#104 How Project Potluck is Creating a More Inclusive, Equitable, and Colorful CPG Industry with Kathleen Casanova

I’m so excited to introduce you to today’s guest and for the chance to feature an incredible organization everyone in CPG should know about, Project Potluck. Kathleen Casanova is the Founding Executive Director of Project Potluck, which is the largest professional community inclusively for People of Color (POC) in CPG. People of Color face systemic barriers to accessing social, human, and financial capital. As a result, today’s CPG industry is not representative of the US population or the consumers that support and purchase products, especially natural and organic products.  Currently, 40% of the US population are POC but only 16% of leadership teams in CPG Natural Products are POC. Project Potluck is empowering People of Color to build successful companies and careers in the CPG Industry. If you are a Person of Color, this episode will introduce you to Project Potluck as a resource. If you are not, this episode will introduce you to how to support the Project Potluck community and contribute to serving 1,000 People of Color in CPG, creating a more colorful CPG industry, and a more equitable society.Listen in as Kathleen shares about:How Project Potluck got startedResources and events available to membersHow people can support Project PotluckAnd more!Get your ticket to the Expo East Mic Drop party for a chance to win a spot on the podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4nafz284This episode was sponsored by Settle. Go to https://www.settle.com/startupcpgThis episode was sponsored by Graphite Financial. Go to graphitefinancial.com/cpgEpisode Links:Project Potluck websiteKathleen’s LinkedInMic Drop Party at Expo East Giveaway:Enter the giveaway to win a spot on this podcast and The Dish by buying your ticket to the Mic Drop party in Philadelphia on September 21, 2023 hereNote: Giveaway only available to CPG brands and must be present at party in-person to win. If you already bought a ticket, you’ve automatically been entered!Settle Links:Settle websiteFind out your Settle financing power hereGraphite Financial LinksGraphite Financial websiteDownload a free financial model template, chart of accounts template, and more hereListen to our episode with Graphite founder, Paul Bianco, episode #96 here.Show Links:Join the Startup CPG Slack community (14K+ members and growing!)Follow @startupcpgVisit host Jessi Freitag's Linkedin or websiteQuestions or comments about the episode? Email Jessi at [email protected] music by Super Fantastics