IFT Women's Resource Group

Have you or a colleague made significant and impactful contributions to IFT and the broader science of food community? We invite you to nominate yourself or someone you know for the 2025 Class of IFT Fellows and IFT Achievement Awards! IFT Fellows are recognized for their exceptional careers and significant contributions to the field of food science. Learn more about the criteria and submit your nomination today—applications close January 15, 2025: https://hubs.la/Q02WWf5g0 #IFTCelebrates #ScienceOfFood #FoodSystem

Positively reshape your professional and personal lives by integrating DEIB (diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging into your work, relationships, and engagements. Join our free webinar tomorrow, November 5 with DEIB visionary Brandon Maxwell! Learn strategic insights to amplify DEIB and help build a thriving future of food. Hone proven strategies to help ensure everyone in your life experiences a profound sense of belonging and respect. Sign up for Tuesday's webinar now before time runs out: https://hubs.la/Q02WSrVX0 #DEIB #DiversityAndInclusion

Looking to meaningfully integrate DEIB (diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging) into your work, relationships, and engagements and help build a future of food that thrives? Don't miss our webinar on November 5th! Join DEIB visionary Brandon Maxwell as he shares strategic insights for amplifying DEIB within your career and environments. You'll learn how to hone proven strategies, ensuring everyone around you experiences a profound sense of belonging and respect! Sign up today for the free webinar: https://hubs.la/Q02Wfqy40 #DEIB #DiversityAndInclusion

We’re looking forward to this webinar on November 5 from 11 AM to 12 PM CT, featuring DEIB expert Brandon Maxwell. Achieving an environment where everyone feels valued and respected is possible. This session will offer practical strategies to help you get there. Join us! Register: https://lnkd.in/gGuBjTrN

✨Spotlight of the Month✨ The IFT Women's Resource Group is thrilled to share the inspiring story of Pratishtha Verma Pratishtha Verma is a Dairy Ingredients & Applications Specialist at the Center for Dairy Research (CDR), University of Wisconsin-Madison. As a #program coordinator, she supports #process optimization, #product development, and application strategies for #dairy ingredients, cultured products, and powders. She also contributes to educational short courses at #CDR. An active member of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), she leads the resource library and dairy food magazine teams within the #dairy food division and serves as the student competition lead for the product development division. 🌟 How has your #journey in this field been as a woman? My #journey from embarking on Food Science as an undergraduate to delving into #DairyScience during my graduate studies has been nothing short of exhilarating. Ever since I immersed myself in the #dairy sector, I could not envision a different path. My professional endeavors have spanned dairy #microbiology and #productdevelopment, particularly in integrating milk protein into various applications. Presently, my focus remains entirely within the realm of dairy. The experience of exploring diverse processes and facets of product development has been both #remarkable and #demanding. I consider myself truly fortunate to be surrounded by colleagues who have consistently encourage me to excel and have supported me through challenging times. 👩🔬 What is the greatest #hurdle you overcame as a woman in your workforce? Being a #woman in any profession presents a unique set of challenges, and I believe my experiences resonate with those of many women in similar positions. To #succeed and #establish a solid reputation, one must constantly stay vigilant and ahead of the curve, often necessitating an extraordinary level of #effort and #dedication. In my own journey, I have encountered instances where I needed to prove myself, not just through competence, but by going above and beyond the #expectations set for my role. This can be #draining and, at times, overwhelming. Yet, despite the hurdles, the rewards make the effort worthwhile. 🔍 Have you drawn professional #inspiration from other women? I have drawn significant professional inspiration from several remarkable women. First is my #mother, whose #strength and #focus have profoundly influenced me, teaching me #resilience and #determination. Another key figure is my role model in the dairy industry, known for her #outstanding reputation. Reading about her achievements and meeting her a few times provided immense inspiration. Her #powerful yet #humble nature is something I aspire to #emulate in my own career. ✨ What would you tell #young women who are just stepping their foot in this field? Dream big, set #ambitious goals, and remain #persistent! Don't be afraid to take risks, seek #mentorship, and continually #learn and #grow.

✨FREE webinar for IFT/IFTSA members✨ 📊 💰 Have you read IFT’s 2024 Compensation and Career Path Report yet? During this recorded webinar, our report experts will provide a high-level overview on salary, benefits, and career trends for professionals throughout the science of food. Discover current average salaries by years of experience, the benefits landscape for food scientists, and insights that are particularly relevant for you as you transition from student life into your early career. Get your questions answered as you shape your future in the industry! 🔍 Facilitators: Mary Ellen Kuhn Executive Editor, Food Technology at Institute of Food Technologists Moira McGrath President, OPUS International, Inc. Register for FREE today: https://lnkd.in/dJasHAZM

IFT is excited to spotlight a member who has truly embraced all that the community has to offer, both as a student and a professional. Zachary Cartwright, PhD is the lead Food Scientist at AQUALAB (by Addium) and is an active member of our Food Safety & Quality Management Division. He first got involved with IFT as a graduate student at Washington State University and has been leveraging opportunities to connect with peers, gain inspiration, and chart his unique path in the science of food ever since! At this year's IFT FIRST: Annual Event and Expo, he shared this insight on his journey with IFT. Are you a new professional looking for ways to get involved with IFT? Our 25 interest-based divisions offer a great platform for connection and career growth! Learn more here: https://hubs.la/Q02Q9rsW0

🌟 Recognition Series🌟  The IFT Women's Resource Group is excited to share that Chamali Kodikara was awarded the IFT Feeding Tomorrow Fund Scholarship (Gerber Foundation Pediatric Scholarship) and the IFT Graduate Travel Award this year, recognizing her outstanding contributions and potential in the field of food science. Chamali Kodikara is currently a PhD student at the Canadian Grain Commission and the Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, where she is working on Ergot Alkaloids in #wheat. She did her Master's project in Agriculture and Agri-food, in Canada and her project was based on metabolomics-assisted investigation of bioactive compounds in underutilized Canadian #Prairie berries. She also serves as the #President of the Graduate Students Association in the Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences at the University of Manitoba. Chamali actively participates in various student organizations and #contributes to scientific communities such as the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT). Her #leadership roles include chairing the Graduate Students Video Competition at the Institute of Food Technologists Student Association (IFTSA) and representing students in the #Nutraceuticals and #Functional Food Division and International Division. She is an incoming #Board of Directors at IFTSA and will be serving as #VicePresident of Competitions. Chamali is also involved in the Women Resource Group Member Engagement Committee, where she #supports fellow students and emerging professionals. Committed to making a significant impact through her #research and #leadership, Chamali aims to continue her contributions as a student leader in the science of food.

✨Spotlight of the Month✨ The IFT Women's Resource Group is thrilled to share the inspiring story of Tracy Bargman. Tracy has a PhD in Food Science from the University of Nebraska. She has worked at #GeneralMills and #ConAgra Foods. At General Mills, she started in a scientific #research group, moved into the #Sensory Group, and eventually into a #Consumer Insights position. Also, she held several positions at ConAgra with the pinnacle being #VP of Innovation- a group she helped start. She left the corporate world 20 years ago and started an Innovation #Consulting company, T-Catalyst. Her clients include many #Fortune500 and privately held Food and Beverage companies. 🌟 How has your #journey in this field been as a woman? Early in my career, I was surrounded by women at all levels of the organization, both in technical and non-technical functions. I #rarely felt that I was treated differently than men. However, #recognizing that women and men are different can also be important. As a #consultant working with many companies, I found some were more female-friendly than others. #Cultivating individual #relationships made for more successful work, regardless of the environment. 👩🔬 What is the greatest #hurdle you overcame as a woman in your workforce? Learning how to get the #respect of men (and women) who doubted me. I found that when people don’t know you, they make #assumptions. Taking the time to get to know people you work with can help to erase wrong assumptions and forge #relationships of mutual benefit. 🔍 What is the one thing you know now about women and work you wish you had known earlier in your career? Having the #confidence and #perspective to aim high. I was always ambitious and had creative ideas about what I wanted to do, but now I see that I could have been thinking and acting ‘#bigger’. Perhaps other women have the same tendencies- we settle for #small(ish) successes, and find reasons why we don’t deserve or can’t achieve more. 👩🔬 Have you drawn professional #inspiration from other women? It is my good fortune to have many inspirational women around me. I am in awe of their #bravery, #resiliency, and #skill in their respective professions. And I have learned from their leadership behavior. I continue to meet women, some early in their careers, who inspire me with their #intelligence, #work ethic, #determination, and #successes. And, I have 2 daughters with successful careers who also inspire me with their #kindness, #creativity, and sense of humor. ✨ What would you tell young women just stepping foot in this field?  -Don’t #doubt yourself. Your education equipped you with solid skills. That is why they hired you. -Become #wise. Learn everything you can, including the non-technical stuff.  -Make #friends. Get to know your colleagues. -Have a sense of #humor. Mistakes happen, and sometimes you feel like no one listens to you. Don’t take it or yourself too seriously. -Watch for #opportunities and take them!

We're excited to invite you to our FREE webinar on August 22nd from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm CT: Navigating Your Career Path in the Food System: Essential Guidance for Early Careerists Click here to register: https://lnkd.in/gEQY5BDU #newprofessionals #foodystems #science #professionaldevelopment