33 min
No Apologies From Strong Women And Their Valuable Voices With Icon Jill Overdorf, Director Of Business Development At Naturipe The Produce Moms Podcast
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- Health & Fitness
“We are encouraging women to bring their capabilities to the table in a way that’s unapologetic.”
Jill Overdorf (25:15-25:24)
Jill Overdorf is one of the first women who had the “boss lady” mentality and reputation in the produce industry and rightfully so! She’s strong, powerful, unapologetic and a key stakeholder in the empowerment of women across the board. She’s technically been in the industry since “starting her own culinary business” at the age of 13! From pushing hand carts, picking produce, driving box trucks and working 20 years as an executive chef, Jill has done it all without letting anything get in the way of her confident drive.
Now the Director of Business Development at Naturipe, Jill never expected to dive into the produce industry. After graduating with a major in film and communication, she went to the Culinary Institute of America and was offered two jobs directly after graduating – one in New Zealand and one opening a restaurant in Manhattan. Jill recalls, “I was terrified of Manhattan. I grew up in Boston and Manhattan scared the bejeezus out of me, so that’s the job that I chose.”
From there, Jill has worked as an executive chef at exciting locations like Dreamwork Studios and the Getty Museum, while living on every single continent as a way to embrace all of our different cultures and the way they utilize food to come together in harmony. Jill eventually came aboard Naturipe to join the already strong roster of powerful women and was wowed by Naturipe’s focus on “our ability as individuals – our strengths, our intellect and our capabilities as a person,” not gender.
“To have somebody say, ‘I need your help’, is really empowering because that means your voice has been understood and appreciated… and then to be able to say to those same people that you need help offers a reciprocal opportunity that is so important in any relationship, but especially when you’re elevating women.” Jill Overdorf (11:50-12:12)
Naturipe does an incredible job at giving everyone the ability to be as autonomous as they need to be, while also supporting one another to elevate each other and the entire industry. There’s plenty of women who reach out to one another for help and support, which Jill appreciates because it shows her/your voice has been understood and appreciated. It’s incredibly important to have that reciprocal support, especially when elevating women, and a safe environment to ask for help.
Even though COVID was challenging for Jill especially because of the lack of connectivity we all had, she loves that Naturipe made it a point to have regular team calls and a transparent line of communication. It takes a team to be successful and Naturipe is a great example of valuing everyone as an individual for their capabilities and strengths, regardless of their gender.
Lori and Jill both recall the days of attending produce industry conferences just 20 years ago where there were hardly any women there. Cat calling was prominent, cursory glances and getting “looked up and down” on the market floor by men. Now, there’s a long line to wait for the women’s restroom at these conferences and certainly less of a fight to “prove yourself” as a woman. It’s no surprise Jill has received comments of, “who do you think you are!?” because she’s never been afraid to walk in a room and ask questions without qualifying who she is or why she deserves to be there.
“Confidence is disarming. Confidence in men and strong women is disarming.” Jill Overdorf (23:56-24:10)
Whether you’re a woman just entering the produce industry looking towards the future, or one who’s been experiencing the same transformation for years, Jill reminds all women that “it’s okay to be smart, it’s okay to ask questions, and it’s okay to push the boundaries if you’re doing it in a way that’s sincere.”
We all want
“We are encouraging women to bring their capabilities to the table in a way that’s unapologetic.”
Jill Overdorf (25:15-25:24)
Jill Overdorf is one of the first women who had the “boss lady” mentality and reputation in the produce industry and rightfully so! She’s strong, powerful, unapologetic and a key stakeholder in the empowerment of women across the board. She’s technically been in the industry since “starting her own culinary business” at the age of 13! From pushing hand carts, picking produce, driving box trucks and working 20 years as an executive chef, Jill has done it all without letting anything get in the way of her confident drive.
Now the Director of Business Development at Naturipe, Jill never expected to dive into the produce industry. After graduating with a major in film and communication, she went to the Culinary Institute of America and was offered two jobs directly after graduating – one in New Zealand and one opening a restaurant in Manhattan. Jill recalls, “I was terrified of Manhattan. I grew up in Boston and Manhattan scared the bejeezus out of me, so that’s the job that I chose.”
From there, Jill has worked as an executive chef at exciting locations like Dreamwork Studios and the Getty Museum, while living on every single continent as a way to embrace all of our different cultures and the way they utilize food to come together in harmony. Jill eventually came aboard Naturipe to join the already strong roster of powerful women and was wowed by Naturipe’s focus on “our ability as individuals – our strengths, our intellect and our capabilities as a person,” not gender.
“To have somebody say, ‘I need your help’, is really empowering because that means your voice has been understood and appreciated… and then to be able to say to those same people that you need help offers a reciprocal opportunity that is so important in any relationship, but especially when you’re elevating women.” Jill Overdorf (11:50-12:12)
Naturipe does an incredible job at giving everyone the ability to be as autonomous as they need to be, while also supporting one another to elevate each other and the entire industry. There’s plenty of women who reach out to one another for help and support, which Jill appreciates because it shows her/your voice has been understood and appreciated. It’s incredibly important to have that reciprocal support, especially when elevating women, and a safe environment to ask for help.
Even though COVID was challenging for Jill especially because of the lack of connectivity we all had, she loves that Naturipe made it a point to have regular team calls and a transparent line of communication. It takes a team to be successful and Naturipe is a great example of valuing everyone as an individual for their capabilities and strengths, regardless of their gender.
Lori and Jill both recall the days of attending produce industry conferences just 20 years ago where there were hardly any women there. Cat calling was prominent, cursory glances and getting “looked up and down” on the market floor by men. Now, there’s a long line to wait for the women’s restroom at these conferences and certainly less of a fight to “prove yourself” as a woman. It’s no surprise Jill has received comments of, “who do you think you are!?” because she’s never been afraid to walk in a room and ask questions without qualifying who she is or why she deserves to be there.
“Confidence is disarming. Confidence in men and strong women is disarming.” Jill Overdorf (23:56-24:10)
Whether you’re a woman just entering the produce industry looking towards the future, or one who’s been experiencing the same transformation for years, Jill reminds all women that “it’s okay to be smart, it’s okay to ask questions, and it’s okay to push the boundaries if you’re doing it in a way that’s sincere.”
We all want
33 min