Honoring Heritage, Driving Innovation with Midwest Dairy's Vice President of Research & Innovation Michelle Watson

How do you transform a legacy industry without losing what made it successful in the first place? In this episode, Michelle Watson, Vice President of Research & Innovation at Midwest Dairy, shares how one of America's oldest industries is reinventing itself around changing consumer demands for protein, nutrition, convenience, and sustainability. She explains why dairy is experiencing renewed growth, how the Midwest Dairy Accelerator connects entrepreneurs with industry expertise, and why collaboration between startups, farmers, researchers, and established organizations is critical to meaningful innovation. Michelle also shares lessons on leading transformation, building bridges across ecosystems, and creating products that feel both familiar and fresh. A valuable conversation for innovation leaders, founders, and anyone modernizing established businesses.