Recognizing that March is “Women's History Month,” Dairy Foods, for the third consecutive year, proudly recognizes the outstanding achievements women have made within the multifaceted dairy industry. From a woman who grew up on a small dairy farm near New York and was involved in 4-H at an early age like Jennifer Simpson of Chobani, to Becky Rasdall Vargas’s pivotal role at the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) in leading trade and workplace policy and, most recently, serving as a mentor in IDFA’s Women in Dairy Mentoring Circles which has tripled in participation under her leadership.

Dairy Foods also spotlights Hannah Pollack who co-founded Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches in 2016 because she saw a gap in the market for high-quality, handcrafted ice cream sandwiches that deliver an elevated dessert experience.

At Nelson-Jameson for 15 years, Devon Vogel brings product management, strategy and solutions to  help dairy producers and suppliers be successful while also being good stewards of communities. Armed with an MBA and originally working in the produce industry, Jessica Wojslaw moved through the ranks at Stonyfield Organic, now serving as Brand Manager for siggi’s.

Dairy Foods asked these fascinating women some thought-provoking questions about how they got their start in the dairy industry, challenges they’re grappling with, whether they think their pay is equitable to their male colleagues, and their best advice/motto crucial to their success and career in dairy. In some cases, responses were edited for space and clarity.

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Question: Do you have a mentor that has helped further your growth? Have you, in turn, mentored others?

Jennifer Simpson, Chobani

“I have had multiple mentors that have helped me throughout my career, all bringing in different perspectives and guidance. I have used that in order to mentor others today in and out of the dairy industry.”

Becky Rasdall Vargas, IDFA 

“I try to regularly seek mentors in every role I hold simply by not being afraid to ask a lot of questions of those I perceive to be open to sharing. I think we easily overthink mentorship, like it needs to be a formal, stated relationship, when in reality there are moments of mentorship that happen every day if we’re just open to listening to those around us.

“That being said, I also really love serving others and do participate formally as a mentor in IDFA’s Women in Dairy Mentoring Circles, which I’m excited to say has tripled in participation under my leadership in the past year or so.  I also informally mentor others on my team or in the sector as opportunities arise — I think it’s really important for mentors to simply show up and be present for mentees, without there being any kind of inferiority implied in it.  That’s something I work at reminding myself to do.”

Jessica Wojslaw, siggi’s

“I work with an exceptional group of marketing leaders who challenge and support me in my career growth. I draw inspiration from our cross functional partners and lean on many women leaders in our organization.

“I am enjoying the chance to mentor my team of two Associate Brand Managers along with a number of up and coming women in dairy across the Stonyfield and siggi’s brands. Associate Brand Managers are responsible for identifying consumer trends, analyzing consumption data, and surfacing insights that the leadership teams can use for communications, new product development, and levers for growth.

“When they move into the brand manager position, they can take the experience of identifying insights and turn those into strategy for innovation, packaging, growing distribution, media planning, and brand positioning.”

Question: What challenges are you currently grappling with? 

Jennifer Simpson, Chobani

“At Chobani, my focus is on dairy sustainability, which I see as really more of an opportunity than a challenge. A big part of my work is to help get everyone on the same page — everyone from farmers to sustainability-focused organizations, to dairy processors — to drive progress. This includes building trust with all stakeholder groups and helping them understand that we all want the same thing — for the farms, the farmers, the animals, and the environment to be successful and sustainable in the long run.

“Another thing we’re all working toward is building a consistent set of standards and KPIs that track and measure our progress when it comes to implementing sustainable practices on farms. We all need to come together to compare and contrast the same information within these programs so we can understand what’s working and where we can be even more efficient.”

Becky Rasdall Vargas, IDFA

“Recent tariff announcements leave a lot at stake for the U.S. dairy sector so there is a lot of work to do to effectively advocate for outcomes that will benefit the sector rather than harm it. There is also a lot to be done to ensure dairy’s trade agenda remains both a focal point for the Administration and laser-focused on outcomes that will benefit U.S. dairy stakeholders day-in and day-out.
 
 “Finally, our workforce is facing a crisis of confusion right now — whether through immigration status uncertainty, how to advance legislative reform of immigration policies, or women who question how they can advance to leadership — so there is plenty of work ahead to support a robust and thriving workforce for dairy.  These are all the kinds of questions that I am working through day by day right now.”

Devon Vogel, Nelson-Jameson

“Balancing the demands of career and family is an ongoing focus for me, and it remains a significant challenge for many women, including those within the dairy industry. As a mentor within International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) Women’s Circles, I have seen firsthand how prevalent this issue is across various roles. It is crucial that we continue to elevate conversations surrounding these challenges, including burnout, the mental load, energy management, and setting boundaries.

“These areas require not only camaraderie and peer support but also tangible actions from employers and loved ones. While there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution, simple acts of acknowledgment and empathy, coupled with thoughtful policies, can play a critical role in ensuring that women’s challenges are heard and addressed.

“To address this challenge personally, my ongoing goal is to be more intentional about living in the moment and prioritizing my time with purpose. Although this is not always easy to achieve, I am making a conscious effort to carve out small moments of connection and mindfulness, even during the busiest days. This allows me to stay grounded and focused on what truly matters — my family. I view these moments as an opportunity to actively engage, create lasting memories, and be fully present. By fostering this same sense of mindfulness and presence in my professional role, I continue to navigate the ability to balance both aspects of my life with intention and purpose.”

Jessica Wojslaw, siggi’s

“Siggi’s grew nearly 30% this past year and we are on a phenomenal growth path! Even with this success we are up against some big brands in the yogurt space and have to work intentionally to continue our growth trajectory. Our biggest opportunity right now is to continue growing our distribution and growing our awareness with consumers.

“In addition to our media campaigns, we are working with fitness instructor, Emma Lovewell, to help educate consumers about the benefits of our high protein, low sugar yogurt as part of a wellness lifestyle. We’re also sponsoring the Miami Open and sampling our new Protein Packs to show consumers that they can get convenient dairy protein on-the-go. We’re looking to help active adults incorporate delicious, simple, high protein dairy into their everyday routines.”

Hannah Pollack, Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches

“Starting Nightingale Ice Cream came with its challenges, from convincing people that ice cream sandwiches could be a premium dessert to scaling production without compromising quality. Logistics were also a hurdle, as ice cream requires precise cold chain distribution to maintain its integrity. Like any small business, we faced tight resources and wore many hats to grow the brand. Each obstacle pushed us to innovate and stay true to our vision, making every milestone even more rewarding.”

Question: When did something start out badly for you but in the end, it was great?  

Becky Rasdall Vargas, IDFA

“I would say my first job out of graduate school fits that description. I had just gotten my master’s degree in international relations, spoke two languages and was practicing a third. I had dreams of doing something that made a difference, like working in developing countries or in Washington for a development-focused organization. But jobs were hard to come by and struggling to find a job in an expensive city had me widen my job search, fast.

“After temping awhile, I finally landed a position working on something that seemed so far afield I was sure it would knock my career back — I had been hired to help manage communications for food safety crises like salmonella in peanut butter. How did I get from my hopes and dreams to working on peanut butter? But that job led to a series of roles that resulted in me eventually negotiating agricultural provisions in trade agreements less than 10 years later — bringing me full circle back to my degree, my goal to do something international, and my dream of making a difference.  I wouldn’t trade my career and the opportunities it has afforded me for the world — even if it took some unexpected turns along the way!”

Devon Vogel, Nelson-Jameson

“Roughly 10 years ago, I had the opportunity to take the lead in developing a new service offering focused on customer inventory management. Initially, the project came with a significant amount of uncertainty. We faced challenges in understanding the current and future scope of what this project meant for resources, timelines, and technical needs. There were moments when the complexity of the project seemed overwhelming and concerns about this being a jumping off point while still needing to create a successful program for a key customer were highlighted.

“However, I recognized the strategic potential of this initiative and worked diligently to refine the model, engage with key stakeholders, and focus on customer-centric solutions. Through continuous improvement, brand development, and cross-functional collaboration, we were able to launch a robust offering that not only met the original customer’s needs but positioned Nelson-Jameson as a dynamic partner for inventory management solutions.

“In the end, what started as a somewhat high-risk project turned into a highly successful and impactful opportunity for the company and my career, driving both revenue growth and customer satisfaction. It was a powerful reminder of the importance of adaptability and strategic vision in taking on challenges before you may think you are ready.”

Jessica Wojslaw, siggi’s

“In 2022 one of the Stonyfield direct supply farms won Vermont Dairy Farm of the Year and someone in the marketing department thought it would be a great idea to have four marketers go ‘help’ on the farm while the farmers were receiving their award. I volunteered thinking my general handiness and willingness to do whatever-it-takes would be assets to the team. We started with a tour and cleaning stalls which went great.

“But then it came time to milk and I quickly realized I zero applicable experience. We were all a little worried about our slow progress but eventually made it through in time for dinner. Luckily, we had some expert coaching from farmer Rhonda and our Farm Relationship Manager, Jason. By the second milking, we were rocking and rolling, moving the herd through efficiently and actually feeling helpful. I will be forever grateful to Rhonda for the patience and kindness she showed our team and how much she taught us about the skills and dedication to the animals that she and her husband Miles put into producing our milk.”

Question: Do you feel that your career advancement and pay is equitable with other professionals you work with?

Jennifer Simpson, Chobani

“I am lucky to say I’ve had a fantastic career and so many opportunities within the dairy industry to grow and advance. So yes, there have been great opportunities for me to take advantage of in my career and the pay has been and continues to be equitable. I’m grateful for the women who came before me in the industry that have really paved the way for others to be successful.”

Jessica Wojslaw, siggi’s

“Siggi’s is an incredible place to work. I’ve had the opportunity to progress through the organization while working on different segments of the business. Along the way, I’ve been able to work on different parts of the yogurt category while learning about everything from soil health and its impact on dairy farming to dairy processing to packaging development to media planning. I’ve also enjoyed great exposure to leadership in our division and through our parent company, Lactalis, which is one of the largest dairy companies in the world.”

Question: Do you have a motto you live by or best advice you can share?

Becky Rasdall Vargas, IDFA

“I don’t have a single motto that I live by, but will share two things here:

One is from one of my favorite quotes: “I am going to make everything around me beautiful — that will be my life.” From Elsie de Wolfe.  I am a big believer in continuous improvement, and strongly believe that we can make things around us better in all walks of life — whether through policy, compassion, thoughtfulness, mentorship, or how we show up each day.   Do I practice this imperfectly?   Of course.  But committing ourselves to practicing it each day is a good place to start.

“The second point is something we’ve been saying a lot lately in my house: ‘You can’t turn a ship around overnight,’ or basically, ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day.’ We say this to each other to remind one another that the things of great worth that we set ourselves to do in life or at work are going to take time, be tedious, and feel slow — but not to give up.

“Reminding ourselves of these facts helps us remember to keep chunking up the greater goal into smaller steps and not to get discouraged as we pan back to the broader view of what we are each trying to accomplish.  What ship are you trying to turn around?”

Jennifer Simpson, Chobani

“The best advice I can share is to be your authentic self and continue to seek out new learnings as you progress in your career. Individually, we will never have all of the answers but we can lean on and learn from one another every day.

“With 34% of women in dairy already in leadership positions, I am looking forward to a bright future in an industry that I have been a part of my whole life”  

Devon Vogel, Nelson-Jameson

“Throughout my career at Nelson-Jameson, I have embraced the guiding principle of ‘Saying yes, even before you think you're ready.’ This motto, coupled with my competitive drive, has enabled me to leverage intrapreneurial skills within the well-built foundation of the Nelson-Jameson business model to expand and refine service offerings that address the evolving needs of the dairy and food processing industry.

“Approximately 10 years ago, I led the development of the SupplyRITE Inventory Solutions department, which has since evolved into over 30 strategic programs and teams serving customers across the United States. More recently, I was tasked with integrating a sister-company into the Nelson-Jameson brand, facilitating the creation of a maintenance service division. This initiative has significantly expanded our ability to deploy skilled maintenance teams from our distribution centers to meet the specialized needs of the U.S. dairy industry, providing essential in-plant services and training.

“Both of these initiatives stemmed from saying ‘yes’ and a strong sense of support from leadership and ownership. With their support, we were able to drive innovation, diversify our offerings, and stay true to Nelson-Jameson’s core commitment of delivering the exceptional to our customers.

“…We spend more time with our co-workers than we do with our own family at times, therefore the importance of being surrounded by genuine people who want to see you succeed is imperative, and I have truly found those teammates within Nelson-Jameson.”

Hannah Pollack, Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches

“One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is the power of persistence. There’s a quote I love: ’A river cuts through rock not because of its power, but because of its persistence.’ Building a business is rarely about overnight success—it’s about showing up every day, solving problems, and staying committed to your vision, even when the path gets tough.”

Jessica Wojslaw, siggi’s

“Keep learning and be curious. When you start working in the business, you may not understand why some information is useful, or interesting. The more you ask questions, probe into problems, and meet new people, the more you can make connections and improve decision making.

“The Dairy industry is such an interesting place to build a career — it’s worldwide, national and regional. Milk is consumed by SO MANY people and it’s fun to work on brands that my friends and family enjoy and can connect with.”