Visionary food entrepreneur recognized for strides in culinary inclusion

Alum Denise Woodard (MBA '10) was honored during the W. P. Carey Alumni Hall of Fame event as the 2024 Young Alumni inductee.

In 2017, Denise Woodard (MBA '10) founded the allergy-friendly food company Partake Foods after her daughter was diagnosed with food allergies. Today, Partake Foods' products are available in more than 17,000 retailers, and Woodard made history as the first Black woman to publicly raise more than $1 million for a consumer packaged goods food startup. Her leadership has earned the backing of prominent investors, including Rihanna and Marcy Venture Partners.

"My W. P. Carey MBA has impacted me tremendously," says Woodard. "It gave me so much confidence. It gave me the educational skills, the network, and the know-how to be able to execute my goals and mission of building Partake Foods."

Woodard is fighting food insecurity by partnering Partake Foods with organizations like No Kid Hungry and bringing awareness to the disproportionate impact of food allergies on Black children. She also founded the Black Futures Fellowship program in 2020 to assist students attending historically black colleges and universities with securing internships and employment in the consumer packaged goods industry.

Woodard was honored as the Young Alumni inductee during the W. P. Carey Alumni Hall of Fame event, which has recognized dozens of distinguished business school alums since its establishment in 1977. During the ceremony, Woodard reflected on her experience founding Partake Foods and the importance of supporting others through philanthropy.

Question: W. P. Carey is committed to "doing good while doing well." What does this mean to you?
Answer: The idea of "doing good while doing well" really resonates with me. I founded Partake Foods in 2017 as a way to make delicious, better-for-you, allergy-friendly snacks available to more people. The mission of inclusivity doesn't just show up in the food we make: It shows up in our impact efforts that are focused on increasing diversity in the food industry and fighting food insecurity.

Q: Are you currently working on any projects that positively impact your field or community?
A: I'm so excited and proud of the Black Futures Fellowship. It's a 501(c)(3) that we founded four years ago aimed at increasing diversity in the food industry by pairing college students with paid jobs and internships.

Q: What advice do you have for recent graduates?
A: Learn as much as possible and take every opportunity that appeals to you. I was so focused on working my way up the corporate ladder, but I would have learned more if I had zigzagged a bit more than I did. Soak up every possible opportunity.