Julie Swift

Building Muscle Where Women Really Need It

Julie provided the EstabliSHEd keynote for a second time for Buyer's Edge Platform, this time focusing on Performance Development Reviews and the opportunities they provide for women.

With the right focus and deliberation, women can use reviews to build confidence, to embrace and lean into foundational support, and to gain autonomy over our career growth and advancement.

Always an advocate, Julie shared details and suggestions for getting the most out of the entire review process -- before, during and after -- along with resources to help attendees expand their knowledge, feel prepared, and get the most out of their reviews.

Panel Spotlight: Leading the Way—Women Transforming Fast Casual & QSR Leadership

Industry Now's annual event brings people together from across fast casual and QSR for two days of networking, learning, new ideas and engaging conversations.

Managing people in these segments presents unique challenges and opportunities. At this year's event, Julie and her fellow panelists share insights on how women in leadership are reshaping the way things get done.

Determined to challenge the status quo and to empower and elevate future leaders, Julie lends her voice and expertise to uplifting women across the value chain and throughout the foodservice channel.

Foodservice Women's Alliance (FWA) champions pay equity initiatives to combat gender and racial disparities, aiming for transparency and fair representation across the industry.

Things just have a way of coming full circle. How appropriate that Julie would moderate this NACS session on c-store foodservice when her industry beginning started in the supermarket deli. High's Convenience Store's own Sherryn Diamond weighs in on "Branded vs. Proprietary Foodservice Programs: What Is Best for You?". The answer: it's complicated.

But you can always count on Julie to get to the bottom of it and help figure it out.

Own the Journey interviews top business leaders and provides a forum for sharing their knowledge and the lessons they've learned with entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Julie has three messages:

• Owning the journey and identifying the issues that hold you back.
• Being diverse and including a variety of voices and points of view.
• Being yourself.

And as always, she delivers them with her engaging enthusiasm.

One of the foodservice industry's most respected publications, Food Institute consulted Julie for information about the big-picture effects of inflation on foodservice - for manufacturers, operators and brokers. Her experience across the industry allows for comments that take into account every aspect of the foodservice economy.

NextUp works to advance women in business by helping women lift each other up as each reaches her unique potential along the way. Their annual summit is the event of the year, attracting thousands of members, allies and partners.

During the 2021 Summit, Julie spoke on a topic close to her heart: disability and inclusion.

Amber Weitzer's Silhouettes of Success Podcast strives to turn the spotlight on industrious women across the business landscape. Julie spoke with Amber about the grit and determination it took to succeed in the foodservice industry. One of our favorite parts - Amber calls Julie a "fireball of awesomeness." Julie shares day to day best practices and advice about values and boundaries that can help turn potholes and roadblocks into opportunities. Julie's resolute nature and her love for the foodservice industry shine through in this inspiring interview.

Biz 417's Advice and Whiskey column provides pithy quotes and great advice from interviews with leaders across industries and business communities. Julie sat down over drinks to share some of her wisdom from thirty years in foodservice. Be an expert on your product. Bring your passion. And bring your integrity. Julie's words apply to any business, at any level of leadership.

Read more of Julie's expert advice, regardless of what your industry.

Breaking Bread and Biases: Why restaurants (still) need more female voices.

Born from necessity, the Foodservice Women's Alliance (FWA) is a volunteer-led, grassroots collective disrupting industry norms to bridge the gender gap and foster an inclusive environment where women, especially women of color, can thrive and lead in their careers.

Chris Campbell

"Is there a business case to be made for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts? According to Julie Swift, foodservice industry veteran and founder of The Foodservice Women's Alliance, the answer is a resounding yes. On this episode of The Food Institute Podcast, Swift helps explain the impacts of unconscious bias, and how simple it can be to bring all team members to the table when leadership buys into DEI efforts."

In this series with Matt Cotton of Rooted Food Sales, Julie appears alongside Hannah Lopez and Ben Wahl as they answer questions and discuss brand entrepreneurship and moving into foodservice. In her signature style, Julie reminds listeners that there's so rarely a one-size-fits-all answer in foodservice - from due diligence to costs, the answer is often, “it depends.” And Julie is just the expert to explain why!

Buyer's Edge Platform provides data and technology that enables foodservice operators, manufacturers, and distributors to communicate efficiently and transparently throughout the supply chain.

As part of their EstabliSHEd Women's Employee Resource Group, Julie spoke about the value and importance of ERGs, even at a company as committed to diversity as Buyer's Edge.

Her presentation moved on to one of the things she does best - connecting with people and helping them connect with others. Julie calls it "networking like your career depends on it - because it does."

She closed with the roles involved in supporting women in any organization: allyship, advocacy, and sponsorship.

Episode #133
Anthony Atiase uses his podcast to highlight inspirational lives and stories from people who are at once every day and extraordinary.

Julie talks about the experiences that led her from her father's supermarket to senior and executive leadership positions in both foodservice manufacturing and brokerage—and from foodservice industry leadership to work that focuses on changing the world for the better.

Julie was named one of Aramark's 2024 "40 Under 40," honoring emerging leaders who are making meaningful impacts on their organizations and industries.

Episode #4
Nick Portillo's Titans of Foodservice podcast highlights industry leaders whose paths to success can serve as roadmaps for professionals throughout the foodservice world.

Julie appeared as one of the very first guests on Nick's popular podcast to discuss her journey to success, her motivations, and her dreams for the Foodservice Women's Alliance.

Favorite quote:
"With a DEIB focus, an employee can expect to bring their authentic self to work, to be invited to the table, to be listened to, respected, to feel like they belong and are making a difference for that company. That happens on an individual basis. There isn't one big paint brush you can take and paint this space with."