Snac World - Official State of the Industry 2024 - 32

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY
being in a place where I didn't feel like I could share
my opinion, but once I freed myself from what I
thought people wanted from me and started seeing
my identity as a gift, Campbell's got so much more
from me as an employee. I know what it's like to not
come to work as your full self, and I value the difference
of opinion that I bring to the table now. "
OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEADERSHIP
As women continue to gain ground in the snack industry,
and the labor market in general, awareness
has been a major help in changing attitudes but so
have some significant societal shifts.
Firstly, more women have consistently worked
outside of the home for decades, further normalizing
women in the workplace both for their colleagues
and for their families.
" We're seeing a global shift of women concentrating
on their careers more with millennials and
Generation Z putting off having kids until their
careers are really established, " said Stephanie
Aanenson, director of special projects, Old Dutch
Foods. " And there are more men wanting to be involved
in family life at home, which helps women be
able to do that. "
When women
feel comfortable
to bring their
authentic selves
to work, they are
more likely to
feel valued.
SNAC International
It cannot be discounted how much these societal
moves can contribute to destigmatizing the idea
of female leadership, something SNAC International
has continuously done over the past few years
through its programming.
" SNAC frequently puts women in keynote speaking
roles as the expert in their particular field and
not talking at all about the fact that they are a woman
because that shouldn't be relevant, " Aanenson
said. " Commenting on it less makes it more authentic,
normal and chips away at the stigma. They've
also chosen women for a variety of leadership roles,
so SNAC has done a great job of showing that
women are excelling in multiple areas of the snack
industry without calling direct attention to the fact
that they are women. "
The other major cultural shift came about in 2020
with the accelerated adoption of working from
home with the COVID-19 pandemic. With most
industries seeing that some work can be done remotely
with flexibility and still yield results, many of
No one ever got
promoted by being polite
and demure. It's OK for you
to take your rightful place at
the table. "
Tina Hacker, Land O' Lakes
the pressures that disproportionately impact women,
like child care, eased.
" With the flexibility we've gained since COVID,
we've seen women be able to stay in the workforce
longer, " Calef explained.
When women reach that middle management
level in their careers, they are often dealing with a
demanding home life that in the past would prompt
many of them to exit the workforce. But with flexibility
proven out by COVID, more women are finding it
easier to stay.
" The flexibility has been so empowering, " Calef
said. " Even though I'm in the office today more
than I'm working from home, the acceptance and
freedom to work flexibly when needed has relieved
that tension. I am actually able to dedicate more
of myself to this job because of the flexibility. It's a
win-win. "
As the snack industry looks to create a pipeline of
female leadership, whether through WinS, university
programs or even internally within one company,
acknowledging the barriers women face is critical.
" Life changes like having children or aging parents
disproportionately affect women and stagnate
their careers, and it's important for managers to be
aware of that, " Hacker said. " It should be acknowledged,
and it shouldn't play into ratings or opportunities
for promotion. And hybrid work environments
can be incredibly beneficial in those instances. "
In addition to easing or eliminating barriers, men32
SNAC
WORLD 2024
Snac World - Official State of the Industry 2024

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