Shows
Owning Your LegacyRebranding a Family Business: Meryl Kennedy’s Startup Journey to Retail SuccessMeryl Kennedy, CEO of Four Sisters Rice, is reshaping the future of farming with family, sustainability, and purpose. In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Meryl shares how she transformed her father’s commodity rice operation into a nationally recognized consumer brand—while redefining leadership in a male-dominated industry.From launching a cutting-edge rice mill at 21 to securing shelf space in Walmart and Kroger, Meryl’s journey is a powerful example of what happens when legacy meets innovation. If you care about female founders, branding, and building a business with heart, this conversation will resonate deeply.🎙 In...2025-05-0649 minOwning Your LegacyHow Civic Connection Is Changing Chicago | Dan Gibbons of City ClubDan Gibbons, CEO of the City Club of Chicago, believes civic engagement starts with meaningful conversations. In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Dan shares his journey from advising Mayor Richard M. Daley to revitalizing one of Chicago’s most influential civic forums.From uplifting entrepreneurs like Ida Nelson to driving real policy change, Dan’s story is a powerful reminder that change starts locally—and with the courage to connect. If you care about urban leadership, civic innovation, and next-gen change-makers, this conversation will inspire you to lean in, show up, and elevate your city.🎙 In...2025-04-2450 minOwning Your LegacyEmpowering the Next Generation of Women Leaders | Emily Smith of Female Strong & Bespoke CREThanks to Emily Smith’s bold leadership and inspiring mission, thousands of young girls are gaining the confidence to lead, speak up, and own their space—in business and in life.Emily is the Senior Vice President of Bespoke Commercial Real Estate and the founder of Female Strong (https://www.femalestrong.org), a fast-growing, nonprofit organization empowering girls through entrepreneurship, leadership development, and mentorship programs. In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Emily shares how she’s building a national movement to elevate the female economy—starting with girls as young as six.Welcome to Season 9...2025-04-0839 minOwning Your LegacyTransforming Food Waste into Hope with Alan ReedThanks to Alan Reeds refreshingly practical approach to taking on big issues, the Food & Beverage Industry delivered 4 million servings to people facing food insecurity last year.As Executive Director of the Chicagoland Food & Beverage Network and Bigger Table, Alan shares how his team is transforming food industry challenges into community solutions. This episode is all about turning what could be wasted into something deeply meaningful—delivering real, nutritious, culturally appropriate meals while fostering connections that make solutions sustainable.From leveraging food industry resources to tackling systemic issues with creativity and heart, Alan shows us what ha...2025-02-111h 01Owning Your LegacyPassion, Innovation, and the Legacy of Culinary Creativity with Chef Charlie BaggsWhat happens when you combine culinary artistry, food science, and a passion for teaching? You get Chef Charlie Baggs, a leader in the culinary industry who’s redefined what it means to innovate with food. In this episode, we explore Charlie’s groundbreaking work on food as medicine, how the hedgehog concept helped him build a culinary empire, and how he bridges the gap between chefs and food scientists. Whether it’s creating nutritionally inspired training programs or teaching his "BASICS" model for flavor development, Chef Charlie’s insights will inspire you to see food in a whole new light.2025-01-2853 minOwning Your LegacyBreaking Barriers & Creating Opportunity with Cargill's Natalie McGradyNatalie McGrady’s journey from a small town in New York to supplier diversity leader at Cargill is a testament to purpose and determination. Overcoming early discrimination fueled her passion for opening doors for underrepresented businesses. As the youngest of six daughters, Natalie’s fearless resolve led her to break barriers in corporate spaces, championing supplier diversity as a tool for economic empowerment.Known for her commanding presence and impactful approach, Natalie shares how she discovered her voice, navigated systemic challenges, and turned obstacles into opportunities for others.In This Episode:· How Natalie trans...2025-01-1457 minOwning Your LegacyFinding Your Joy & Creating a Profound Impact with Author & Life Coach Jess KaskovIn this inspiring episode, Jess Kaskov, Certified Life Coach, Speaker, and Author, offers a fresh perspective on measuring success and fulfillment beyond traditional metrics, sharing her transformative journey from tech industry stress to discovering and pursuing her true calling. Together, Laurette and Jess explore how to design a life aligned with our passions, prioritize self-care, and make meaningful contributions to the world around us. Jess shares her unique framework for finding joy and purpose: calculating your “Soul Salary”, understanding your "paychecks" of joy, and making necessary "budget cuts" in life. You’re going to really appreciate this practical...2024-12-1745 minOwning Your LegacySmart Money Moves & Raising Resilient Next-Gen Leaders with Sean SeboldSean Sebold, Founder of Sebold Capital Management, took an unconventional journey from English major and college football player to respected wealth management expert. In this episode, Laurette and Sean discuss challenging conventional wisdom about education, success, and building lasting wealth.Throughout the episode, Sean offers fresh perspectives on how to approach major life decisions, from choosing educational paths to building careers and managing wealth. His practical approach to financial decision-making, combined with deep insights about personal growth and the value of failure, provides a unique framework for thinking about both personal and professional success.In...2024-12-0356 minOwning Your LegacyFrom Grape Picker to Global Leader: Authenticity, Innovation & Taking Chances with Paul GrahamThis week, Laurette is joined by Paul Graham, President & CEO of Americas at Döhler and recently appointed FEMA President, who shares his remarkable journey from humble beginnings as a grape picker in Adelaide, Australia, to becoming a transformative leader in the global food and beverage industry.Throughout his conversation with Laurette, Paul shares invaluable insights about authentic leadership, creative problem-solving, and the power of mentorship. Drawing from his extensive experience at Döhler, and his new role leading FEMA (Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association), Paul offers unique perspectives on innovation, industry transformation, and the importance of sa...2024-11-191h 01Owning Your LegacyFrom “You Can’t” to “Watch Me”: Darcy Gaechter on Defying Expectations and Leading with PassionEver been told you can’t do something? Darcy Gaechter’s journey to becoming the first woman to kayak the Amazon River from source to sea is filled with moments when she defied limitations imposed by others and followed her passions.In his episode of Owning Your Legacy, Darcy candidly discusses the challenges she faced being told she was "too small," "too short," or "too female" to succeed. From earning a college scholarship in volleyball to entering the male-dominated sport of extreme kayaking, when someone told her, “You can’t,” Darcy said, “Watch me.” Darcy’s experiences nav...2024-11-0557 minOwning Your LegacyHow the Restaurant Industry Saved Kevin Boehm’s Life. Literally.In an inspiring story of perseverance and passion, Kevin Boehm, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of BOKA Restaurant Group, shares his journey from living in his car to building one of Chicago’s most celebrated restaurant groups.Throughout his conversation with Laurette, Kevin talks openly about the big risks he’s taken, the moments that didn’t go as planned, hitting "rock bottom", and getting the help he needed to make a strong comeback.Kevin reflects on how the restaurant industry gave Kevin a place to call home in contrast to the one he grew up in. And fr...2024-10-221h 04Owning Your LegacyThe Mind Game of Leadership: A Coach’s Perspective on Winning at Life and LegacyThis episode of Owning Your Legacy has Laurette speaking with Robert Pomazak, or “Coach Pom” as he is known by the players of St. Charles North High School, where he serves as head football coach. Coach Pom talks about how he answers the call to be a leader and everything that entails. He discusses his highs and lows as a coach and as a leader—from making a positive difference in the lives he touches to what he calls the “Leadership Gut Punch.”Join us for a discussion about the importance of sports during formative years, the difficulty...2024-09-2435 minOwning Your LegacyThe Power of Perseverance and Using Leadership Influence for GoodIsrael Santiesteban-Barrientos joins us in this episode of Owning Your Legacy to share his story of how he went from delivering milk at Dannon to becoming a leader in food and beverage with roles at prestigious companies like Kraft-Heinz and Schreiber Foods.Israel’s journey is one of perseverance, from losing his mother at a young age and playing semi-professional soccer to keep food on the table to learning food science on the job and reading textbooks for classes he wasn’t officially enrolled in. Israel put himself headfirst into every challenge and made lasting connections with his c...2024-09-1059 minOwning Your LegacyBringing Holistic Wellness to the Corporate World with BIÂN Co-Founder Mar SoraparuIn this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette speaks with Mar Soraparu, a former finance executive who went on to co-found BIÂN, a premier private social and health club for total well-being. She also serves as the club’s chief wellness officer. The transition from finance to wellness may not be a typical one, but the series of events makes perfect sense in her story—she simply met the challenges before her and followed what her intuition and heart told her.Laurette and Mar discuss the intersection of wellness and business, both in terms of how corpo...2024-08-2739 minOwning Your LegacyBuilding a More Sustainable Food Industry with Planting Hope Founder Julia StambergerIn this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette is joined by Julia Stamberger, the president, founder, and director of The Planting Hope Company, Inc. The two begin by discussing Julia’s start at United Airlines where she pioneered the airline snackbox concept and set her career on a trajectory of food innovation. This led her to found Planting Hope, a company that reimagines the future of food to something more sustainable, healthy, and scalable for the future.The road to making Planting Hope a success has not been without its challenges. Julia has grappled with the demands an...2024-08-1344 min
Awesome Vegans with Elysabeth AlfanoOwning Your (Dairy-Free) Legacy with CEO of Edlong, Laurette RondenetCEO and Owner of Edlong, Laurette Rondenet, talks about how dairy-free and plant-based dairy flavors are nothing new, but that Edlong has taken the industry to new heights. We discuss Owning Your Legacy, the podcast and the vision. Get comfortable for an inspiring podcast. Subscribe! For plant-based media/branding consulting and public speaking, reach out at elysabeth@elysabethalfano.com. For more information, visit ElysabethAlfano.com. For more information, visit ElysabethAlfano.com. Connect with Elysabeth on Linked in here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elysabeth-alfano-8b370b7/ For more PBH, v...2024-08-0249 min
The Plantbased Business HourOwning Your (Dairy-Free) Legacy with CEO of Edlong, Laurette RondenetCEO and Owner of Edlong, Laurette Rondenet, talks about how dairy-free and plant-based dairy flavors are nothing new, but that Edlong has taken the industry to new heights. We discuss Owning Your Legacy, the podcast and the vision. Get comfortable for an inspiring podcast. Subscribe! For plant-based media/branding consulting and public speaking, reach out at elysabeth@elysabethalfano.com. For more information, visit ElysabethAlfano.com. For more information, visit ElysabethAlfano.com. Connect with Elysabeth on Linked in here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elysabeth-alfano-8b370b7/ For more PBH...2024-08-0249 minOwning Your LegacyThe Power of Your Network and Your Values with former NFL player Brent NovoselskyIn this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette is joined by Brent Novoselsky, former NFL player and current VP of Wealth Services at Alera Group. The two discuss Brent’s experience playing for the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings, his career-ending injury, and life after professional football. Fortunately for Brent, he had a business degree from Penn State to fall back on.When it comes to professional football and business, according to Brent, it’s all about who you know. It was his connections that got him a call from the Bears. They also helped him build a su...2024-07-301h 03Owning Your LegacyAdvocating for Yourself at Work with Jennifer Convery, Former President of Griffith Foods NAIn this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette is joined by Jennifer Convery, the former group president of Griffith Foods North America. Jennifer currently sits on three boards and is an advisor to CEOs. Together, Laurette and Jennifer discuss how women’s role in the workplace has evolved over the last 30 years and the importance of advocating for yourself to get what you want.Jennifer created a successful career path by tuning into her needs, learning to balance motherhood with work responsibilities, and never being afraid to raise her hand when new opportunities emerged. Pulling from decades of...2024-07-1646 minOwning Your LegacyThe Transformative Power of Clothing with Stylist Tali KoganIn this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette sits down with Tali Kogan, renowned Chicago stylist, founder of Tel Aviv Couture, and co-founder of Sweet Dome Chicago Foundation. Tali shares her inspiring story as a Ukrainian-born Israeli immigrant who came to America with little to her name and began her career as an accountant. Finding herself unhappy, she escaped an abusive relationship, eventually left her job, and turned her passion for Israeli-made fashion into a career as a personal stylist and empowerment coach. Tali is a bright light who works with women leaders around t...2024-07-021h 01Owning Your LegacyMaking a Difference with Your Money with Alex JohnstonIn this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette sits down with Alex Johnston, the founder and president of Building Impact Partners, a philanthropy advising firm that works together with changemakers to help people, communities, and society move forward for good. Alex is also the author of Money With Meaning: How to Create Joy and Impact Through Philanthropy.With over two decades of advising clients on how to give their money, Alex is a wealth of information when it comes to meaningful giving through philanthropy. In fact, Building Impact Partners has helped its clients give away over $1 billion...2024-06-1843 minOwning Your LegacyGrow Big or Go Home with Lori Hilson CioromskiIn this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette sits down with Lori Hilson Cioromski, founder & CEO of HC Strategic Advisors, president of Essential Water Technologies, and award-winning author of You Hold the Power: Igniting Your Fire for Success.As the episode title suggests, Laurette and Lori discuss how to scale a company in the face of adversity, as well as the necessity for women leaders to step into their power to unlock growth and potential. Lori shares stories of her earliest entrepreneurial endeavors as a young girl motivated by a need for money, to working w...2024-04-0947 minOwning Your LegacyBeing Present, Staying Curious & Building Trust in Sales & Life with Brandon CasteelIn this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette sits down with Brandon Casteel, vice president of partnerships at SPINS, to discuss the leadership tenets that have allowed him to build a successful, multi-decade sales career. They also discuss how SPINS is leveraging point-of-sale data to unlock powerful consumer insights.Brandon is a master of building authentic relationships through trust, vulnerability, and curiosity, artfully moving past the surface to get to the heart of any conversation, whether it be with a team member, sales partner, or one of his five kids. This gift along with his concept of...2024-03-2657 minOwning Your LegacyInvesting in Your Dreams & Your Team with Jennifer BellIn this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette sits down with Jennifer Bell, CMO of Lettuce Entertain You Restaurant Group, to talk about the importance of professional development, risk-centered leadership, and the invaluable benefits of betting on yourself.Laurette and Jennifer walk through the various obstacles of a journey to the C-suite, leading by example to multiply your team’s enthusiasm and effort, and what she did to skyrocket the business’s revenue to $300 million after the pandemic demanded a pivot.In this episode of Owning Your Legacy:Making a major career pivot based on p...2024-03-1247 minOwning Your LegacyThe Hidden Benefits of Trade Associations for Networking & Innovation With George SouthworthIn this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette welcomes colleague George Southworth, executive director of the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA). George’s extensive experiences as a government programs executive with IBM, a director and regional manager with the National Association of Manufacturers, and now executive director at FEMA have fueled his passion as a leader that drives change, fosters collaboration, and elevates the success of his peers. Laurette and George explore how their career trajectories unfolded and how to harness the numerous benefits that come with joining trade associations: networking, leadership opportunities, a truly supportive co...2024-02-2755 minOwning Your LegacyHow to Harness Your Insecurities & Uplevel Your Leadership With Christie MyersIn this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette talks all about transparency, reflection, and potential with entrepreneur, life coach, and food industry executive Christie Myers.A strategic visionary, Christie’s generational tie to the food ingredients industry has helped her embrace her history while defining her own unique career path. Today, she carries on her family’s penchant for innovation and creativity in two major ways: as the Business Development Manager at Cache Creek Foods, and also as the founder and consultant through her coaching practice that helps leaders transform their aspirations into reality.Laurette and...2024-02-1342 min
The Drop In CEOLaurette Rondenet: Leading in a Male-Dominated IndustryIn this episode of 'Drop in CEO' podcast, Laurette recounts her journey from joining the family business amidst financial crisis, to her ascension to CEO, making strategically smart decisions that helped the company thrive. Despite stumbling blocks, she learned from her experiences and carried her family’s legacy forward in a male-dominated industry. She talks about her experiences, challenges, mindset, and the insights that helped her become a successful leader. Episode Highlights: 02:42 Laurette's Journey in the Food Manufacturing Industry 04:26 Overcoming Challenges and Achieving Success 08:54 The Importance of Service Mindset and Le...2024-02-0536 minOwning Your LegacyFinding Fulfillment in Community, Food & Family With D.C. CrenshawIn this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette welcomes Chicago-based food & lifestyle entrepreneur D.C. Crenshaw to talk through his purpose-filled journey to creating culinary businesses that fuel the next generation of tastemakers.D.C. founded Little Diner’s Crew to partner with local restaurants to curate inspiring dining events for young children that help develop their palates and approaches to health, nutrition, and happiness while fostering community and education. His major passion for flavor led him to start Fête Select TV, a production company where he earned two Emmy nominations as the host of...2024-01-3051 minOwning Your LegacyAccountability, Personal Agency & Paying It Backward With Amy and Pete KadensIn the season 6 premiere of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette welcomes philanthropist and entrepreneur duo Amy and Pete Kadens for an incredibly powerful and transparent conversation about the need for more accountability in life and leadership. Because without it, we are only solving for symptoms instead of the core issues.Amy is the founder of MOD Collective and Share Our Spare, which respectively work to support women and families affected by poverty who are in need of basic necessities, including diapers, clothing, and more. Pete is the founder and co-chair of HOPE Chicago, an organization focused on improving...2024-01-1658 minOwning Your LegacyThe Power & Potential of Food Science With Mary WagnerIn the Season 5 finale of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette welcomes executive food & beverage professional Mary Wagner. From General Mills to Taco Bell and more, Mary’s impressive career is a testament to her standard of excellence and passion for progress. She has provided invaluable food science operations & strategy guidance for top brands in the industry, most notably and recently as the former Senior Vice President of Global Product Innovation, Food Safety, and Quality at Starbucks. Since retiring, Mary has launched and led her global food science consulting firm MK Wagner & Associates, where she and her team leverage 40+ years of ex...2023-12-1257 minOwning Your LegacyNavigating Life’s Mountains & New Milestones With Suzanne NanceIn this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette sits down to talk with certified life coach Suzanne Nance. Since starting her company Create 4 You, Suzanne has worked with some of the top leaders across the world, including those at the helm of Fortune 500 companies and mission-driven nonprofit organizations, to help reframe their perspective on the inevitable promise of challenge ahead and strengthen their approach so they can reach their personal Mt. Everest.Laurette and Suzanne discuss the phenomenon of the loneliness that comes from reaching new heights, the benefits of pushing past your usual thresholds of capabilities...2023-11-2839 minOwning Your LegacyPrioritizing Health & Joy For Healing With Beth SmithIn this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette is joined by Beth Smith, founder and CEO of Simplicity Cold-Pressed Juice & Cocktails. Made with fresh fruits and vegetables, Beth expanded the brand’s offerings from only juice and added spirit-infused drinks based on her belief that fun and freshness aren’t mutually exclusive. As a result, she launched the country’s first ready-to-drink, cold-pressed cocktails—because you should be able to raise a glass without sacrificing your well-being.Laurette and Beth talk transparently about her journey to healing through continued physical and emotional hardships, some of her most frustrat...2023-11-1450 minOwning Your LegacyLeadership Strategies to Attract & Retain Talent With Oliver KellyIn this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette welcomes Oliver Kelly, the President & CEO of Kerry North America, to discuss his lessons learned in leadership and the mindset needed to create an unmatched workforce. A leader in sustainable nutrition, Kerry has expanded from its humble origins in Ireland to a global visionary within—and beyond—the dairy industry. With a 30+ year career in sales and business growth, Oliver has helped guide the company in reaching new heights after taking on his role in 2021 and continues to be a trusted partner for Edlong and many food & beverage companies.2023-10-3146 minOwning Your LegacyChoosing Perseverance Over Perfectionism With Courtney JohnsonIn this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette welcomes Courtney Johnson, founder and president of Culinary Care, to talk about the decision to persevere through difficulties and transform struggles into inspiration in life and business. After losing her own father to cancer, Courtney wanted to bridge the gap that she experienced and create a better experience for others navigating this life-altering journey. Today, Culinary Care has provided more than 30,000 nutritious meals to cancer patients and their families, and the organization continues to bring comfort and hope to hospitals and homes across America.Laurette and Courtney discuss Courtney’s...2023-10-1740 minOwning Your LegacyOptimize & Elevate Your Leadership With Robert JordanIn this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette is joined by serial entrepreneur, business expert, and author Robert Jordan. Robert is renowned for his tech start-up expertise and launching the first Internet-coverage magazine in the world, Online Access, which landed him on the Inc 500 list of fastest-growing companies. Now as the CEO of InterimExecs, he’s using his 30+ years of business acumen to bring record growth to owners and investors across industries.Laurette and Robert discuss the modern landscape of executive knowledge and innovation, his experience guiding businesses through common pain points in order to achieve major br...2023-10-0345 minOwning Your LegacyResilience is Bliss: Embracing the Bittersweet Reality of Business With Teresa GingIn this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette is joined by entrepreneur Teresa Ging, Founder & CEO of the Chicago-based retail bakery Sugar Bliss. Teresa’s cupcakes and cookies have been a staple in the Windy City for the past 16 years, offering high-quality flavor experiences for those with an elevated sweet tooth. As a woman- and minority-owned business, Teresa has rewritten the recipe for success on her own terms and wants to inspire other up-and-coming female entrepreneurs to do the same.When she was intentionally passed over for a promotion at an equity firm, Teresa channeled her energy in...2023-09-1942 minOwning Your LegacyMaking Innovation & Inspiration Second Nature With Karuna RawalIn the season 5 premiere of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette is excited to welcome Karuna Rawal, the Chief Revenue Officer & Chief Marketing Officer at Nature’s Fynd. Karuna’s background includes brand strategy & marketing roles at P&G, Arc Worldwide, and Leo Burnett, elevating legendary brands within food, beverage, and beyond. A proven innovator in CPG, her expertise in building brands from scratch has resonated with colleagues and consumers alike throughout her career.Still, Nature’s Fynd presented an exciting challenge for Karuna. The alternative protein company was created by Sustainable Bioproducts, a biotech start-up, and started as a rese...2023-09-0543 minOwning Your LegacyBecoming an Indispensable Leader & the Power of Connection With Larry Kaufman“An indispensable leader goes above and beyond, but is thought of beyond their role as a go-to. Imagine if [your clients] thought of you like that. Then there would be more touch points. You would deepen the relationship. And if you have, you know, competitors, it's going to be tough to unseat you. But as an indispensable leader, you go the extra mile." — Larry KaufmanIn this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette is joined by Larry Kaufman, Midwest regional managing director for Jefferson Wells, keynote speaker, and author of “The NCG Factor: A Formula...2023-07-2534 minOwning Your LegacyBuilding Trust Through Transparency With Ryan Smith“We're building trust through a really great foundation of transparency. One of my pet peeves is I shouldn't be walking into a situation and somebody says, ‘I didn't know that.’ When somebody says, ‘I didn't know that,’ then I am not doing my job [as a leader].” — Ryan SmithIn this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette is joined by Ryan Smith, the executive vice president of Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition North America. Ryan has a long history in the food and beverage industry, beginning in retail and merchandising. Early in his career, he experienced the traumatic lo...2023-07-111h 01Owning Your LegacyOrigin Stories, Knowing Your Worth, and Learning to Leverage With Brooke Foley“A lot of reasons why I talk about knowing your worth is that if you don't know it, you can't fight for it. And if you don't believe in your worth, don't ask me to. That's really hard. And so I think that's where people who are established or have a good solid sense of worth—it's on us to help others see that worth.” — Brooke FoleyIn this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette is joined by her friend Brooke Foley, CEO & founder of The Jayne Agency, an award-winning strategic-creative boutique that specializes in helpin...2023-06-2750 minOwning Your LegacyLeave It Better Than You Found It With Stuart McCarroll“You know, I’ve always just believed really simply in leaving things better than what you took them. And I don’t have any sort of grand plans for legacy. I would like to leave things better. Everything that I touch, better than what I started it.” — Stuart McCarrollIn this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette is joined by Stuart McCarrroll, a seasoned food and beverage industry leader turned entrepreneur who has harnessed his vast knowledge and experience to found three companies—Menu Collective, an agency that specializes in food service innovation, CoLaboratory Chicago, an F&B co-wor...2023-06-1350 minOwning Your LegacyStopping the Teen Suicide Epidemic With Kari Eckert“The fact that our young people are learning that it's okay to ask for help, that's an amazing win.” — Kari EckertIn this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette is joined by Kari Eckert, the founder and executive director of Robbie’s Hope, a nonprofit organization dedicated to teen suicide prevention. Kari’s son Robbie took his own life at the age of 15.Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among teens in the U.S. and the number one cause in Colorado, where Robbie’s Hope began. But what’s more staggering than...2023-05-3031 minOwning Your LegacyInnovation Hurts with Barb Stuckey“True innovation usually requires doing things that haven't been done before, and that can be very painful for some people along the journey. If you are a natural, innovative thinker then you don't mind jumping in when you don't know where you're going to land. And to me, that's the definition of innovation.” — Barb StuckeyIn this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette is joined by Barb Stuckey, the chief innovation and marketing officer of Mattson Group. Barb grew up in the restaurant industry—from taking in the foods and flavors at her best friend’s parents’ Chinese resta...2023-05-1647 minOwning Your LegacySeeing Crisis as an Opportunity With Christie Hefner“One of the keys to success in business, and frankly any organization, is constant innovation, constant agile thinking, and diversity within the organization.” — Christie HefnerIn this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette has the honor to sit down with Christie Hefner, former Chairman & CEO of Playboy and daughter of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner. Laurette and Christie cover a wide range of topics, including Christie’s history with the company, from her unexpected and humble beginnings in the early 80s—she had no intention of running the company someday—to helping her father save the compa...2023-05-0229 minOwning Your LegacyCompetitor Isn't a Dirty Word With Renee Flesch and Lauren Hopkins“It's really become more win-win, which is part of that mutual boundary setting. And I think when you look at it that way, sometimes there is magic in that because you find areas that you might not have explored had one party been more closed off, or not had the comfort and the trust. ” — Renee FleschIn this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette is joined by Renee Flesch, a 25-year food industry vet and currently the head of corporate strategy at Ingredion. Renee is a force when it comes to flavor, strategic operations, and bu...2023-04-0451 minOwning Your LegacyThe Intersection of Entrepreneurship & Social Responsibility With Desiree Vargas Wrigley“I like building things that matter. I like taking an innovative approach to problems and thinking about them from a stakeholder-centric perspective, which I've learned from conscious capitalism. So thinking about who benefits when we succeed at solving this problem…how can you bring those pieces together and amplify the wins for everyone involved?” — Desiree Vargas WrigleyIn this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette is joined by Desiree Vargas Wrigley, the chief innovation officer at P33 Chicago and executive director of TechRise, a multi-stakeholder initiative to support historically underrepresented tech founders from Chicago. Desiree is the epitome...2023-03-2148 min
The Produce Moms PodcastEP256 Untamed Leader, CEO and Beacon of Light with Laurette Rondenet I The Produce MomsAs President and CEO of Edlong, a globally recognized food flavors company, Laurette Rondenet is redefining what it means to be a beacon in the food industry, and kicking doors open to a new era of possibilities and potential through authentic connection. Since acquiring the company from her family, she's grown Edlong’s business by 80 percent, scaled and united the team, and she's defined what she like's to call her “Untamed Leadership.” And, while her dream of taking over the family business came true, it has since evolved to be less about my own leadership and more about...2023-03-1543 min
The Family Business VoiceHow can leaders enable change in a legacy business?On this episode of The Family Business Voice, Laurette Rondenet discusses her journey with Edlong, a family business and leading innovator in the food-flavourings industry.
Laurette has been Edlong’s principal owner, President and CEO since 2012, making her the first and only woman to own a food flavouring company in the world. She sits on the board of several national and international business organisations and currently serves as the Vice President & Secretary of the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association of the United States. Laurette talks to us about what it takes to build a culture of innovation in...2023-03-1028 min
The Family Business VoiceHow can leaders enable change in a legacy business?On this episode of The Family Business Voice, Laurette Rondenet discusses her journey with Edlong, a family business and leading innovator in the food-flavourings industry.2023-03-1028 minThe Family Business VoiceHow can leaders enable change in a legacy business?On this episode of The Family Business Voice, Laurette Rondenet discusses her journey with Edlong, a family business and leading innovator in the food-flavourings industry.2023-03-1028 minThe Family Business VoiceHow can leaders enable change in a legacy business?On this episode of The Family Business Voice, Laurette Rondenet discusses her journey with Edlong, a family business and leading innovator in the food-flavourings industry.2023-03-1028 minOwning Your LegacyHow the Shamrock Shake Changed the World With Holly Buckendahl“What they're going through is traumatic and anxiety provoking and scary. And, you know, it's a roller coaster ride of emotions and experiences, and we just want to make sure that we're with them on the ride. Whatever that ride looks like, offering support the best way we can.” — Holly BuckendahlLaurette met Holly Buckendahl five years ago through Holly’s incredible work as CEO at Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana. Holly and her team have played a critical role in the charities’ continued success, offering vital support and resources...2023-03-0733 minOwning Your LegacyUsing Your Seat at the Table for Good With Michael Byron“You're here for a reason. And so you need to use your seat of influence for good…I got in a lot of good trouble at Walmart…and that good trouble is rooted in conversation.” — Michael ByronThis episode is on one of Laurette’s absolute favorite topics—using your seat at the table for good. Laurette is joined by Michael Byron, a consultant specializing in diversity and inclusion training, and formerly the senior director of supplier inclusion for Walmart. Michael led Walmart’s national supplier inclusion initiatives, which enhance its purchasing activities and long-term relationships wi...2023-02-2153 minOwning Your LegacyTrust, But Verify—How to Create a Culture That Fuels Innovation With Jon McIntyre"People are the most important thing in any business, you know. And if you want them to fit your innovation culture, your work culture, [put in] the extra effort to hire correctly, because a bad hire can really set you back." — Jonathan McIntyreIn this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette is joined by Jonathan McIntyre, scientist, consultant, and former food industry executive who held leadership roles at companies like Motif Ingredients, Indigo, and PepsiCo. Jonathan has a deep understanding of both the science and business of the industry, and his experience across both small tech startups an...2023-02-0753 minOwning Your LegacyA Tortilla Alternative That Makes Consumers Feel Seen With Andrea Schwenk & Denise SenterIn this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette is joined by Andrea Schwenk, the chief marketing officer of Egglife Foods, and Denise Senter, Edlong’s chief commercial officer. Both Andrea and Denise have extensive marketing experience, Andrea’s primarily in the food and beverage space with brands like SkinnyGirl Cocktails and Buffalo Wild Wings, while Denise cut her teeth with tech companies in Silicon Valley. They unpack the art and science of marketing, how to stand out and connect with the consumer, and how to build a brand from the ground up.Egglife was born out of nece...2023-01-2446 minOwning Your LegacyApplying a Sports-Centered Mindset to Business With Desmond Clark and Mike Natale“Go look up ‘Desmond Clark combine stats,’ and as you scroll down, you're going to see a big fat ‘F.’ 37 out of 100 was my score. 36 out of 100…the thing is, is this: they can't measure heart.” — Desmond ClarkIn this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette has the privilege to sit down with former Chicago Bear turned-entrepreneur Desmond Clark and Mike Natale, the global platform leader at Ingredion. They talk sports and business.Culture, talent, trust, strategy, execution, communication—all of these themes are imperative both on the playing field and in the boardroom. Desmond...2023-01-1047 minOwning Your LegacyLearning To Embrace Criticism With David Jones and Emily SheehanYou can’t be precious about ideas. You have to share them, express them, and get feedback from the start.In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, I sit down with David Jones, the co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of Third Street Attention Agency and one of Edlong’s creative partners, to discuss how to embrace criticism and learn from it.David has led his team to Addy and Clio award-winning work for various big-name brands. Notably, he was one of the masterminds behind the Coors Light cold-activated bottles and cans. With decades of ad-world expe...2022-11-2932 minOwning Your LegacyMaking a Seat at the Table With Suzanne Johnson and Gail ScottLimiting beliefs keep us from achieving our own potential.In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, I sit down with my dear friend, Dr. Suzanne Johnson, who is the vice president of consumer R&D for the North American division of McCormick and Company.Suzanne and I have been each other’s advocates through many of life’s challenges: deaths, births, loves, kids, and career challenges. We talk about keeping it real and not letting the titles and hierarchy of the corporate worlds we live in keep us from finding our voice and our value. 2022-11-0829 minOwning Your LegacyBecoming a Visionary with a Traction Mindset With Bobi Siembieda and Brenda DehartYour vision and strategy will not serve you unless you can execute them the right way.In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, I'm excited to welcome Bobi Siembieda, the co-founder of The Traction Group, a team of certified EOS or Entrepreneurial Operating System Implementers, based on the best-selling book Traction by Gino Wickman. Bobi has worked directly with the Edlong executive team to help implement strategies from this book, which have transformed how OUR team operates to achieve and exceed goals on every level. It’s Bobi’s empathetic yet focused approach that has made a huge...2022-10-2528 minOwning Your LegacyDon't Mistake My Kindness for Weakness With Dr. Sarah Evans and Bob CorbettKindness and its power cannot be underestimated.In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette sits down with Dr. Sarah Evans, who has a Ph.D. in industrial and organizational psychology, to talk about the misconceptions of kindness that are still persistent within organizations and why modeling kindness in the workplace is so critical for success. Sarah’s consulting firm provides executive assessment and leadership development guidance, and her work has helped strengthen Edlong’s own ideology and action around compassion.Joining the conversation is Bob Corbett, Edlong’s trade show marketing manager and leader of tea...2022-10-1145 minOwning Your LegacyThe Beauty of Happiness With Amy BanasThere is nothing more beautiful than feeling happy, confident, and in harmony with your life—but it takes hard, consistent work to get there.In today’s episode of Owning Your Legacy, I welcome Amy Banas, founder of Just Amy (and my personal hair and makeup artist!), to discuss how we can find true happiness in our personal and professional lives. With nearly 30 years in the beauty world, Amy’s own journey has not been one without difficulty. Her conscious effort to follow her dreams has led to a bittersweet acceptance of direct and indirect conseq...2022-09-2737 minOwning Your LegacyEmpowerment Drives Culture With Colleen Soukup and Kami HuntIt’s no secret that company culture is everything, but how do you guarantee an incredible one?In today’s episode, Laurette sits down with Colleen Soukup, who recently retired from her role as chief procurement officer at General Mills, to discuss the driving force behind her commitment to empowering her staff and how to unlock the ultimate culture of excellence. Colleen has been recognized for her people-focused leadership in operations, as well as her efforts to make space for women and more diverse representation within the food manufacturing industry throughout her 40-year career.Kami Hunt...2022-09-1326 minOwning Your LegacyOwning Your Narrative With Tiffany WillisOwning your legacy starts with owning your narrative.In this episode, Laurette sits down with Tiffany Willis, who discusses her experience of being a single mom dealing with homelessness to becoming the current Vice President, Head of Investor Relations for Starbucks. When Tiffany shared her powerful story on LinkedIn, her post went viral. Today, she’s highlighting the importance of embracing every step of your journey, and why empathy and resilience have a ripple effect in the workplace and beyond.Talking with Tiffany is proof that your vision and faith in yourself can transform the co...2022-08-3029 minOwning Your LegacyBuild Lasting Trust with Your Customers With Dan Callahan and Paul MaslineCan your customers trust you? Can your people?In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette sits down to discuss the core importance of building a foundation of trust in business with Dan Callahan and Paul Masline.Dan’s decades-long background in IT has had a direct positive impact on Edlong’s evolution in customer engagement and technology implementation over the years, and his expertise continues to serve clients through his company, CRM Success Factors. Hearing the voice of the customer is imperative to building systems that make it easier for them...2022-08-1630 minOwning Your LegacyCreating a Culture of Belonging With Lena Lewis and Wanda SheehanHost Laurette Rondenet is back with Season 2 of Owning Your Legacy with even more amazing guests and important conversations. In the premiere episode of this season, Laurette sits down with Lena Lewis, a top marketing executive in the food industry who has worked at brands like Ferrara and Mars, to discuss how to create an environment of belonging in the workplace. Lena shares her personal experience after experiencing burnout, taking a year-long sabbatical, and how she can better understand her needs and be her best self as a Black woman and mother—without sacrificing her health or bou...2022-08-0225 minOwning Your LegacyNot Just the Pieces With Jessica Zweig and Dale WytiazAs leaders, our job is to create an environment where our great people can shine and prosper.In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette is joined by Jessica Zweig, co-founder and CEO of the personal branding agency SimplyBe. in Chicago, and Dale Wytiaz, chief commercial officer at Edlong. They discuss what it means to be a leader and what it looks like to cultivate a culture of excellence:Be all inBring the best of who you areEncourage others to do the sameLaurette recommends an approach that is intentional and consistent—lead with trust, em...2022-07-0527 minOwning Your LegacyYou Can't Be What You Can't See With Emily Smith and Brenda DehartOpportunity. Possibility. Hope. This is what representation gives women. Young girls need female professionals and role models to light the way.In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette is joined by her guests, Emily Smith, co-founder and board president of Female Strong and senior vice president of Bespoke Commercial Real Estate, as well as Brenda Dehart, a Female Strong board member and the chief financial officer at Edlong. Their conversation highlights the necessity of female representation across industries and how female leaders must kick down doors to help young girls achieve their full potential!...2022-06-2123 minOwning Your LegacyLeading With Empathy With Pam Henderson, Ph.D.Is empathy a core leadership skill? We think so. In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, host Laurette Rondenet and her guests Pam Henderson, CEO and founder of NewEdge Consulting, and Sue Pils, chief people officer at Edlong, discuss the necessity of empathy in leadership.They touch on how leading with empathy can remove barriers, build trust, improve partnerships, and simply bring out the shine in people. Something Laurette's company, Edlong, puts a huge emphasis on.Follow the guests:Pam HendersonNewEdge ConsultingSue PilsConnect...2022-06-0740 minOwning Your LegacyKicking Doors Open With Michele FiteLaurette is joined by guest Michele Fite, Chief Commercial Officer at Motif FoodWorks, to discuss kicking doors open as a woman in the food and beverage industry.Michele has kicked a lot of doors open in her career, starting out as a marketer before getting recruited by Nestlé where her career in F&B took off. Currently, Michele leads a team as CCO at Motif FoodWorks, a food technology company that's working to change the taste, texture, and nutrition of plant-based foods. Over the course of her career, Michele has had a number of strong fe...2022-05-2422 minOwning Your LegacyMyths About Family Businesses With Brian GriffithLaurette is joined by guest Brian Griffith, executive chairman at Griffith Foods, to discuss myths about family businesses.Both Laurette and Brian grew up witnessing their fathers lead and scale companies, and both felt called to join the family business. What a lot of people get wrong is that just because your father led the company, does not mean that he is going to hand it to you when you decide to join forces. In fact, it often requires more work and perseverance to prove your worth.Laurette and Brian discuss their journeys to leadership...2022-05-1033 minOwning Your LegacyServant Leadership With Nick Economos and Gail ScottLaurette is joined by guests Nick Economos, co-founder, managing principle and chief retirement officer at Fiduciary Financial Partners, and Gail Scott, director of administration at Edlong, to discuss the topic of servant leadership.Their heartfelt conversation covers a lot of ground—from the importance of uplifting your team, to ensuring a mission is not just spoken but lived, to defining core values, to finding empathy as a leader.Follow the guests:Nick EconomosGail ScottConnect with Laurette:Laurette's Website: lauretterondenet.com/Laurette's IG: @lauretterondenetLaurette's LinkedInEd...2022-04-2623 minOwning Your LegacyEnergy is Everything With Nancy GianniLaurette Rondenet is joined by guest Nancy Gianni, chief belief officer and founder of Gigi's Playhouse, the only worldwide network of Down syndrome achievement centers. Together, they discuss the idea that "energy is everything."Energy is in us and all around us. We can choose the energy we wish to put out into the world and surround ourself with. And we must protect our energy in order to show up as the best version of ourself.Nancy is an inspiration and is truly owning her legacy while supporting her daughter and others in owning their...2022-04-1217 minOwning Your LegacyNavigating Relationships With Charlie Saffro and Sean SmithHost Laurette Rondenet and guests Charlie Saffro, president and founder of CS Recruiting, and Sean Smith, president and co-founder of Third Street Attention Agency, discuss how to best navigate relationships in business and life.From working with your spouse to bringing vulnerability to leadership and the Circle of Trust, they cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time. Plus, stay tuned after the episode for a candid conversation with Lauren Hopkins, business development director of Edlong.If you enjoyed the episode please share it with others, and rate, review, and su...2022-03-2928 min
Owning Your LegacyIntroducing: Owning Your LegacyJoin Laurette Rondenet, CEO and owner of Edlong Corporation, as she hosts intimate discussions with fellow leaders, visionaries, and trailblazers who are making an impact in their space. They go deep on topics like relationships, leadership, business growth. And, of course, what it means to own your legacy.Edlong is an innovative, globally-recognized food flavoring company. As a leader, Laurette’s calling is to create a culture of authentic belonging and be a beacon of light, challenging others to shine theirs.If you enjoyed the episode please share it with others, and rate, review, and su...2022-03-2901 min
BossMove30. Trust as the Road to SuccessSuccess may be defined differently by people and entrepreneurs. But the common ground is to map out our strengths and weaknesses to pave the way towards success. Listen as Kison interviews Laurette Rondenet, the award-winning President and CEO of Edlong Corporation, about the principles she upholds as she journeys to success. In this episode, you will learn about: Setting the north star to your success Creating and maintaining a trusted circle Delegating tasks to elevate success Follow BossMove on all socials: https://linktr.ee/bossMoveSeries2021-12-1521 min
Peace and Possibilities97. What would you have said?What were you thinking about in eighth grade? Probably not being a CEO. From intern to CEO, my guest this week finally realized she really needed to pay attention. Because she had big dreams. It didn't matter that she was a girl. Laurette Rondenet came from a big family, listening to "Free to be, you and me". (Big blast from the past.) And she knew that she could do whatever she set her mind to (thanks to parents who encouraged her). And then one day her dad asked...2021-09-2235 min