Her Story
About Alison
Alison Shepard is a Senior Product Marketing Manager at Trustwell, a software-as-a-service company focused on solutions for the food industry. As a tech-enabled sustainable food systems professional, she specializes in translating complex technical products and capabilities into clear, meaningful value for customers. Her work centers on product marketing, customer insights, food safety, traceability, and strengthening the systems that support a safer and more sustainable food supply chain.
Alison brings extensive experience across food technology, sustainability, customer success, and retail food supply chains. Before joining Trustwell, she spent nearly four years at Divert, where she advanced through sustainability, account management, and customer success roles while working with major grocery retailers to reduce the environmental impact of food waste. Earlier in her career, she served as a Green Team Captain and Sustainability Officer at Whole Foods Market, conducting waste audits and helping departments reduce waste and their environmental footprint. She also spent three years in Japan through the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program, working with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Shinjuku High School in education, translation, communications, and advocacy.
Alison holds a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from The Fletcher School at Tufts University, where she focused on sustainable food systems, environmental law, and policy, as well as a bachelor's degree in international service from American University with a focus on Japan and East Asian policy. She has further developed her expertise through certifications in customer research and project management. Known for being creative, solution-oriented, and highly collaborative, Alison approaches her work by connecting big-picture ideas with practical steps that produce measurable results. Her career reflects a commitment to innovation, sustainability, food safety, and building stronger systems that benefit both organizations and the communities they serve.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Alison
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to curiosity, creativity, and taking an active approach to my career. I believe in staying informed, exploring new ideas, and understanding how my work connects to the broader goals of my organization and industry.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received is not to over-explain. As you become more senior, learn to identify what context is truly helpful and share only what people need to make good decisions and do their jobs effectively.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would encourage young women entering my industry to recognize that they are more capable than they may realize. Believe in yourself, avoid second-guessing your abilities, and trust that you are capable of achieving more than others may expect.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The food industry is facing growing challenges, including food safety issues, recalls, severe weather events, and risks related to unsafe water in the supply chain. However, these challenges create opportunities for those who stay proactive, prepared, and focused on protecting customers, consumers, and food safety.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are empathy, purpose, and keeping the human element at the center of my work. I always ask why something matters and how it impacts the people I work with, remembering that we are all doing our best to make life better for others.
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