In this episode, Melody Ge shares her career journey from R&D director to advocating for food safety and the founding of Women in Food Safety, a community aimed at bridging the gap between academia and industry while supporting female leadership. Highlighting the soft skills necessary for higher positions in food safety, Melody emphasizes confidence, adaptability, and continuous learning. The episode explores the challenges and opportunities within the food safety sector, the impact of the Women in Food Safety community, and the importance of curiosity and staying updated with evolving industry standards.

Episode Highlights:

04:42 Founding Women in Food Safety

08:15 Empowering Women in Food Safety

11:24 The Importance of Soft Skills in Leadership

22:57 Adapting to Change in the Food Safety Industry

Melody Ge is the Sr. Director of Operations Quality at TreeHouse Foods Inc., driving a culture of safety and quality across manufacturing facilities. With 15+ years of expertise in food safety, quality, and social responsibility, she has held key roles with GFSI CPOs, retailers, manufacturers, and testing labs. A Six-Sigma Black Belt, PCQI Lead Instructor, and SQF Trainer, Melody’s leadership spans StarKist, Neogen Analytics, Lidl US, SQFI, and Beyond Meat. She holds an M.S. and B.S. in Food Science and Engineering and certification in Data Science, blending technical expertise with innovative solutions to champion smarter food safety practices.

Connect with Melody:

Company Website: www.womeninfoods.org
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melody-ge-54116717/

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In this episode, Tony Ulwick shares his career journey from IBM engineer to innovation expert, discussing his groundbreaking methodologies that focus on understanding customer needs to drive successful innovations. Tony shares practical examples and insights on how companies can avoid innovation pitfalls, leverage AI effectively, and achieve significant market success. The conversation emphasizes the importance of being outcome-driven and offers guidance for product leaders and innovators.

Episode Highlights:

02:33 Tony's Journey: From IBM to Innovation Expert

04:47 Understanding Customer Needs and Innovation

07:38 The Importance of Job Maps in Innovation

34:33 The Role of AI in Innovation

Tony is the pioneer of Jobs-to-be-Done Theory, the inventor of the Outcome-Driven Innovation® (ODI) process, and the founder of strategy and innovation consulting firm Strategyn. Tony has applied his ODI process at some of the world’s leading companies and across nearly all industries to inform breakthrough innovations—achieving a success rate that is 5 times better than the industry average. Philip Kotler calls Tony “the Deming of innovation” and credits him with bringing predictability to innovation. Published in Harvard Business Review and MIT Sloan Management Review, Tony is also the author of best sellers What Customers Want and JOBS TO BE DONE: Theory to Practice.

Connect with Tony:

Company Website: Strategyn.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyulwick/

For more insights:

Book a call: https://bit.ly/4cToGDs

Follow me on my YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/47GgMdn

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In this episode, Dima Ghawi discusses her inspiring journey from a suppressed Middle Eastern upbringing to becoming a global influencer, coach, and leadership consultant. Dima shares her early life lessons about perfection from her grandmother, her escape from an abusive marriage, and her ascent in the corporate world spurred by supportive leaders. They delve into themes like overcoming life's limitations, enhancing workplace cultures, DEI initiatives, and the crucial role of authentic leadership. The discussion covers practical strategies for leaders to foster environments where employees feel valued, understood, and motivated to break their own barriers.

Episode Highlights:

04:46 Breaking Free: Dima's Escape and New Beginnings

06:06 The Role of Leadership in Personal Growth

13:22 Dima's Professional Journey and DEI Initiatives

20:46 Creating Healthy Work Cultures

Dima Ghawi is a globally recognized leadership expert and award-winning author dedicated to empowering individuals to break barriers and become courageous, purpose-driven leaders. With Middle Eastern roots, an American heart, and a global perspective, her journey spans continents and cultures, inspiring personal and professional transformation.

Drawing on two decades of corporate leadership with Fortune 100 companies like IBM, Merrill Lynch, and Intuit, Dima specializes in cultivating inclusive corporate cultures and developing leaders for the global workforce. Her memoir, Breaking Vases, has earned multiple accolades, including the Writer’s Digest Grand Prize.

Dima’s impactful work has been honored with prestigious awards such as the IWEC Award, Mosaic Champion Award, and President’s Bronze Volunteer Service Award. Through keynotes, workshops, and executive coaching, she ignites potential, advocates for inclusivity, and empowers diverse voices in corporate and community spaces.

Connect with Dima:

Company Websites: https://www.dimaghawi.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dima.ghawi/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dimaghawi/

For more insights:

Book a call: https://bit.ly/4cToGDs

Follow me on my YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/47GgMdn

Sign up for my Weekly Newsletter: https://bit.ly/3T09kVc

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