WFF Executive Summit Looks To Build Foodservice Leaders

Nearly 250 foodservice executives met in Phoenix this week for the Women's Foodservice Forum Executive Summit, an annual event focused on developing the leadership ranks of the industry it serves.

In partnership with Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, the Executive Summit offered opportunities for learning, sharing and the building of critical leadership attributes needed to lead effective teams and build sustainable organizations.

"It was wonderful to connect with industry peers and friends at this year's Executive Summit," said Lorna Donatone, Sodexo chief operating officer and education market president, and WFF chair. "The content was outstanding, we'll all be returning to our organizations with stronger leadership skills and insights that will help us go further."

This year's program included keynote presentations from Dev Patnaik, chief executive of Jump Associates, and author of "Wired to Care: How companies prosper when they create widespread empathy," and Dov Seidman, founder, chairman and chief executive of LRN, and author of "HOW: Why How we do anything means everything."

Faculty from the Kellogg School of Management tackled topics from building influence to entrepreneurship in a corporate setting and the importance of innovation. The Executive Summit was held at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel & Spa and wrapped up Wednesday.

"Advancing more women leaders is something we must tackle as an industry," WFF president and chief executive Fritzi Woods said. "It was great to have so many leading foodservice companies, big and small, here to participate in the programming and demonstrate their commitment."

Contact Sarah E. Lockyer at sarah.lockyer@penton.com.
Follow her on Twitter: @slockyerNRN