Women On Boards Project

In honor of Women's History Month, we're proud to spotlight one of our co-founders, Sheryl O'Loughlin. From leading purpose-driven companies to co-founding the Women on Boards Project, Sheryl’s journey is filled with powerful insights on leadership, board service, and driving meaningful change. Check out her interview in this very special spotlight — and thank you, Sheryl, for your continued leadership and inspiration! #WomenOnBoards #BoardMemberSpotlight #WomenInTheBoardroom

Women’s History Month isn’t just about looking back—it’s about celebrating the people shaping the future. And for us, that starts with our co-founders. Sheryl O'Loughlin, Melissa Facchina, Kara Cissell-Roell, and Cassie Burr saw a gap: countless talented women were ready to lead, and companies needed their expertise—but the connections weren’t happening. Instead of waiting for change, they built it. In 2020, the Women On Boards Project launched with a clear mission: to bring more diversity to boardrooms. Through partnerships with industry leaders like VMG Partners, L Catterton, and Siddhi Capital, what started with 20 companies has grown into a movement—50+ companies, 5,000+ women, and 10 investor sponsors strong. The work of our founders and team is proof that when women support women, everyone wins. And we’re just getting started. #WomensHistoryMonth #WomenOnBoards #DiversityInLeadership

We’re so lucky to have Sara Brooks as part of the Women On Boards Project family. A PR and branding powerhouse, Sara helps support our PR/Marketing efforts — and inspires us all each and every day. Sara founded and scaled Covet PR into an industry-leading agency (working with brands like Graza, Carbone Fine Food, and Magic Spoon to make them household names!) before selling it to Power Digital. Now, she’s the co-founder of of Goldilocks and she continues to guide founder-led businesses to stand out and thrive. Sara was recently featured on The Skinny Confidential and shared her insights on branding, innovation, and what it takes to build something that lasts. We listened twice and took notes. ?? We’re endlessly proud to call her a friend and teammate. ?? https://lnkd.in/gH_igETm #WomenOnBoards #WomenSupportingWomen #PRLeader #WomenInBusiness #FemaleLeadership #TheSkinnyConfidential

At the Women On Boards Project, we’re passionate about creating opportunities through strategic board placements. Our team has uncovered what makes placements successful, and we’re excited to share these insights in our ongoing series spotlighting the expertise of our team members. In the past, we’ve featured Julianne Zhang, who leads our Search Committee, and Edward Koller III, co-founder of KTG, sharing their invaluable perspectives on impactful board placements. Next up is Laura Brooks, our Head of Marketing, who plays a fundamental role in amplifying our mission and connecting with our community. Laura brings a unique perspective on the power of storytelling and how it shapes boardroom conversations. In this installment, she’ll share her thoughts on what makes a placement truly transformative. Stay tuned for more insights from Laura and the rest of our incredible team. W Project community: who should we spotlight next? #BoardDiversity #WomenOnBoards #BoardroomSuccess

Last week at Expo West, we had the honor of presenting the Kara Roell Achievement Award—a recognition of women who uplift, support, and elevate others in consumer. And this year’s recipient, Katlin Smith, could not have been a more perfect choice. If you don’t know Katlin, she’s the founder of Simple Mills, a brand that completely reshaped the clean ingredient space. She started the company in 2012 with a simple (no pun intended) mission: to make better-for-you food that actually tastes good. Fast forward to today, and Simple Mills is everywhere—available in over 30,000 stores—and just last month, Katlin and the team announced its acquisition by Flowers Foods for $795 million (!!). But beyond the business success, what makes Katlin truly special—and why she was chosen for this award—is how she invests in other women, sharing her knowledge, opening doors, and making sure more voices are heard. She’s been open about the role mentorship has played in her journey, and she’s paid it forward, using her platform to support and inspire the next generation of women leaders. At the award presentation, Denise Woodard (CEO of Partake and last year’s KRAA recipient) shared heartfelt words about Katlin before passing the torch. Katlin accepted with tears in her eyes—a moment that truly captured the power of this community and the impact of women supporting women. Katlin, we are ecstatic to celebrate you. Thank you for the work you do, the example you set, and the doors you continue to open for others. #KaraRoellAchievementAward #WomenInConsumer #Leadership #Mentorship #WomenOnBoards

This International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating women who build, lead, and transform industries—founders who turn ideas into thriving businesses and leaders who shape the future from the boardroom. Take Vanessa Dew—who co-founded Health-Ade Kombucha and helped turn it into a category-defining brand, bringing gut health into the mainstream. Now, we’re proud to have placed her on the board of Rootine (acquired by Rhodium), where she’s bringing her vision and leadership to guide the next evolution of personalized nutrition. Or Katlin Smith, who built Simple Mills from the ground up, proving that clean, nutritious food can be both delicious and wildly successful. Now, as she embarks on her next chapter after selling the company for nearly $800 million. We were honored to place Amanda Steele on Simple Mills’ board and to have collaborated with Katlin throughout the years. Women aren’t just earning seats at the table—they’re building the table, selling the table, and coming back to make it even better. We’re proud to play a role in putting more women in leadership where they belong, because when women lead, businesses thrive. So, happy International Women’s Day to the founders, board members, mothers, daughters, and all the incredible women shaping the future. #InternationalWomensDay #WomenOnBoards #Leadership #Founders #BetterBusiness

What a night! Our Women in Consumer Reception at Expo West was an unforgettable evening filled with inspiring conversations, meaningful connections, and a shared commitment to uplifting women in leadership. A huge thank you to VMG Partners, BraunHagey & Borden LLP, and Anchin for partnering with us to bring this event to life. And a special congratulations to the recipient of the Kara Roell Achievement Award– Katlin Smith, your impact runs deep, and we’re endlessly inspired by all that you do. We’re leaving this event feeling grateful and energized—here’s to creating opportunities, fostering community, and driving change. If you joined us, drop your favorite moment from the evening in the comments! #WomenOnBoards #WomenInLeadership #ConsumerIndustry #ExpoWest

What a night! Our Women in Consumer Reception at Expo West was an unforgettable evening filled with inspiring conversations, meaningful connections, and a shared commitment to uplifting women in leadership. A huge thank you to VMG Partners, BraunHagey & Borden LLP, and Anchin for partnering with us to bring this event to life. And a special congratulations to the recipient of the Kara Roell Achievement Award– Katlin Smith, your impact runs deep, and we’re endlessly inspired by all that you do. We’re leaving this event feeling grateful and energized—here’s to creating opportunities, fostering community, and driving change. If you joined us, drop your favorite moment from the evening in the comments! #WomenOnBoards #WomenInLeadership #ConsumerIndustry #ExpoWest

It’s that time of year again… Yes, we mean #ExpoWest! We’ll be in Anaheim, March 4-7, with our team IRL and rocking our blue W Project merch. Stop by and say hi—we’d love to connect! Cassie Burr, Brianna Rizzo, Laura Brooks, Amy Barbanell, Kathryn Flouton, Sara Brooks, Stephanie Borselli – who else is joining us?! #WomenOnBoards #CPG #ExpoWest

Was it just us, or did February fly by even faster this year? We're back with another monthly recap celebrating women stepping into board roles. Huge congratulations to Denise L Devine, Zhanna Golodryga, Diana Frost, Adrianne Shapira, and anyone we may have missed—you continue to inspire us! #WomenOnBoards #NewBoardOpportunity #MonthlyRecap #WomenInConsumer