Growing the Next Generation of Food Industry Leaders

Food and Beverage Processor Forum

It's no secret that the industry is pressed to attract a sustainable flow of talent to its field. But that's only part of the picture. With intense competition among adjacent industries to attract talent and about a quarter of the workforce set to come to retirement age by 2025, the push is on to engage with promising job seekers. But attracting new talent is one thing—growing the future of industry leaders is another.

Chances are, if your career path has led you to a leadership position in your organization—as is the case with many of our listeners—then you know it's not a path you walk alone. There are many people who support you along the way, whether through mentorship, professional development opportunities, or just taking a chance on you. These relationships not only enrich your career journey but play a crucial role in shaping you into the leader you are today. Today's episode is about that journey.

Here to help us explore how employers can connect with a young and promising generation, foster an environment where they can flourish, and arm them with the tools and resources to begin shaping their businesses for the better, we are joined by three industry experts who are at the leading edge of employee attraction, retention, and career development.

Working passionately to develop food leaders in our region, we welcome FBO's very own Isabel Dopta, Director of Communications. Isabel is also the project lead for CareersNOW!, a platform that connects employers with qualified job seekers in the food and beverage processing sector.

We're also joined by Nicole Gallace, who you may know from CareersNOW! Job fairs and mentorship series. Nicole is the founder of FoodGrads, which focuses on closing the gap between students/recent graduates and employers in Food Service & Food Processing. She's an experienced recruiter who's dedicated to helping young professionals find their perfect fit in the food and beverage industry. Nicole's enthusiasm for empowering the next generation of leaders and her deep understanding of the recruitment landscape make her an invaluable resource for both employers and job seekers.

Finally, we welcome Karolina Rachtan. Karolina is on the front line of career development and youth engagement. She's a Career Advisor with the U of G since October 2016 and has worked for U of G since 2012. Karolina’s portfolio includes targeted services for students from the Ontario Agricultural College, as well as a focus on students with disabilities. Prior to 2016, she worked as an Employment Counsellor as well as Job Developer within the Employment Ontario sector.

Together, we'll have a look at the role mentorship and professional development programs play in cultivating future leaders and explore how employers can create a culture of innovation and continuous improvement in their organizations. Finally, we'll take stock of what's catching the eye of youth entering the workforce, be it the opportunity to work with leading-edge technology that's transforming the sector, an inclusive workplace culture, or a business's commitment to social and environmental responsibility. Let's dive in!

About Food and Beverage Ontario

Food and Beverage Ontario is a not-for-profit leadership organization dedicated to advancing the interests of Ontario's food and beverage processors. The organization's focus is on the success, prosperity and growth of the food and beverage processing sector - a $40 billion industry and a major contributor to the province's economy.

To learn more about Food and Beverage Ontario, visit https://foodandbeverageontario.ca/