Women in Petfood Leadership (WIPL) will explore creating mentorship pipelines across industry and academia during a September 8 networking event at Pet Food Collab 2025.
The organization will host a dine-around event at Liquid Art Winery and Estate in Manhattan, Kansas, featuring Hill's Pet Nutrition director of Wearables Innovation Jodi Vondran leading discussions on mentorship opportunities for women in pet food, including students entering the field.
Scheduled for Monday, September 8, the evening event will take place in the Tasting Room at Liquid Art Winery and Estate, located at 1745 Wild Creek Road in Manhattan. The gathering is open to both women and men allies committed to building a more inclusive pet food industry.
Vondran, who holds a master of science in food science from Kansas State University, has worked at Hill's since 2007, advancing from associate scientist to her current role leading technological innovations in companion animal nutrition. Her research focuses on pet taste preferences, ingestive behavior quantification and translating behavioral insights into nutritional solutions through cognitive tools and behavior algorithms.
The event aims to foster connections and professional development opportunities within the pet food sector while addressing mentorship needs for current professionals and students considering careers in pet nutrition.
Women in Petfood Leadership (WIPL) brings together like-minded professional women in pet food to build a community and interact by offering opportunities for networking, career planning, leadership development and professional support. The organization continues to champion women's advancement in the pet food industry through innovative programming and meaningful connections.
To become part of WIPL, join our LinkedIn group.
Find out more about WIPL during lunch at Pet Food Collab on Tuesday, September 9.
