Women Founders Changing the Game
Gail Becker, founder of CAULIPOWER
Julia Boorstin, CNBC senior media & technology reporter; author of “When Women Lead”
Ellen Chen, co-founder of Mendocino Farms
Jasmine Crowe-Houston, founder & CEO of Goodr
Venture capital (VC) drives innovation and transformations in business, but there is still a massive gender gap in funding, with female-founded companies securing just 2% of VC dollars in 2021.* Julia Boorstin, who spent time studying the characteristics of women leaders and founders for her book “When Women Lead,” said women have unique leadership traits everyone can benefit from.
At our recent event for the next generation of wealth creators and inheritors, she led a discussion with three women founders of food-focused companies, exploring their approaches to building and running successful, dynamic organizations.
Admitting what you don’t know is good for business
Gail Becker was a marketing executive before she founded CAULIPOWER, now a $500 million company specializing in cauliflower-based food products. She had no background in the food industry, but was inspired by her two sons who were living with Celiac disease and wanted more gluten-free options.
“One thing uniquely great about women in business is we’re not afraid to admit what we don’t know,” she said.
Embracing a learning attitude freed her from any preconceived notions and saved valuable time in scaling her business nationwide.
“Be honest with yourself about what you know and don’t know,” she said. “Then fill in the gaps with people who can teach you.”
Her willingness to learn and open leadership style have made CAULIPOWER a safe place to experiment with new ideas and address trends in a nimble way. This has helped the company address recent challenges with supply chain delays and inflation.
“Innovation has to run through the entire organization,” Gail said. “Our supply chain team, operations team and sourcing team have the ability to try new things in a way some big companies just can’t do.”
Promote retention with a positive culture
Ellen Chen co-founded Mendocino Farms, a gourmet, chef-driven restaurant chain known for great sandwiches and great vibes. It is committed to “creating a place where people can connect, be nourished and experience happiness.”
Ellen prioritizes that commitment to help the culture manifest at all levels.
“Everything we did when it came to scaling, thinking about building systems, [operational] processes and employee trainings, all our values were instilled in all of those components,” Ellen explained. “In order for the culture to live in the company’s DNA and in every action, you have to think about how that will be incorporated into the fabric of it.”
This culture-first leadership focus has created a family-like atmosphere that promotes inclusivity and respect. The consistency of this environment ensures smoother business operations, with greater comradery and less employee turnover. Culture can mean the difference between employees leaving or staying, and while labor shortages are problematic in the restaurant business, especially post-pandemic, some employees have been at Mendocino Farms for more than a decade.
“We’re seeing people stay at companies with great culture, where there’s a purpose and a mission they’re aligned with,” Ellen said.
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