actress, screenwriter, musician, singer-songwriter, and activist, is there anything that Maggie Baird doesn't do? Working in every prestigious arena from Broadway to Hollywood to recording her first studio album We Sail in 2009, Maggie's career is a laundry list of life accomplishments that most of us only dream of. Since moving to Los Angeles in 1991, Maggie has featured in numerous shows, including Bones, The X-Files, and Six Feet Under.

Mother to musicians Finneas and Billie Eillish, Maggie's vegan lifestyle has inspired her daughter to follow in her mother's footsteps. Together the two have partnered to launch Seed + Grow, a philanthropic venture that supports 11 vegan restaurants and delivers meals to some of the most vulnerable communities, including major hospitals, homeless shelters, women's shelters, police stations, and senior centers. Maggie is a vegan with a keen eye for protecting our most forgotten and marginalized peoples, giving back, and providing people with the means to live a better life.

Sergeant Nyaradzo Hoto

Sat, 27 Nov 2021 02:43:00 GMT

Nyaradzo Hoto is the commander and chief of the world's only female-led anti-poaching squad. Operating out of Akashinga in Northern Zimbabwe, this vegan team of women is the centerpiece of Terminator director James Cameron's latest film Akashinga: The Brave Ones.

Hoto's own story is one built on trauma and perseverance. A slave to her husband, Nyaradzo, has luckily escaped her past and found peace. Using her trauma, she looks to dedicate her life to protecting those who cannot defend themselves, the growing list of endangered animals.

Leading an elite squad of like-minded women, they are The Avengers of the anti-poaching world, committed to protecting some of the world's most vulnerable creatures. Nyaradzo hopes her actions serve as inspiration to women in the local community, her daughter Tariro and draw more women to her cause.

When she is not out on patrol, Nyaradzo can be found studying. A pupil at the Chinhoyi University of Technology, Nyaraszo, is looking to obtain her Bachelors Honors Science Degree in Wildlife, Ecology, and Conservation. She hopes to gain a better understanding and appreciation of conservation management.

Aisha “Pinky” Cole

Sat, 27 Nov 2021 02:42:00 GMT

Aisha 'Pinky' Cole has led anything but the typical life of a founder. Born in East Baltimore, Maryland, on the eve of her birth, Aisha's father was preparing to begin a life sentence in prison. The complexities of that very moment have stuck with Pinky forever. Yet through sheer grit and determination, Pinky powered through and founded the plant-based business Slutty Vegan. With three stores across Atlanta, Slutty Vegan is not your typical burger joint. With regular hour-long lines of hungry customers eager to stuff a mouth-watering planet-based burger in their mouth, Slutty Vegan is not just the best vegan burger in ALT but the best burger period.

Pinky is as loud and bold as the company she has founded, the highs and lows that have defined her rollercoaster life make Pinky a unique story indeed. She endeavors to help others find their way in life, letting them in on the motto that she holds close to her heart. Nothing beats a failure but a try. This motto proved to be the spark that created the Pinky Cole Foundation, a tax-exempt organization dedicated to building a roadmap for Black economic progress. Now Pinky and her foundation continue to prepare, educate and elevate the Black community through various fundraising and philanthropic efforts.

Persia White

Sat, 27 Nov 2021 02:40:00 GMT

Actor, singer and vegan Persia White is a defender of humans and animals everywhere. After forging a name for herself in Hollywood in the 90s and 00s, Persia landed her biggest role as the lead on CW’s TV comedy series Girlfriends. Founding her own production company in 2011, Persia now dedicates her time to helping break stereotypes and expanding the perceptions of Black Women with Midnight Owl Productions.

Throughout her music and acting career Persia has had the privilege of working alongside some of the best and brightest minds in their respective fields. She has collaborated with members of Pink Floyd, Outcast, and with Saul Williams. As an actor Persia has made appearances on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, NYPD Blue, Vampire Diaries and was reunited with her Girlfriends cast members in Black-ish . She co-starred with a young Ryan Gosling on Breaker High, and has worked alongside Ron Perlman and Kirstie Alley on direct-to-TV films Operation Sandman and Suddenly.

Persia also served as a co-producer on Earthlings, a Joaquin Phoenix narrated documentary detailing the use of animals as pets, food, clothing, entertainment and for scientific research. She also serves as the voice behind the Earthlings follow-up Unity. Persia continues to diversify her film-making portfolio directing the music video Strange Fruit as well as the short film Emotional Landscapes and has produced two others, Revelation and Carousel . Outside her film and music career, Persia campaigns tirelessly for animal rights and serves on the board of The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

Dr. Angie Sadeghi, MD

Sat, 27 Nov 2021 02:38:00 GMT

After jumping to a plant-based diet over five years ago, Dr. Angie Sadeghi has transformed her body and health through regular exercise and eating a whole-food plant-based diet. Struggling with various health problems, including high cholesterol, fatigue, and severe eczema, Dr. Angie turned her life around with a few simple lifestyle changes. She got into the best shape of her life and even snagged a place at the podium of a fitness competition she entered.

Now Dr. Angie is on a mission to improve people's overall health and quality of life. She understands that there is no one approach to dealing with the health issues that spring up later in life and offers a range of services tailored to each individual's needs. A diplomate to the American Board of Gastroenterology and extensive training from the University of Southern California, Dr. Angie uses her expert knowledge of the digestive system and her passion for fitness and nutrition. Dr. Angie has developed a comprehensive plan to help her patients with chronic illnesses and lead healthier lives.

Dr. Angie makes an appearance in several documentaries on plant-based fitness for health and weight loss. She was recently published in Vegan Health and Fitness Magazine, and her latest book, Trifecta of Rejuvenation and Health , is now available.

Tracye McQuirter

Sat, 27 Nov 2021 02:37:00 GMT

Vegan activist, public health nutritionist and bestselling author Tracye McQuirter is converting people to a plant-based lifestyle, by any greens necessary.

As the CEO of Any Greens Necessary, Tracye has advanced and popularised the plant-based diet further than she could have ever possibly imagined. Her two books By Any Greens Necessary A Revolutionary Guide for Black Women Who Want to Eat Great, Get Healthy, Lose Weight, and Look Phat (Chicago Review Press) and Ageless Vegan: The Secret to Living a Long and Healthy Plant-Based Life (Hachette Book Group) have turned countless people vegan thanks to there digestible content and easy-to-follow advice on making the otherwise daunting transition from meat to plant-based.

Tracye is the leader of 10,000 Black Vegan Women movement, a campaign that has successfully turned over 15,000 women onto the vegan diet as a means of taking back control of their health. She has also spearheaded the first ever federally funded vegan nutrition program with the Vegetarian Society of DC Eat Smart Program.

Tracye continues to have praise and awards heaped upon her for her dedication to the betterment of people's health and as an advocate of the plant-based diet. She has been inducted into the US Animals Rights Hall of Fame and is the recipient of Farm Sanctuary's Compassionate Vegan Living Award. Her work has appeared in USA Today, BBC, Forbes, The New York Times, The Washington Post, NBC News and Ebony.

Alissa White-Gluz

Sat, 27 Nov 2021 02:37:00 GMT

The frontwoman for heavy metal band Arch Enemy, Alissa White-Gluz is as powerful in the animal rights activist world as the riffs she rocks on stage. A lifelong vegetarian before going vegan, not a single ounce of meat has touched Alissa's lips, thanks to her vegetarian parents. She has been a vegan for over 20 years and continues to use her platform as a heavy metal rockstar to encourage compassion and responsibility amongst her fans.

When she isn't touring and performing 250 nights a year, Alissa is out campaigning, out at marches and rallies. For her years of animal activism, Alissa has won awards from PETA and even hosted the Official Animal Rights March in New York City. Alissa continues to be a strong female figurehead for veganism in the metal world, working alongside Misfits's Doyle as a rep for Vegan Monster Protein and continues to advocate for veganism through various forms, including her Instagram and Patreon page.

Denise Woodard

Sat, 27 Nov 2021 02:37:00 GMT

Founder and CEO of Partake Foods, Denise Woodard, stands on the frontline of the food equity and equality movement. After her daughter was diagnosed with severe food allergies, Denise grew increasingly frustrated with the lack of safe snacks for her daughter to enjoy. Ditching her corporate job at Coca-Cola, Denise strode out on her own to create Partake, determined to solve Vivienne's snacking problem. Now one of the leading vegan cookie companies, Partake offers a delicious array of soft and crunchy plant-based cookies, all organic and allergen-free.

Denise has made it her personal mission to raise awareness and create opportunities for female and black entrepreneurs. Using the business empire she has built for herself, Denise founded The Black Futures in Food and Beverage Fellowship. A program designed to grant budding Black entrepreneurs the opportunity to work with some of the food and beverage industry's most influential brands.

When Denise isn't crafting delicious cookies or cutting down food inequality, she is blogging. Find Denises's thoughts on motherhood, bridging the pay gap, and what Whole Foods products she is devouring on the Partake Blog.

Like so many other great founders, Denise is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with a BA in Interpersonal & Organizational Communications Studies, as well as MBA in Supply Chain Management from Arizona State University, W.P. Carey School of Business.

Kimberly Elise

Sat, 27 Nov 2021 02:36:00 GMT

Kimberly Elise is an award-winning actor with a three-decade-long career spanning both screen and stage. Getting her start in the Minneapolis stage theater scene, Kimberly eventually made the jump to LA to chase her dreams. There she found success debuting in the action-packed thriller Set it Off and has since gone on to appear in Tyler Perry's Diary of a Mad Black Woman, Beloved, and The Manchurian Candidate . Kimberly can also be seen as a series regular in producing legend Jerry Bruckheimer's legal drama Close to Home a nd most recently starred alongside Brad Pitt in the psychological science fiction drama Ad Astra . She is the recipient of four NAACP image awards, Movie Guide Awards, Chicago Critics Awards, and has received a number of BET Award for Best Actress nominations.

When she isn't acting up a storm, Kimberly is blogging. Built with the help of her daughter and a few family friends, Kimberly launched Kimberly Elise Natural Living at a time when she was feeling the full brunt of the toxicity of the internet. What was once a means of personal escape is now a hotspot for vegans providing info on everything from delicious plant-based recipes to skincare and hair care tips.

Daniella Monet

Sat, 27 Nov 2021 02:35:00 GMT

Nickelodeon kid star turned-influencer-turned-podcaster, mother, restaurant owner, and make-up designer Daniella Monet is an ethical entrepreneur seizing every second of every day to make herself and the world a better place.

Most famous for playing Trina Vega on the Nickelodeon kids TV show Victorious, Daniella continues to be a mainstay in the TV giants programming, appearing in See Dad Run, Nicky Ricky Dickey & Dawn , Cousins for Life and is the host of the reality TV Show Paradise Run. She is also the host of Adulting Like A Mother Father, where she and husband Andrew Gardener navigate the highs and lows of the crazy and unpredictable world of parenting.

Partnering alongside Harry Potter star and fellow vegan Evanna Lynch, Daniella is the co-founder of Kinder Beauty, a plant-based beauty care subscription box which was recently voted Best Beauty Subscription Box by USA Today Readers. If that wasn’t enough to keep her busy Daniella also runs Sugar Taco, the much raved about hot spot amongst the plant-based community looking to score a tasty taco in the heart of LA.

Daniella is a social media mega-star with 4.3 million followers on Instagram and 1.5 million twitter followers. Her YouTube video views are in the tens and hundreds of thousands. She has cornered the market when it comes to sage parenting advice, workout tips and generally being the best version of yourself.

Emma Hurst, MP

Sat, 27 Nov 2021 02:35:00 GMT

A member of the New South Wales Animal Justice Party and Member of Parliament, Emma Hurst puts animal welfare at the forefront of her political career.

For 15 years, Emma has campaigned for animal protection and has worked as the campaign director for Animal Liberation and as a media officer PETA. During her time as MP for NSW, she has launched and chaired an investigation into animal welfare legislation's failures and an inquiry into the use of battery cages in egg production, pushing for the unethical means of production to be phased out.

Emma's latest goal is harsher sentences laws for acts of animal cruelty. In her eyes, such acts should be classified as a form of domestic abuse. Emma also continues to fight against the use of animals for entertainment, looking to impose a statewide ban on the practice that sees exotic animals confined to small spaces and forced to carry out mindless tasks that provide little educational benefit. Emma is looking to push parliament to launch an inquiry into the cruel practice. She is a long-time vegan and plant-based athlete.

Dr. Amie Breeze Harper

Fri, 26 Nov 2021 23:44:00 GMT

Founder of Critical Diversity Solutions, Dr. Amie Breeze Harper, is a forerunner in the fight for equity, equality, and inclusivity.

Providing all the tools needed to produce a more inclusive working environment, Critical Diversity Solutions offer a series of lectures, conferences, and workshops focusing on anti-racism, racial inclusion, and racial-gender equity with intersectional framing. Basing their curriculum on systems and history, CDS shines a light on the conscious and unconscious biases that plague many workplaces and office spaces. Their How Systemic Racism Impacts Inclusion and Equity , and How Gendered-Racism Impacts Workplace Belonging workshops are some of the most popular modules, especially among corporations looking to adopt a more inclusive work environment.

Amie has recently joined Climax Foods working as a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisor. There, she is helping to align ethical food commodities with political, social, and racial justice for marginalized peoples.

Successful author Amie has penned two books, including Scars: A Black Lesbian Experience in Rural White New England (Sense Publishers) and Sistah Vegan: Black Female Vegans Speak on Food, Identity, Health and Society (Lantern Books).

Amie continues to be an advocator for various causes in the fields of food health and education, working with The Pollination Project, Occidental College, the Toronto Vegetarian Society, Middlebury College, Handpick food mobile app company, Boston University, PetSmart Charities, FoodFirst, Mercy for Animals, A Well Fed World Foundation, and Chairman Mom. She holds an MA in Educational Technologies from Harvard University, and a Ph.D. in Cultural Geography from U.C. Davis.

Sonalie Figueiras

Fri, 26 Nov 2021 23:33:00 GMT

The founder and editor-in-chief of Green Queen Media, Sonalie Figueiras, is the physical embodiment of a green queen. She is a media mogul that is shifting consumer behavior to an environmentally conscious perspective through inspiring and informative content.

The go-to site for the hottest plant-based news, Green Queen Media is Asia’s largest award-winning sustainability media platform. Tackling everything from alt proteins, wellness, and sustainability, to in-depth interviews with the biggest names in the plant-based industry, Green Queen Media offers anything and everything you could possibly need to know about the plant-based world.

But Sonalie’s success does not stop and start with Green Queen, she is also the founder of Ekowarehouse, one of the first global B2B platforms for organic products. About to enter its ninth year of operation, Ekowarehouse connects suppliers and buyers from over 120 countries. When she isn't running her media empire, Sonalie hosts A Zero Waste Journey podcast. Together with co-host Regina Larko, the duo chat with the entrepreneurs and innovators leading the zero waste movement sweeping Hong Kong.

Sonaile is a 2x TEDx speaker, a 2019 GEN T Honoree, and a University of Pennsylvania graduate. She has been featured regularly in Market Insider, The Huffington Post, SCMP, China Daily, HK Economic Times, CNN, Yahoo Finance, CNBC and TVB Pearl & Food Navigator USA.

Karuna Rawal

Fri, 26 Nov 2021 23:26:00 GMT

With 25 years of experience transforming brands and an Emmy to her name, Karuna Rawal knows everything there is to know when it comes to building a brand. As the Chief Marketing Officer of Nature’s Fynd, Karuna is helping create versatile alternative proteins in a bid to feed our growing population. Where others have picked peas, or chosen chickpeas as their go-to protein, Nature Fynd’s protein base for its food range is the humble fungi. Found in the hot-springs of Yellowstone National Park of all places, the fungi was discovered as part of a NASA funded experiment. Through the use of ground breaking fermentation technology, a little bit of Yellowstone can be found in every Nature Fynd breakfast patty and tub of cream cheese.

Recently securing $158 million USD in series A and B funding, Karuna looks to take Nature’s Fynd to new heights as it prepares to build a better sustainable future with its work. She continues to give back to the world, serving as a board member for UNICEF Midwest, Cradles to Crayons, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and the 3% Movement, an organization that spotlights female leadership in the advertising sector. Kaurna is the founding board member for Chief, a Chicago based networking system uniting senior women from various industries with the goal of enacting top-down change.

Karuna is a Northwestern MBA graduate and an alumni of The Wharton School with a BS in Economics.

Kimberlie Le

Fri, 26 Nov 2021 23:16:00 GMT

Determined to enact positive change and transform our global food system, Kimberlie Lie is the co-founder and CEO of Prime Roots.

A life long foodie and daughter to a famous chef and restaurateur, Kimberlie was once an avid meat lover. After learning of the environmental costs of her eating habits at college, Kimberlie searched for an easy and effective way to help the planet, ultimately deciding to ditch meat. Trying to branch out and satisfy her inner carnivore, Kimberlie was utterly disappointed with what she found in alternative meat aisles, most of it bland, boring, and pulverized into a protein isolate sapping it of beneficial vitamins and minerals. Kimberlie knew that there had to be a better option out there, one that was uncompromising in both taste and texture.

Using her skills as a microbiologist and her foodie brain, Kimberlie came up with the outstanding meat substitutes that have propelled Prime Roots to success. Now Prime Roots is a game changer in the plant-based market, making everything from their rich and comforting mac n’ cheese range to their unbelievable lobster ravioli. While their products seem decadent and fancy, the philosophy of Kimberlie and Prime Roots is elegantly simple, sustainable, transparent, educational, and empathetic. Through her work Kimberlie looks to build a tight knit community that will continue to educate and support others as they change the world.

Lucy Tabrizi

Fri, 26 Nov 2021 22:54:00 GMT

If you want to get an idea of Lucy Tabrizi’s core philosophies in life, look no further than the name of her film production company. Entitled the emphatic Disrupt Studios, Lucy’s goal is clear: challenge the norm, disrupt the system and fight for those who are unable to defend themselves.

Rising to prominence with the Netflix mega hit Seaspiracy, Lucy is one half of the duo behind the shocking documentary exposing the devastating impact overfishing and commercial fisheries are having on our oceans. Working alongside her husband Ali, Lucy was the editor and lead cinematographer on the film. Her work has been received well by critics and audiences alike, with Seaspiracy receiving a 74% rating from film aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes, as well as a 7.7/10 rating on IMDb. The documentary has also managed to break into the Top 10 most watched Netflix shows in over 30 countries.

Lucy has earned a Bachelor of Laws from Queensland University of Technology, a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Queensland, and a Graduate Diploma of Business and Accounting from Queensland University of Technology. Prior to being rocketed to superstardom Lucy served as an Office Manager for Vee Design and Steelcad Drafting and as an Accounts Assistant for the risk consultancy firm 4most.

Vegan Women Summit ®

Introducing THE 2100 SUMMIT: Redefining the Future Together

What will life look like in the year 2100? How will we live, work, and thrive on a better, more sustainable planet? This Earth Week, join us to shape the answers .

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Tabitha Brown: America’s Mom, Vegan Advocate, and Social Media Sensation

Discover how Tabitha Brown captivates nearly 10 million followers with her unique approach to veganism, her latest New York Times bestselling book, and her vibrant Target collaborations.

9 Beauty Brands Driven by Inspiring Women

These beauty brands are committed to cruelty-free practices, avoiding animal testing and animal-derived ingredients. These brands prioritize quality skincare, haircare, and cosmetics without compromising on ethical standards.

Plant-Based Nuggets Outperform Chicken Nuggets in Blind Tasting

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VWS Celebrates the Team Behind NECTAR

A Message of Promise

10 Women-Led Vegan Restaurants to Check Out

Recap of The Vegan Women Summit 2024

Highlights from Vegan Women Summit 2024: A Celebration of Innovation, Unity, and the Power of Women

Statement in regards to recent allegations on social media against my person and Vegan Women Summit (VWS) as an organization.

Plan Your Visit to The Vegan Women Summit 2024

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Celebrate International Women's Day By Honoring These Women Leaders

Join us in celebrating these 150 women building a kinder, more sustainable world!

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Meet the VWS 2024 Scholarship Awardees

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2024 Summit Speaker & Panel Voting

We’re pleased to announce our 2024 speaker and panelist finalists for The Vegan Women Summit in Hollywood, California.

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The 2023 VWS Holiday Gift Guide

See the 2023 VWS Holiday Gift Guide!

Women Founder Wednesday Preview: Mycelium is Growing, Plus Latine-Owned Food Brands

Our top highlights from this week's #womenfounderwednesday newsletter:

10 Plant-Based Chefs You Should Be Following Right Now

Women Founder Wednesday Preview: 🌱 Innovating Vegetable Oil Production, Vegan Cakes, & Mycelium Leather

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Women Founder Wednesday Preview: Plant-based Ice Cream Delivery, Clean Beauty Win for Canada, & Millions for a Resilient Food System

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Women Founder Wednesday Preview: Alt Protein From Algae, Bags Made of Bananas, & Vegan Parisian Donuts

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10 of the Best Books By Vegan Women Authors to Check Out This Summer

Women Founder Wednesday Preview: Michelle Obama's Vegan Brand for Kids, Animal-Free Modular Homes, & Celebs Go Sustainable

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The Vegan Women Summit is Hiring: Head of Sponsorships

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Everything You Need to Know Before The Vegan Women Summit 2023

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Announcing The VWS 2023 Scholarship Awardees

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Top 10 Investors for Women Founders

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Vote For the Speakers and Panels You Want to See at The Vegan Women Summit 2023 in New York City

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The VWS 2022 Holiday Gift Guide

20 Women Trailblazing the Future of Food Science

Natasha Dhayagude’s Journey To Disrupting The Natural Preservatives Space Using Mushroom Extract

Tracye McQuirter and Helping 10 Million Black Women Go Vegan

Helene Raudaschl and Trailblazing a Path for Asian Women in Business

Armetha Pihlstrom and Her Journey from South Side Chicago to Plant-based Leadership

Breaking Out and Building a Career

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Sandhya Sriram, PhD