Anna Akariza

I attribute my success to the community around me and the mentors I've had. Throughout my career, I've been fortunate to work in areas where my managers were fully women, which is very peculiar and not common in the food industry since it's very male-focused. Having women alongside me allowed me to feel a sense of belonging and gave me the confidence to apply for grants and share my ideas because I saw them in meetings doing exactly that. I wasn't scared to ask for things or present my ideas. The people you interact with and the environment you place yourself in really determines whether you can succeed. I feel like how far I've come is because I love the community around me and those mentors who have supported me along the way.

The best career advice I've received is about placing yourself in an environment that will allow you to succeed. Look for areas and join organizations focused on women in STEM or whatever field you're in. When you're going through your career day-to-day, the work tasks get so much that you forget to take a minute, and these organizations might seem like a lot of work, but by being in those organizations, it allows you to get feedback from people, be observant, and be aware of what's out there. Sometimes you can get so caught up in the daily work that you lose sight of the bigger picture, but being part of these communities keeps you connected and informed about opportunities.

I would tell young women not to just take what life gives them. Don't just go for whatever is available or settle for surviving. Instead, go the extra mile, get out of your comfort zone, and go for what you really, really want. Whatever that is, that's what you should seek to get rather than just accepting whatever comes your way. With that approach, you will end up being where you are supposed to be rather than just surviving. Go for what you want and look for those resources and people who will help you get there. Find mentors and build a community that supports you, because that's a very big thing. The community around you makes such a difference in how far you can go.

There are a lot of opportunities in the food industry because it's a very broad industry. Whatever you want to do, you can do in the food industry. Whether you're interested in computer science, analytics, or whatever field or academic degree you have, you can go into the food industry. It's about the people you interact with and telling them your interests, and then they will guide you. They'll better guide you to which area in food industry you can incorporate your interests in. The breadth of the industry means there's room for people from all different backgrounds and specialties to find their place and make meaningful contributions.

I'm a Christian, so that's a big one for me. Everything I do connects back to that and to serving others. I focus on doing things not just for me, but thinking about how they impact the outside world beyond myself. I think that's why after school I went more towards nutrition, to better contribute to the whole food industry. The food industry is one of those industries where there's a lot of not good things happening and a lot of products that aren't good for you, so it's nice to participate in actually adding value to food and making better-for-you products. My faith drives me to think about service and making a positive impact on people's lives through the work I do.