This International Women’s Day, we have created a two-part series to celebrate six trailblazing US business leaders who share what inspired them to lead, and how they overcame challenges to become successful executives in the previously male-dominated foodservice consultancy world. Their brilliance in skill and experience exemplifies why the future is bright for women reshaping the industry. Part one, in their own words, is below.
Laura Lentz FCSI, design principal, Culinary Advisors, LLC
I had food in my blood from a very young age. Growing up, fresh food was always a staple in our house, and I’d set up buffets on the ironing board just for fun. Setting the table was honestly my favorite chore. Hospitality came naturally to me, and my path became clearer at Cornell, where I studied hotel administration. How I got into that school, I’ll never know. It certainly wasn’t by grades alone. But what stuck with me was the pragmatic advice: 60% of the workforce is employed in the foodservice industry, so you’re never going to not have a job.
After Cornell, I joined Four Seasons, but the schedule wasn’t sustainable for the life I wanted. I then managed a historic property before moving into design consulting, which fitted well given my parents’ backgrounds in architecture.
After 10 years with Cini-Little, I joined Culinary Advisors, and this past year, I became the majority owner. We are 100% woman owned. I’ve been lucky to find women like myself as mentors, people who’ve helped guide me and keep my emotions in check in situations that need working through. I credit both women and men as mentors and try to do a better job at being there for other women who are trying to be leaders.
Being the only young woman in a room full of men, especially on construction sites, has its challenges. I’ve always been one to challenge that. You know, if you’re going into something, you’ve got to be right and you’ve got to be fair. Sometimes, even women judge each other more harshly than we should. So, I guess that’s my way of saying it is both sides of the coin in this path we are all forging together, women and men and people of all different backgrounds.
Industry groups such as FCSI and Society for Hospitality and Foodservice Management (SHFM) have been invaluable, and I’m always reading leadership books. My shelves are full of them.
My advice for other women is, whatever you want to do, go do it. Make sure people know what it is you want to do. Don’t let roadblocks stop you. Advocate for yourself, seek opinions, and coach upwards to your leaders if needed.
Above all, I remember my father’s words: “Every day is a gift.” If you love your job, see it through and keep yourself happy.
Kristin Sedej FCSI, president-principal, S2O Consultants, Inc
When I started working at Burger King at 15, I honestly had no idea this industry even existed. Independence was always my thing. I didn’t want to listen to my parents, so college didn’t fit at first. After a year, I stopped going to college. But I went back, and 15 years after high school graduation, back in 2000, I finally got my bachelor’s degree.
A turning point for me was meeting Ray Sparrowe, the Dean of the Hospitality Management Program, an FCSI foodservice consultant. He was the one that kind of introduced me to this whole crazy industry. For seven years, I waitressed and bartended while raising my kids, keeping my ambitions alive: I was gearing up for what I wanted to be when I grew up while I was raising the kids.
After 9/11 delayed a job offer, I finally joined a firm and, thanks to the faith of Harry Schildkraut FCSI, started S3 Consultants in 2003 with a third partner. When that dissolved in 2008, Harry and I decided to forge ahead together, starting S2O Consultants. I was clear: If I’m doing this, I want 51%. I want the control. We grew from two people to 13, and now my daughter and son are part of the team.
Being a woman in a male-dominated field has its moments. Hopefully other women are starting to see it as just normal. Lead by example, right? FCSI has been incredible for networking and support. The friendships that I have made through the course of this, they’re unbelievable, lifelong friendships.
I’ve learned to use being underestimated as a strength. Being underestimated is my biggest superpower. I’ll never forget a meeting where someone said, “We’re not going to do that today, okay, Sweetie?” My daughter saw me stay calm and keep going. That’s what I do, just carry on.
My advice for women is, before you take advice from someone, look at where they’re at. And is that what you want to be? Find mentors, ask questions, and be brave enough to stand up for yourself, to walk away, or do whatever you need to do. If you’re at the table, remember you belong. We’re all deserving. But we do have to work for it. It’s not handed to us.
Sojo Alex FCSI, managing director, Envision Strategies
Raised in Bahrain, I studied in India before moving to the US for graduate school. At 21, I worked in a university dining hall in Chicago, my real introduction to the world of foodservice. While earning my Master’s, I interned in campus dining, opening the door to the industry.
Breaking into the professional world after graduation wasn’t easy. As a business major, I learned quickly that securing a job in the US can be challenging. But an opportunity in foodservice marketing at a university in Florida launched my career. Later, I moved to Michigan to join my husband and became the brand manager for Michigan State University’s Culinary Services, where I had the privilege of supporting several dynamic changes across the department.
I first discovered the field of foodservice consulting while still at MSU, a profession I hadn’t known existed. When I joined Envision Strategies, I truly started from the ground up, doing everything from supporting surveys to learning the nuances of consulting. With guidance from colleagues, peers, and mentors, especially within FCSI, I grew from associate to principal and, in 2024, became a partner.
One of the best parts of being an FCSI member is the balance between competition and community. We may compete for projects, but we’re also a group of peers who genuinely care about one another’s success. That sense of connection has been one of the most meaningful parts of my journey.
My challenges throughout my career were not only about being a woman. I was young, and I was a woman of color in a field where I didn’t see many people who looked like me. Those layers bring their own complexities. Many women before me broke barriers and paved the way for me to rise. Looking ahead, progress isn’t just about increasing the number of women in the field. It’s about broadening diversity of experience, perspective, and background across our industry.
One of the most important pieces of advice I can offer is to work with an executive coach. My coach helped me think differently about my career and my future, asking questions like, “What vision have you created for yourself?”
We are all different types of women with different stories and strengths. On International Women’s Day, and every day, we should continue lifting one another up, asking “What’s next?” while staying grounded in genuine human connection along the way.
Further details:
For our next IWD 2026 instalment, part two hears from three more inspiring women leading in the world of US foodservice consultancy.
Lauren Hurrell
Pictured: Laura Lentz FCSI, Kristin Sedej FCSI, Sojo Alex FCSI
