Merkel said the biggest difference between the agribusiness/energy sectors versus food/nutrition is the opportunities for women and strong female representation. She highlighted the prevalence of women in leadership roles and opportunities for women like herself to advance.
“In my experience, one of the really refreshing things about the food and nutrition sector is the prevalence of women across leadership,” she said. “I think that’s a big difference that I’ve noticed versus industrial segments is I didn’t have to fight for a seat at the table in this space. And a lot more opportunities opened up to me in the food and nutrition space that I don’t think are typically available in other segments.
She also discussed the evolution of sustainability, noting the contrast between true believers focused on authentic, long-term stewardship and those who simply view it as a compliance issue. She emphasized how consumer trends, particularly among younger generations, are now driving the importance of sustainability and sustainable brands, pushing the food industry to adapt.
The conversation also explored how this diversity drives innovation, particularly in women’s health products. Merkel noted that it is an exciting time as she sees more products catering to women’s needs and anticipates further advancements in women’s health research and clinical trials in the next five years. She expressed optimism about the progress being made to address the historical lack of attention on women’s experiences and priorities in the industry.
