Gina Galvan
Gina Galvan is a visionary entrepreneur, food innovator, and strategist with over 27 years of experience in the food and beverage industry. As CEO and founder of Mood for Food Strategic Consult, she has led transformative projects across restaurants, CPG, and foodservice operations, specializing in clean label, plant-based, vegan, and allergen-sensitive products. A UCLA alumna, Gina combines her academic foundation in psychology with her deep culinary expertise to create innovative food solutions that delight consumers and drive business growth. She has been instrumental in developing iconic menu items such as the Double Decker Taco for Taco Bell, the Crispy Shrimp Taco for Del Taco, and the Tortilla Spinrolls for California Pizza Kitchen.
Gina’s career highlights include strategic innovation leadership for brands such as Freebirds World Burrito, Boudin+, and CHKNnotChicken, as well as involvement in numerous seed-to-series funding rounds for successful CPG products. Her work emphasizes consumer insights, product formulation, commercialization, menu engineering, and operations optimization. Notably, her plant-based “Veganrizo” blend for Beyond Meat increased sales by 400%, showcasing her talent for creating commercially successful, trend-driven products. She has been recognized for her excellence in innovation, including receiving the Sophie Award for her Blue Cheese Dip line and multiple accolades at industry expos such as Expo West.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Gina is deeply committed to giving back to her community and the environment. She volunteers with Rock the Autism, coordinates fundraisers for The Ecology Center in Orange County, and promotes sustainable food practices. Fluent in Spanish, Gina balances her entrepreneurial endeavors with family life, sharing a business partnership and marriage with her husband. A celebrated speaker and author, she inspires the next generation of food innovators with her passion, creativity, and unwavering dedication to the culinary arts.
• UCLA - BA
• Top 5% Most Viewed Profiles on Linkedin 2012
• Rock the Autism
• The Ecology Center, Orange County
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my ability to craft experiences with my unique flavor palette while always putting myself in the consumer’s shoes. This perspective allows me to create products and experiences that truly resonate with the people I serve.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is to never burn your bridges. Maintaining positive relationships and leaving every situation with professionalism and respect opens doors and preserves opportunities for the future.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is that you have to fight hard for your goals, but the effort is absolutely worth it. Persistence, resilience, and confidence in your abilities will carry you through challenges and help you achieve meaningful success.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges—and opportunities—in my field right now is creating cleaner, more thoughtful products that meet the evolving nutritional needs of each generation. Staying ahead requires understanding how consumer preferences and health priorities shift over time and adapting accordingly.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me in both my work and personal life are a commitment to continuous learning and the ability to truly listen. Staying open to new ideas and perspectives allows me to grow, adapt, and make meaningful connections with others.