When Expana’s Women in Food and Agriculture (WFA) initiative was launched in 2018, it aimed to address a significant issue in the agri-food sector.
“While attending events with senior food and ag professionals, I realized the gender split was not balanced at all,” Elisabeth Mork-Eidem, Global Chair of WFA told us. “We wanted to strive to create something that better supported women in their careers, that could provide the tools and support needed for companies to lead transformative change in food and agriculture.”
Women in Food & Agriculture (WFA), was built to champion diversity and inclusion across the agri-food supply chain, empowering individuals through dynamic events, interesting content and an impactful mentorship program. The initiative has grown year after year, now encompassing a gender-balanced global advisory board featuring senior executives from Walmart, Nestle, Aldi and other industry giants.
A lot has changed over 6 years since WFA began: “When we started the initiative many companies in our sector did not have a dedicated diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) team. Now we are seeing organizations recruiting experienced, C-suite level experts who are driving this forward in their businesses. We are also observing more diverse senior leadership teams across the sector, but while this progress is positive, we still have a long way to go.”
“The reason businesses should be focusing on DEI is clear”, Elisabeth added. “Diverse teams make a business more profitable. A series of studies by McKinsey showed companies that had more diverse executive teams were 25% more likely to have above-average profitability than those with less diverse teams. We believe a diverse and inclusive workforce fosters the innovation and creativity needed to solve the big challenges agri-food faces.”
Elisabeth emphasizes that WFA is not just an initiative for women. “It is vital we have the support of all genders to address gender balance in our sector. Historically the advancement of women was viewed as a challenge for women to tackle alone. In reality, we will only see true change if everyone is on board and working towards a more equitable sector.”
“WFA is dedicated to cultivating a future where diversity, innovation, and sustainable practices thrive, creating a resilient and inclusive agri-food industry for generations to come. We encourage everyone in the sector to get involved in the initiative by volunteering to be a mentor, joining one of our events, or even following us on LinkedIn to learn more about what is going on in the world of DEI in the agri-food sector.”
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Global Events- WFA: Americas
WFA: Americas is the must-attend event for leaders and aspiring leaders in the agri-food sector. Join WFA in Chicago October 6-7, to hear guest speakers from leading food and agribusinesses as well as experts in career development, to learn about advancing careers and breaking barriers to build a truly diverse workforce.
Whether you’re a seasoned industry leader, a rising professional, or an enthusiastic student, WFA: Americas offers unparalleled opportunities to network, learn, and collaborate. From thought-provoking discussions on a sustainable workforce to practical workshops on leadership and career development, there’s something for everyone.
The event is taking place on October 6-7, 2024 at the Intercontinental Magnificent Mile in Chicago. Find out more at: https://wfa-initiative.com/events/
WFA Mentorship Program
The WFA Mentorship Program matches hundreds of aspiring female leaders each year with mentors of all genders, to elevate women through providing career advice and helping them to cultivate meaningful and mutually beneficial industry connections.
Developed in partnership with Alltech, this global initiative enables meaningful change while enhancing management and leadership skills.
Take part by finding a mentor to help with your personal and professional development or becoming a mentor to support the next generation of female agri-food leaders. By committing to only one hour a month, you could help grow gender diversity across the food and agriculture industry.
Applications for our current cohort are open until July 26, 2024. To apply for our mentorship program or find out more visit: https://wfa-initiative.com/mentorship-program/
Written by Nick Wood
