VWS Pathfinders Podcast

About VWS Pathfinders Podcast

Welcome to the Pathfinders Podcast by VWS. Join Jenny Stojkovic, founder of VWS, in intimate conversations with some of the world's most incredible women leaders in the future of food, fashion, beauty, and technology. We'll dive into their stories, how they built their companies, and how they've dedicated their lives to creating a kinder, more sustainable world. Join us on our journey as we endeavor into this brave new future — you won't believe what's coming next!

Publisher

Vegan Women Summit

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

2 Mar 2021

Latest episode

24 Jun 2021

Latest episodes

5 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   24 Jun 2021

   From the Obama White House to the Future of Food with Riana Lynn, CEO of Journey Foods, on the VWS Pathfinders Podcast

   Summary On this episode of the VWS Pathfinders Podcast, Jenny chats with Riana Lynn, CEO of Journey Foods, a premium data service looking to build more sustainable and efficient pathways in the food industry. Riana shares her family history and her grandparents' influential role in exposing her to a plant-based lifestyle and food systems from an early age. Riana talks about her time in the White House during the Obama administration, how she snuck her way into the 2008 inauguration, broke a world record with The First Lady, and even wound up with her name in the White House Archives. Riana discusses the importance of Journey's work and how it uses data to improve everything in the food industry, from the efficiency of supply chains to reducing water waste. She also shares her predictions for the future of the food industry post-COVID and why the future of food may lie in native and indigenous foods. This Podcast Covers [00:37] Introduction [02:30] Background and upbringing [05:30] Connecting with southern roots and the influence of grandparents [10:50] Understanding different perspectives on sustainability [12:48] First harvest [14:32] Goals and values of Journey Foods [17:18] First time scuba diving and our impact on the environment [18:20] The magic of UNC [20:00] Black farming and its repression [21:40] Getting to the White House [25:22] Obama memories [28:31] The working landscape post COVID [30:00] The journey to Journey [33:22] First pitch [34:44] What Journey does today [37:44] The magic ingredient [40:55] Biggest mistake [42:30] The tech approach to food-tech and the rise of the rest [44:07] Why Austin? [45:55] Final words of advice [47:50] Significance of big data Follow Journey Foods on: Website: https://www.journeyfoods.io (https://www.journeyfoods.io) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/journey-foods/ (https://www.facebook.com/savedasea/) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/journeyfoods (https://www.instagram.com/journeyfoods) Follow VWS on: VWS Newsletter: veganwomensummit.com/newsletter (http://veganwomensummit.com/newsletter) LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/vegan-women-summit/ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/vegan-women-summit/) Instagram: www.instagram.com/veganwomensummit/ (https://www.instagram.com/veganwomensummit/) Facebook: www.facebook.com/veganwomensummit (https://www.facebook.com/veganwomensummit) Twitter: twitter.com/vegwomensummit (https://twitter.com/vegwomensummit) Quotes "When I started going to Mexico and then by the time I started going to West Africa and you see people who are, you know, what we define as impoverished having this abundance of fresh food and understanding sustainability in a different way, it just blew my mind.

2. 

   19 May 2021

   Disability as a Superpower with Lezlie Karls, CEO of Mid-Day Squares, on the VWS Pathfinders Podcast with Jenny Stojkovic

   Summary On this episode of the VWS Pathfinders Podcast, Jenny chats with Mid-Day Squares co-founder and CEO Lezlie Karls. Lezlie is the co-founder and CEO of Mid-Day Squares, whose functional chocolate bars offer the decadence of everyone's favorite treat with the health benefits of a protein bar. Lezlie shares the rocky road that led to her founding Mid-Day Squares and the many failures that came with it. They delve into Lezlie's childhood, where she opens up about being an outcast and how the negativity she felt after being diagnosed with severe learning difficulties fuels her ambition. She shares her thoughts on her ADHD and how she has now turned it into her superpower. Lezlie shares her thoughts on how to run an effective business and the turbulent nature of running a rapidly expanding company. She lets us in on her plans for the future, how she wants to be bigger than Nike and hopes to break into the public sphere and American market within a year. This Podcast Covers [0:36] Introduction [02:08] What is Mid-Day Squares? [03:22] Growing up and the origins of Mid-Day Squares [16:11] Reflecting on childhood and mistakes [17:14] The haters come crawling back [18:32] Fighting for acknowledgment and 'White Dude' central [20:48] The school system and turning disabilities into superpowers [25:23] Staying focused and having a safe space [26:68] Making ADHD work for you [30:57] First pitch and paying dues [34:58] Being a Canadian company and entering new markets [39:00] Biggest mistake and finding the right team [42:29] Phasing changes [44:55] Mid-Day Squares's future [48:20] Why does Mid-Day Squares matter? Follow Mid-Day Squares on: Website: https://www.m (https://www.savedasea.com/)iddaysquares.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/m (https://www.facebook.com/savedasea/)iddaysquares Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/m (https://www.instagram.com/savedasea/)iddaysquares Follow VWS on: VWS Newsletter: veganwomensummit.com/newsletter (http://veganwomensummit.com/newsletter) LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/vegan-women-summit/ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/vegan-women-summit/) Instagram: www.instagram.com/veganwomensummit/ (https://www.instagram.com/veganwomensummit/) Facebook: www.facebook.com/veganwomensummit (https://www.facebook.com/veganwomensummit) Twitter: twitter.com/vegwomensummit (https://twitter.com/vegwomensummit) Quotes "I was doing that 10 hours a day, 12 hours a day I realized that this career isn't for me, and that was really hard. That was a really hard realization." "ADHD is my superpower. The ability to have a million thoughts is what makes me whacky what makes me be able to lead the creative team at Mid-Day Squares." "I don't know how parents give Adderall to their children. My recommendation when people ask me is take a pill yourself and see how you feel and then identify if you want to give this to your child."

3. 

   3 May 2021

   Being an Underrepresented Founder with Courtney Blagrove, Co-founder of Whipped, on the VWS Pathfinders Podcast with Jenny Stojkovic

   On this episode of the VWS Pathfinders Podcast, Jenny sits down with Whipped Urban Dessert Lab founder Courtney Blagrove, a founder changing the vegan dessert game with her oat-based ice-cream. Courtney shares the daily challenges of being a Black woman founder and the biases she encounters, and the current state of the gender and racial equality movements. She delves into the origins of Whipped, how her family and nut allergies led her into the vegan dessert world, her mother's influence, and how being an underrepresented woman in STEM has prepared her for a life in business. She talks about the importance of adaptation in business, how the COVID era has forced Whipped to change, and sheds light on the outrageous and under-handed tactics of big companies. This Cast Covers: Introduction [00:32] Courtney's background and the importance of female role models [02:35] Love of science [05:50] Representation and being the only one in the room [06:40] High-school life and getting ahead [11:42] University of Georgia [13:32] Insecticides and consumer transparency [14:53] Changes in the food system for the better [17:36] Your metabolism, can it be changed? [21:20] Vitamin D and S.A.D. [24:05] From Ph.D. to founder [25:40] Going legit [29:00] Women in the business world [30:00] How to get people invested in your product [35:52] Funding, pitching, and scaling up [36:40] Adversity driving innovation [40:50] Biggest mistake [42:42] Why Whipped? [47:03] Follow Whipped on: Website: https://www.urbandessertlab.com/ (https://www.savedasea.com/) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whippedurbandessertlab (https://www.facebook.com/savedasea/) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urbandessertlab (https://www.instagram.com/savedasea/) Follow VWS on: VWS Newsletter: veganwomensummit.com/newsletter (http://veganwomensummit.com/newsletter) LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/vegan-women-summit/ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/vegan-women-summit/) Instagram: www.instagram.com/veganwomensummit/ (https://www.instagram.com/veganwomensummit/) Facebook: www.facebook.com/veganwomensummit (https://www.facebook.com/veganwomensummit) Twitter: twitter.com/vegwomensummit (https://twitter.com/vegwomensummit) Quotes: "I was always the minority, and so even from a young age, I was groomed to be the minority and again in business where I am dealing with the same type of issues." Courtney Blagrove "If you hit the pockets of the people that are growing most of our food, believe me they are going to change it." Courtney Blagrove

4. 

   31 Mar 2021

   The Future of Seafood with Aki Kaltenbach, CEO of Save Da Sea Foods, on the VWS Pathfinders Podcast with Jenny Stojkovic

   On this episode of the VWS Pathfinders Podcast, Jenny talks to Aki Kaltenbach, a Canadian founder whose company Save Da Sea is making big waves with their carrot smoked salmon. Aki discusses the origins of Save Da Sea and how she swapped the small-town restaurant life of Whistler, British Colombia, for the jet-setting life of a London advertiser, only to ultimately wind up back home. As a mother to a two-year-old, Aki talks about how providing a better world for her son fuels her work. She shares her views on customer service, why mothers make the best founders, and explains why she doesn't have a co-founder. She shares her plans for Save Da Sea and how she looks to break into the American market and snag a partnership with the big kahuna of the plant-based world Whole Foods. This Cast Covers: [0:38] Intro [2:11] Background story and growing up [6:00] Influence of Yelp [6:53] Getting away from the kitchen [9:00] Life in London and living a glamorous life [11:17] Returning home [12:29] A day at the Winter Olympics [16:15] Plant-based industry in British Colombia [17:58] How you got started [20:13] Solo founder pros and cons [23:00] Advice for mom founders [25:30] Are women better investors? [26:25] First pitch [28:07] The 'I am a founder' moment [29:19] Delivering product and babies [30:45] Leaving a legacy and inspiring children [32:28] Biggest mistake [34:13] Conservative founders, being bold and taking credit [35:51] Different investors in different markets [40:35] What is next for Save da Sea? [42:30] Why Save da Sea? Follow Save Da Sea: Website: https://www.savedasea.com/ (https://www.savedasea.com/) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savedasea/ (https://www.facebook.com/savedasea/) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/savedasea/ (https://www.instagram.com/savedasea/) Follow VWS on: VWS Newsletter: veganwomensummit.com/newsletter (http://veganwomensummit.com/newsletter) LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/vegan-women-summit/ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/vegan-women-summit/) Instagram: www.instagram.com/veganwomensummit/ (https://www.instagram.com/veganwomensummit/) Facebook: www.facebook.com/veganwomensummit (https://www.facebook.com/veganwomensummit) Twitter: twitter.com/vegwomensummit (https://twitter.com/vegwomensummit) Aki's photo with President Joe Biden (https://ibb.co/0rV6DgC) Quotes "Every customer, whether it is a Whole Foods or whether it's your local bodega down the street, they're equally important." - Aki Kaltenbach "I was so downplaying everything we were going to do. My growth was really conservative ... my vision was super conservative, ... if wanted to raise, a decent amount, or any money, ... I needed to inspire my audience and be much bigger than I was projecting myself to be." - Aki Kaltenbach "Part of it is this imposter syndrome that we all feel sometimes ... when I've been talking to fellow female entrepreneurs, they do tend to be much more conservative" - Aki Kaltenbach.

5. 

   2 Mar 2021

   Real Human Breastmilk From a Lab with Michelle Egger, CEO of BIOMILQ, on the VWS Pathfinders Podcast with Jenny Stojkovic

   On this episode of the VWS Pathfinders Podcast, Jenny chats with BIOMILQ founder and food scientist Michelle Egger. A woman who has dedicated her life to understanding the intricacies of dairy, Michelle empowers women by combining the nutrition of breastmilk with the practicality of formula. After the culture shock of Purdue University, Michelle found herself in the place she least expected: dairy. Working for General Mills' convenience and foodservice desk, she was tasked with developing low-sugar yogurt for children. It wasn't until volunteering for Partners in Food Solutions that Michelle found her true calling. While working in Ethiopia, she saw firsthand the profound impact of her work. From that point on, she dedicated herself to making a social impact through food. Founding BIOMILQ with cell biologist Lelia Strickland, the company has rocketed into the spotlight. Recently receiving $3.5 million of funding from Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Bill Gates' investment firm, BIOMILQ has received worldwide recognition for their revolutionary work. This Cast Covers Intro [00:37] Michelle's background and the influence of our parents [01:40] Growing up around female role models [06:53] Life at Purdue University [09:09] Making practical decisions when addressing systemic issues [13:00] Working for General Mills [17:45] Cell-based solutions in developing nations [25:07] Maximizing potential and the importance of regulation [28:19] COVID vaccine, understanding the process [30:43] The BIOMILQ story [32:59] BIOMILQ as a business [36:43] Pitching BIOMILQ [37:59] Finding the right investor [39:59] Women's role in the cell-based food industry and business [41:20] My biggest mistake [46:40] Why care about BIOMILQ? What is BIOMILQ? [52:52] Follow BIOMILQ on: BIOMILQ Website: https://www.biomilq.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/biomilq/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/biomilq Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biomilq/ Follow VWS on: VWS Newsletter: http://veganwomensummit.com/newsletter LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vegan-women-summit/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/veganwomensummit/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/veganwomensummit Twitter: https://twitter.com/vegwomensummit Quotes "Everyone in this entire world is a customer, and if you treat everyone like a customer ... you'll build better relationships and have a more foundational experience together" - Michelle's father "How do we be a just and equal supply chain using cellular agriculture?" - Michelle Egger "Especially in the southeast of the United States, everyone thought she was truly a crazy person." - Michelle Egger talking about Leila Strickland's work "For BIOMILQ specifically, it is harder because we are feeding the most precious beings on the planet, and so milk looks a little different." - Michelle Egger "That is not how the world works, and that is not how we are going to create the impact we want to see in this world." - Michelle Egger "I started Googling how do you have a social impact career in food." - Michelle Egger

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings