Influential Woman · Food Safety

Rebecca Wicks

Food Safety & Quality Assurance Supervisor, Smithfield Foods

Mason City, IA

1Award received

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree Bachelor of Science in Animal Science Degree Iowa State University Degree 2020

Her Story

About Rebecca

I've been in my industry for coming up on 6 years now, having graduated in 2020. My journey into this field started when I took a job at the Iowa State Meat Lab in college and figured out that I really liked working in the food industry, specifically in the meat industry, and realized I could make a career out of it. I also competed on the Iowa State meat judging team, so we traveled all over the Midwest to different colleges competing in different meat grading competitions. My day really does change from day to day - no two days are the same - but on a daily basis, I am responsible for making sure my facility maintains compliance with all federal regulations, customer specifications, and any third-party regulations that we fall under, and making sure that all of the food we produce is safe and wholesome for our consumer. It's been an amazing journey. I love what I do, I love food safety, and I love all the different people it's allowed me to meet. One of my most notable professional achievements so far has been being recognized as a standout first-year supervisor by the top executives at my company.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Rebecca

01What do you attribute your success to?

I attribute my success to perseverance. There were plenty of times I could have given up and chose not to, and now I am where I am. The best career advice I probably ever got was to learn anything that I could, even if I didn't think it directly applied to my job, because you never know what knowledge will come in useful one day. I've taken that to heart throughout my journey, and it's helped me get to where I am today.

02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

The best career advice I probably ever got was to learn anything that I could, even if I didn't think it directly applied to my job, because you never know what knowledge will come in useful one day. That advice has really stuck with me and shaped how I approach my work and professional development.

03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

Don't back down. If you think you can't, you absolutely can, and you'll be surprised what you can do if you put your mind to it. There will be challenges and moments of doubt, but believe in yourself and your abilities, because you're capable of more than you might think.

04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

One of the biggest challenges I face is that there's a lot of pushback - people see production as more important than food safety, so trying to get people to see things the way I see things can be a very big struggle in the day-to-day. As for opportunities, I see the chance to continue defining what food safety and quality is, and continuing to push my company to be an industry leader in food safety and quality. It's about changing mindsets and setting higher standards for the entire industry.

05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

My most important values at work are honesty and integrity. I also value compassion, both at work and in my personal life. Everyone's got their own stuff going on, and just because something is important to me doesn't mean it's important to everyone. I try to meet people where their priorities lie, instead of forcing my own. It's about understanding that we all have different perspectives and challenges, and approaching others with empathy and respect.

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