Women in CPG Series 2025 Recap: Thriving in Transformation
This fall, Naturally Network’s Women in CPG Series convened women founders, executives, operators, and partners from across the U.S. for a multi-week exploration of leadership, growth, and change in today’s CPG landscape.
Held across six sessions over several weeks, the series featured 25+ women speakers and welcomed 970+ total registrations, representing 540+ unique registrants. Nearly two-thirds of registrants were founders or senior leaders, with 38% identifying as founders or CEOs, highlighting the series’ relevance for women actively building and scaling CPG brands. Year after year, attendees tell us this is one of their favorite programs we host — not only for the insights shared, but for the sense of connection it creates across the ecosystem.
Presented by Vividly and supported by NIQ, this year’s theme — Thriving in Transformation — explored how women are navigating uncertainty, scaling with intention, and redefining leadership in CPG on their own terms.
Vision, Values & Velocity: Women Leaders Shaping the Future of CPG
The opening session featured Nikki McNeil, Co-Founder of Vividly; Kristel Corson, Chief Revenue Officer at Adams Group; and Michelle Lorge, Chief Marketing, Innovation & Mission Officer at Simple Mills.
The conversation centered on what it actually takes to scale without losing oneself — or the mission — in the process. Nikki emphasized that leadership isn’t about individual wins, noting, “It’s not about personal success. We need each other to pave the way so we can collectively win together.”
Kristel added a personal layer, sharing that showing up as a strong leader is inseparable from taking care of yourself — that burnout and overextension ultimately limit how effectively you can lead others. Michelle echoed this sentiment through the lens of vulnerability, speaking candidly about how being open and human as a leader can build trust, alignment, and stronger teams during periods of rapid growth.
Together, the session grounded growth not in pace alone, but in sustainability — personal and organizational.
From Pivot to Power: Reinvention Stories from Women at the Helm
This session brought together Tracey Warner Halama, CEO of Supergut; Dara Wax, Founder & CEO of SAM+LEO; Shireen Khera, Founder of Hey!Hunger; Anica Wu, Founder of Bonjerk; and Beth Morris, Vice President of Product Insights at NIQ.
The conversation explored reinvention as both an external shift and an internal reckoning. Anica spoke candidly about how much of her journey has involved “fighting myself — proving to myself, not just the world, that I belong in this space.” Her reflection captured a familiar experience for many women navigating change: the quiet self-doubt that can surface even after years of experience, especially when stepping into something new.
Building on that internal tension, Dara reframed self-care as a necessary foundation for reinvention. She described it not as isolation, but as balance — sharing that “self-care is also about community,” and that growth often comes from moving between solitude and meaningful connection. Her perspective reinforced that sustaining change requires support systems, not just resolve.
Rather than positioning reinvention as a single bold leap, the session framed it as an ongoing process of recalibration, trust, and support.
Scrappy and Scaling: Women Founders Winning in a Lean Capital Era
This session featured Caroline M. Freedman, Senior Leader of Supplier Marketing & Advertising at Whole Foods Market; Emily Cole Groden, Founder & CEO of Evergreen Waffles; Elexis Schroder, President & CEO of SchroderHaus; Lori McDonald, Owner & President of Norsland Lefse; Yasameen Sajady, Co-Founder & CEO of Maazah; and Kara Posner, Partner at Giannuzzi Lewendon, LLP.
While funding was part of the backdrop, the conversation focused on decision-making under constraint and the kinds of day to day choices founders must make when cash is tight. Founders shared how lean conditions forced sharper focus — prioritizing fewer SKUs, delaying expansion, and making trade-offs earlier than they might have in a more forgiving capital environment. Several speakers reflected on how these constraints clarified what truly mattered in their businesses.
Caroline offered perspective from the retail side, reinforcing that clarity and consistency often matter more than scale when brands are navigating growth conversations. Kara grounded the discussion in reality, reminding founders that understanding legal and financial obligations early can prevent costly missteps later — especially when resources are tight.
What emerged was less about scrappiness as a badge of honor and more about discipline: knowing when to say no, how to protect cash flow, and how to build at a pace the business can actually sustain.
Boardroom Bound: Power, Preparation & Pathways to Advisory Seats
This session featured Kierstin Rielly, CEO of Women On Boards Project; Linda Boardman, CEO of Bragg Live Food Products, LLC and Board Member at Oregon Ice Cream; Nancy Pak, President and Board Chair at Columbia University and Board Chair at Daily Crunch; and Ilay Karateke, Co-Founder & CEO of BEZI.
The conversation centered on how women gain access to board and advisory roles, and how board opportunities often materialize through relationships rather than formal processes. A central theme emerged around visibility and advocacy. Nancy emphasized that being “seen” doesn’t always mean speaking louder; sometimes it means finding the right people who will advocate for you, recommend you for opportunities, and lift others up in the process.
The conversation reinforced that board access is rarely transactional; it’s built through trust, reputation, and community.
She Built This: Disruption, Daring, and Doing It Anyway
This session brought together retail leaders Jennifer Wandler, Executive Director of Growth Solutions at KeHE Distributors; Rebecca Stephens, Local Program Manager at Fresh Thyme Market; and Loan Heilner, Director of Merchandising at FreshDirect, alongside founders Molly Moon Neitzel, Founder & CEO of Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream; Anie Rouleau, President of The Unscented Company; and Helen Russell, Co-Founder & Executive Chair of Equator Coffees.
The conversation explored what it actually takes to build brands that challenge category norms — and the partnerships required to bring those ideas to shelf. Founders spoke about taking creative risks and staying true to their vision, while retail partners reflected on the importance of alignment, readiness, and trust.
Rather than framing disruption as overnight success, the session highlighted patience, persistence, and the willingness to educate both retailers and consumers over time. Growth, as several speakers noted, is rarely linear — especially when you’re trying to build something different. Bold brands are built through courage and sustained through aligned partnerships.
Equity at the Core: Contracts, Compensation & Company Culture
The final session featuring Hannah Law, Chief of Staff at SPINS; Ariana Tolka, Co-Founder & CEO of Balkan Bites; Jean Thompson, CEO of Seattle Chocolate Company; and Hillary Hughes, Chair of the Business Group at Foster Garvey PC examined what equity looks like in practice.
Speakers reinforced that equity isn’t aspirational — it’s operational, showing up in contracts, pay structures, leadership pipelines, and everyday decisions, especially amid political and cultural headwinds. Ariana shared reflections on negotiating partnerships that reflect true value, while Jean spoke about embedding equitable practices long before moments of transition or exit.
Hillary brought a legal lens, emphasizing that equity is often reinforced — or undermined — by the fine print. Hannah tied the discussion together by reinforcing that equity isn’t theoretical; it shows up in systems, incentives, and who ultimately has access to opportunity.
Watch the Series On Demand
Thank you to all our speakers, partners, and members who made another year of Women in CPG a success! Recordings from every session in the Women in CPG Series are available for free on YouTube:
Beginning in 2026, these sessions will live in Naturally Network’s CPG Academy, a free educational resource available to all Naturally Network members.
Women in CPG 2025 was brought to you by Vividly and supported by NIQ. Vividly is a trade promotion and deduction management platform trusted by 2500+ CPG professionals. Did you know? Naturally Network members get 3 complimentary data reports from NIQ.
