Small Business, Fancy Food and NASFT President Ann Daw’s Advice for Women in the Food Industry

Ann Daw, President of the National Association of Specialty Food Trade (NASFT),  is an impressive person. The former highest ranking female at Phillip Morris International and the highest ranking female executive at Kraft in the U.S. She speaks with intent–an east coast sensibility–and kind eyes. She carries the confidence of a woman who has held very senior positions in mostly male dominated industries.

She runs the food industry’s premier gourmet foods event the Fancy Food Show, produced by the NASFT. Since 1955, the Fancy Food Shows have been North America’s largest specialty food and beverage marketplace. Between the Winter Show in San Francisco and the Summer Show in New York City, the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade events bring in more than 40,000 attendees from more than 80 countries to see 260,000 innovative specialty food products, such as confections, cheese, coffee, snacks, spices, ethnic, natural, organic and more.

My former client Sukhis, who is a consistently high performer in the sofi awards competition put on by the National Association of the Specialty Food Trade, is one of the most popular exhibitors at the Fancy Food Show.

I loved working with Sukhis because of my fondness for the gourmet food industry, small business (esp. family-owned) and culture. That being said, I found out about the NASFT through Sukhis, and was excited to attend my first conference this year. What I didn’t realize was how many women have left corporate America for second careers pursuing their passion. The gourmet industry is an industry with much entrepreneurial opportunity.

At this year’s west coast installment of the Fancy Food Show I had the opportunity to sit down with Ann Daw.

Ann Daw, President of the NASFT

With their D.C. show just around the corner, consider Ann’s insights around running the biggest specialty food association in the country, being a woman executive and why the gourmet industry is a great one to be in.

Blake Landau: How is running the fancy food show a different challenge than when you  were at kraft foods or Phillip Morris?

Ann Daw: Running a member based organization with 2900 members, we’re focused on serving all the different categories of members  in their stages of development.  Our members are very special in that they  are passionate about food. They bring their ideas to the marketplace we help them tell their story. We want the community to be able to connect with one another at the Fancy Food Show.

BL: What are you doing on social media to build a presence and community for your members?

AD: We’re on Facebook, LinkedIn and twitter. We also have online forums for our members where they can discuss industry topics online. We have one for the retailer network, one for family owned businesses and more. That’s how we use social. We also use food spring.

BL: Does the fancy food show supports women entrepreneurs?

AD: I spend time with new members. Here women and minorities have the same opportunities as everyone else. I host  groups that are just for women. In this organization you find that the passion for food eliminates gender issues. Look at brands like Sukhis. They’ve done a phenomenal job. Sanjog Sukhi is a larger than life type of person. She likes to deliver honest feedback about her entrepreneurial experience, specifically social media. Other companies learn from her experiences with Sukhis and she enjoys sharing them.

BL: What advice do you have for young women in business who are in male dominated fields?

AD: You make decisions that make sense for you and fate takes you the rest of the way. I never felt disadvantaged. I got to have the experiences that I wanted because I asked for them.

People think of it as unusual in a US context. I was the highest ranking female at Philip Morris International and the highest at Kraft, and working abroad was a very different animal.

In Europe (even in marketing) women don’t rise to high ranks as they do in the U.S.

My advice for women is never compromise your principles. You have to know what the game is but play it in a way that you feel good about, not feeling like ‘I don’t think that was right.’

For more on the upcoming D.C. conference visit the Fancy Food Show website found here.

Role Models, Media and Breaking Rules

When I was a kid I was always in search of teachers.

I was [am] insatiably curious, and grew up mostly without the internet, so I found my mentors mostly in books–the authors and the characters.

I was “different”….and still am.

And when it came to television I never identified with the characters I was supposed to. Most of it written by people who are generations older, and most of it is written by men. How can a grown man know what it feels like to be a young girl/woman?

I watched television as if looking at a sociological experiment. Example of my thought bubble, “I suppose this is what normal human beings my age are supposed to enjoy. Isn’t that interesting [insert genuine unpretentious and curious tone here].”

Back to the books.

I lost myself in Margaret Atwood, Isabel Allende, Jennifer Weiner, Anne Lamott, Geneen Roth and Anita Diamant. I read books that were written for grown women. I wanted to be grown. I remember reading Ernest Hemingway’s “Garden of Eden,” a story that explores themes of androgyny, and thinking the female character Catherine Bourne didn’t feel very female–and that the women in the novel were treated with a very unfeminine and unsympathetic callousness that is necessary to bring a character to life.

Ernest Hemingway as depicted in Woody Allen’s film “Midnight in Paris.”

With books the reader is given more freedom to identify with the character of their choosing. With the lyrics to music, television and film, there is less room for your mind to wander. With books you are free to use your wild imagination to watch the characters from the balcony, and mentally insert your own variation on what happens.

The point of this post is to remind you that the world is your oyster. Books allow you to dream up whatever character you would like for yourself. They allow you to fly and swim and dream of a life different than your own.

Books are a treasure chest of truth in what can feel like a sea of plastic.

Does Her Costume Fit Me?

I was at the Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas this weekend looking at music memorabilia. At the hotel are memorabilia including clothes worn by various music artists.

There’s Katy Perry’s outfit from “I kissed a girl,” Britney Spears’ outfit from “Baby one more time” and Christina Aguilera’s costume from “dirty” [this was before Aguilera had kids, gained about thirty pounds and put on a hilarious attitude  on the show The Voice where she's a judge].

There’s also memorabilia from the band Sublime, Sex Pistols, Pearl Jam and more. Comparing the clothing at this hotel in what could be the most gendered fake city in the world, I noticed how tiny and sexy the women’s clothing was, and how tall and thin the men’s clothing was.

My three thoughts when looking at the women’s clothing:

First thought, “would that fit me?”

Second thought, “wow she is much tinier than me.”

Third thought, “Blake, what the hell! You know better than to have this internal dialogue comparing your weight with pop stars. These women are puppets who are told they won’t make it unless they lose weight. You are a writer, not a celebrity. You are too old and wise to fall for these girl-traps.”

But alas we all do it.

I then walked back to the Sublime case of memorabilia, and was reminded of how I loved this band, but how the lyrics were mostly about being a guy, partying, and being tough (in a surfer/skater type of way). Bradley Nowell the songwriter and lead singer of the band didn’t think about what it would be like for women to listen to his music. When I listened to this type of music I never identified with the girl being discussed in the song. I always identified with the guy singing the song. The more I look back at favorite movies, tv or music I often identify with the male character–not as a male, but as a person with brain, with thoughts, with opinions, and with character.

As I grew up I picked pieces of people I liked and admired, and learned to mirror them. I never considered their gender, color, religion or any other things you would fill out on a survey. I was thirsty for people who were interesting, who were authentic, and who could teach me something. So as you set out on your week, especially those of you who are still in school or starting out your careers, my lesson for you is you can pick and choose the characters that you like to create your own narrative. Similar to the choose your own adventure books, you never should take what the media gives you at face value. Be smarter, break rules, and use the free territory of your mind to explore.

Because this is your adventure, and you have the power to choose your own guides, your own role models and your own costumes.

Women Who Take Up Space

When I was a little girl I realized I was different than everyone else. My parents were eccentric–my mom was an artist and painter who always had feminist friends over for coffee though I don’t think any of them would call themselves feminists (or even realized they seemed that way compared to other women). My father was a Jewish psychiatrist.

As I grew older in orange county I soon realized I didn’t fit in. And no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t squeeze myself into the standards of the town I grew up in.

I wasn’t the carefree waify fun loving California girl that was the popular personality at my high school. I hated most of high school–a high school with an award winning football and cheer team. These people seemed to be higher up on the food chain. For most of high school I felt like a bottom feeder. I wish someone would have told me that the bottom feeders generally blossom long after high school.

White Culture

The little contact I had with other cultures at my mostly white school was a glimpse into a world I envied. It appeared in other cultures women were celebrated in a different way.

While I don’t want to generalize here, I saw in other non-white cultures strong female personalities were not silenced. I was looking for examples of women who didn’t use self-effacing tactics to make themselves seem submissive, and women who didn’t put themselves up for sale.

I felt very unhappy and disenchanted with the culture I was submerged in. As I mentioned I am Jewish however we were largely assimilated into Christian culture–something many Jews did after World War II to avoid anti-Semitism.

I wanted to live in a culture where big women didn’t try to make themselves disappear. Where the highest rewards didn’t come from being sexually attractive according to white societies standards.

I wanted to live in a world where the pressures weren’t around appearing perfect and looking perfect. I was looking for meaning, and I only found it in books, film and music. So I became a bit of a recluse in high school. I spent my weekends with friends exploring book stores, cooking exotic food and watching foreign films.

I envied other ritual-rich cultures where celebration and color were applauded, different than how suffocated I felt in the heart of white culture. 

I am not claiming that life is perfect in non-white cultures. From a cross-cultural perspective, women have it hard, and are held to different standards. However there did appear to be more room for variation in non-white culture.

Eventually while I didn’t look like a hip-hop girl I listened to Missy Elliot and Mary J. Blige, listening to the heartfelt  words of their unapologetic and soulful music.

I was interested in seeing non waifish women on tv. Admittedly I watched a lot of the Food Network to find these personalities.

I really wanted out and when I left for college, I never looked back. I moved to New York for five years and came back to California with a different lens.

Today I intend on being part of changing the experience for younger women. With the media’s increasing power and saturation it’s scary to see how easy it is for destructive messages to seep into young women’s minds.

I don’t apologize for calling out the fact that the way we treat women in the media and in our institutions is a problem. Those who read this and roll their eyes can move on, and those who read this and nod their heads can join in.

Women look to the media to understand their place. Women look to the media for cues on social norms–and to see their own potential. We need media outlets that shift the messaging and show women who don’t apologize for taking up space. We need the internet, tv, and the movie industry to allow real depictions of women, rather than just hypersexualized underfed hollow women. It’s time.

 

Woman work: holding contradictory ideas in her mind.

A sane woman must have an ability to hold two contradictory ideas in her head at the same time, and understand which one is truth.



Examples of contradictory mainstream messaging toward women:

Be confident but don’t be a bitch.

Look attractive but not too attractive.

Look sexy but don’t look like a slut.

Be confident but be submissive.

Be a domestic goddess but don’t be a fat domestic goddess.

Be a lady in the streets and a freak in the….

Well you get the idea. And thanks to the media the perpetuation of these ideas are gaining power.

Unfortunately the place these messages hurt us the most is our sense of self, and in turn, our careers. Women still earn an average of 23% less than their male counterparts. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. To attain real power and real freedom women need financial independence and stability.
That means we need to make more money, and save more money.

One doesn’t have to look far to notice the hyper-sexualization of women’s bodies in the media. You have to wonder, where are the women at the top who are putting their stamp of approval on this messaging? Would they want their daughters to participate in this circus show?

I heard something interesting this morning on the phone with a friend who is a little older than me. She said that every time we make strides in one area, there is a backlash. And with the political climate the way it is toward women, their bodies, and their decisions, you have to wonder if my friend is right. Hillary Clinton runs for president, and then we have the government threatening to take away woman’s right to choose, and the option to have birth control at all.

A world where women are not a part of the global decision making process around how societies should run is not a world we want to see.

Here are six of my own observations about how women sabotage themselves in the workplace.

Like me?
As hard as this may be, I am a big proponent of boundaries. At work your boss and the people you work with are not your friends, they are your coworkers. While we are focused on being liked, often the extent we go to to be liked actually takes us away from our core projects, and we are either running around like headless chickens to do it all, or we miss things on our actual work. Additionally, focusing so much on being liked is very distracting. You can’t build your career around being likable. We have to let this go if we want to be successful and if we want to be leaders.

Women wait to be called on in meetings.
Ladies, you can’t be afraid to speak up in meetings. If you don’t speak no one will know you have opinions. Speaking can feel highly risky, but it’s also highly rewarding. Often introverts have the best ideas because they’ve been listening. Speak your ideas.

Women couch their opinions in questions.
Why do we do this? It makes us sound weak and unsure, when we are the opposite. Show your muscles. Be loud and proud ladies. Don’t couch your opinion in a question. State it. Don’t be afraid of the pauses and the silence around the statement. Sit with it.

We allow ourselves to be scapegoats.
A CIO once told me that leadership is about managing perceptions. It has been said that when something goes wrong and a woman is blamed, she won’t stand up for herself. Don’t let the people around you disrespect you that way. I don’t propose you get defensive, or put other people down, but state the facts. This type of thing shouldn’t happen in the workplace but it does. If it happens more than once, leave and get a better job in an environment where you will be supported.

We use minimizing language.
We all do this and we need to be more aware of when we do. Words such as like, kind of, sort of, maybe. These are credibility diminishers. When you communicate your ideas be firm and direct.

We ask permission.
It’s better to ask forgiveness than ask permission. Use your best judgement and do what you feel is right. Leaders don’t ask for permission.

Ladies if we want to advance in the workplace we need to be strong leaders for ourselves. Remember the workplace is a game. You need a strategy, you need to think big picture. Don’t live in your head. See the broader battlefield.

We need to be aware of the contradictory messages we are sent, and know what is real truth. We need to stop inflicting violent thoughts toward ourselves, particularly our bodies. Self-defeating self talk will result in self-defeating behavior. Be strong! I know you have it in you!

Five Blogging Tips That Won’t Disappoint Mr. Sloth

When I was at the University of California, Santa Cruz–the days before blogs were as mainstream as they are today–I was still keeping a very tumultuous LiveJournal. Luckily I was also spending my energy  at UC Santa Cruz’ press room with our teacher Conn Hallinan from the City On A Hill Press.

All the editors would sit in a circle as he critiqued each article. It was a lesson in proof-reading, editing, and most days–grammar. We were lucky to have him. It’s a luxury to have an editor.

With blogging, most of us don’t have coaches or a second set of eyes to offer constructive feedback on each post. We have to use our best judgement, and hit that sometimes daunting “publish” button without knowing if we’re on the right track. I’m happy to share the following five tips no matter where you are on your blogging journey. And if you’re just curious about the sloth reference, scroll to the anthropomorphic sloth at the bottom of the blog.

1. Open with a bang. You want to send the message to the reader straight away that they are in for a treat. Think of your blog like you’re working a cheese kiosk. If the customer takes a sample of your cheese and it’s delicious (let’s say it’s jalapeño pepper jack–yum!) it’s more likely your prospect will buy your cheese. Blogging can feel a bit like selling. You need to the experience engaging, and provide value to the reader. Win them over at first bite.

2. Don’t feel like you have to write an essay. In our ADD world we are competing with a billion other people for our reader’s attention. You don’t have to include the whole cook book in there. Sometimes Seth Godin’s blogs are only a few lines, and they’re very impactful. Size doesn’t matter!

3. Take time to get inspired. You don’t have to write about what everyone else is writing about just because you feel like you have to take a position. Good writing comes from the heart. On that note spend time outside of your head. Many of us spend way too much time in our head and not enough time in our hearts. Yoga, meditation and exercise (like running or dancing) can help get you out of your head. Try to spend at least 30 minutes a day doing something that is not cerebral. Remember our minds can deceive us.

4. Proofreading! Reread what you write. If you are too impatient to read over your work–every word–before publishing, you need to come back to your blog tomorrow. Trust me there are days I’ve felt like publishing without giving my work a once-over. But the truth is the longer you spend on the blog, the better the blog will read. The easier the blog reads for the reader, the harder the writer worked to make it that way. Good writing takes practice, patience and consistency. Watch out for spelling mistakes like “loose” versus “lose” or “there” “their” “they’re.” Misusing these words makes us look sloppy.

5. Write about something that won’t get you fired, upset your spouse, or send the FBI after you. Our blogs are the most public communication most of us will participate in. I encourage you to assume everyone you know is reading your blog. I am not saying you shouldn’t be yourself, but I am saying you should be cognizant that people will read your stuff, and you need to feel confident in the nature of the content.

And if you screw up, read this article to make yourself feel better. Fail, feel, learn and get back on your feet asap! Here’s #12 of the 33 disappointed animals.

A Dress Change Will Do You Good

Have you ever said to yourself, I’ll be happy when I do X?

X could be….lose ten pounds, get this job, this car, this house, this wedding ring and so on and so forth.

The truth is none of us knows what will come tomorrow.

I’m telling you not to wait. It’s time for us to stop waiting around for X to be happy tomorrow. It is my personal belief that to flow with the natural current is to drive in the  direction of our individual truth.

Last week I was reminded that human resilience in the face of failure determine one’s ability to thrive (thanks to an inspiring speech from Jane McGonigal at the LINC conference).

I’ve been contemplating change–and how, according to Buddhist thought–the root of suffering is attachment. If we all let go a little we will find life to be more pleasurable. It’s not about controlling what happens around us, since that’s impossible. It’s how we deal with that constant change; how we embrace impermanence.

अनिच्चा ,  अनित्य ,  མི་རྟག་པ,  無常,  無常,  무상,  อนิจจัง
Here you see the word “impermanence” in several different languages

In Japanese the word Henkaa means “change.”

The word Henkaa inspired one entrepreneur to create a dress company with the mission of empowering any women, of any size, in any situation to express their uniqueness through convertible fashion that changes.  

Henkaa recognizes that all women are different. Our bodies are different, our preferences are different and our life events are different.

In the spirit of change, Henkaa created a dress that can be worn more than 21 different ways. Pretty amazing right?

The dress is very versatile, and could be called the real “traveling pants,” as this dress actually looks good on everyone.

It comes in every color on the planet. The folks at Henkaa were kind enough to give me a Henkaa dress to review, and as I wore this soft fabric I contemplated change, and how I was going to embrace it in my own life at every step [or dance] of the way. (The dress is made of a polyester and spandex knit material which is stretchy and machine washable. It does have a slight metallic sheen to it).

Just like the Henkaa dress, we need to wear a versatile attitude, one that allows for environmental changes. I received the Henkaa dress in the Sakura style  in slate blue. I love periwinkle, and in an effort to embrace spring, I was very attracted to this bright  purply blue. I love blue because it’s the color of the ocean, and I always find it to have a calming effect.

Here’s my take on the halter style.

Here’s my take on the one shoulder style.

This is the actual slate blue dress.

You will never get bored with these dresses. This dress is the most versatile thing I have in my wardrobe and will keep me company all summer long.

Don’t miss this video where the lovely Jo-Henkaa’s founder-shows us 21 ways to wear this convertible Henkaa. It comes in different lengths, sizes and plus size is coming soon.

Find Henkaa on Facebook, Twitter at @IHeartHenkaa or Pinterest.

*This blog post was sponsored by Henkaa who provided me this dress.

Thoughts on how to live

While I don’t want to be one of those women that tell other women what to do, as I go through my own challenges I find it valuable to share my experiences–perhaps you are going through the same thing in your own life.

When I take bart to SF every morning I enjoy reading, and sometimes writing notes on my phone. I’m still a fan of journaling even after all these years, and I have all my journals from 8 years old on up (I hope no one ever reads these). Thanks for your readership and your comments. Please feel free to share your own challenges and opportunities this week.

Thoughts on how to live

Nostalgia:

Nostalgia can kill. Everything looks different when you’re looking back. Don’t look back. Look where you are today and think about how it will get you to where you want to be tomorrow, in two years, in five years and so on and so forth. It’s ok if you don’t know where you want to be. Life will take care of you if you have faith in tomorrow.

Light it up:

In a rut? Ask yourself what lights you up. What is the one thing that you lose yourself in, where work doesn’t feel like work? Now think about how you can make money for yourself doing it. It’s possible, very possible.

Drama:

Many of us are used to a certain amount of drama in our lives. But drama is an energy drainer, and keeps you distanced from all the nectar of life. Drama only makes the day to day more cumbersome. Drama distracts us from our focus. Cut out the drama, create the room for meaningful authentic rejuvenating experiences.

On personality:

I’ve been reading the book The Power of Quiet, and while my friend Genna doesn’t believe me, I am mostly introverted. I became a talker as a kid out of survival/ social acceptance. But even as a kid I was always a thinker and a writer who preferred the pen to the microphone. This book The Power of Quiet reminds me that being quiet, reserving your energy and listening, can be powerful. Now with social media and blogs introverts can now be heard in a different way. It’s not always the loudest person anymore that gets heard.  Embrace being an introvert even if it doesn’t feel like it’s what everyone else is doing.

Meditation:

Meditate. Even just 3 minutes interspersed throughout the day coupled with slow breathing can truly change your mindset. Learn to visualize relaxing spaces. Close your eyes and contemplate your organs. Move your energy from your third eye down to your toes. I realize this sounds creepy, but it’s actually quite a relaxing exercise. Feel free to lay down on the floor for this one.

Fashion:

Wear what you feel like wearing. We are not celebrities and this is not an edition of a makeover show. This is your life and you should wear what makes you comfortable.  Some days that might be loose jeans and flats and other days it’s heels and a skirt. It’s always about how YOU feel.

On feeling like crap:

Every day is another opportunity. We all have good days and bad days. The key is to keep going. Keep doing the things that give you strength. Often when we’re growing it can be painful at first, but over time you learn to enjoy yourself. Keep moving past the insecurity, self-doubt and pain. On the other side of that is something powerful. The only thing between you and success is you. Get out of your own way and learn to enjoy the journey.

And just for fun if you have time watch this TedTalk on introverts from Susan Cain