Rebel of the Week
Creating this Blog over the last months has taught me a few things. When the idea of the Rebel of the Week developed I really dug down in my memory bank (and we are talking decades dusted off from cobb webs.)I like to envision my brain as an old library labyrinth like the Movie :”The name of the rose”. Somewhere in that labyrinth is a shelf of memorable people I have encountered in my life. In fact they have made such an impact on me that I have never forgotten them. Some folks I have only met once in person, some became long term friends, but the women I am gonna feature have one thing in common: I have the highest respect for them, not just for their professional accomplishments in life, but for their way of being human, mentors, influencers all wrapped up in kindness and spunk.
These women all stayed in the back of my head like guardian fairy mothers. Because of this blog I have connected with them in person, dug out phone numbers to set up interviews, connected on skype, zoom and google meets and it is refreshing how fast a truly deep connection can be rekindled in just one sentence.
Lisa certainly fits that category. We both had to think about when we had seen each other last and we came to the conclusion it had been over a decade. I had scribbled some questions in my notebook before making the call. I admit I was a tad nervous. When Lisa answered the phone and said “hello”, I felt that instant connection again, after all these years. Her voice seemed so familiar like we had just seen each other last week and we had a beautiful conversation closing the gap of a decade in an hour.
I met Lisa thru food on Film and the International food photography convention at Boston University. It must have been 2004, because I was pregnant with Seth who is now 16. I remember how out of place I felt. I was an unexperienced Corporate Food Stylist just getting my feet wet and everybody seems so knowledgeable. I still felt new to this Country, felt my English was not adequate for an intelligent conversation. Lisa and I had connected before via email but had not met before. The opening evening started with a cocktail party and dinner, and yes I really felt out of place. It was the first time I attended a professional conference. I don’t know if Lisa sensed it or if it was just her kind ways, but she took me under her wing, introduced me to people, invited me to join their table and overall made me feel accepted, welcomed and appreciated. I have never forgotten that. Lisa has an impressive career under her belt and in our conversation we came to the understanding that most women who I classify as Curvaceous Rebels have a few things in common. They know their worth. Knowing your worth makes you confident in a still manner. If you believe in yourself, it is easier to offer genuine guidance to another woman without the feeling of competition, cattiness or envy.
Here is Lisa’s story
Foodesigns, LLC; founded in 1987.
As a woman entrepreneur, I count myself exceptionally fortunate to have connected with supportive, directed women from the very start of my professional life. From the friend of my mother who hired me to help her cater parties when I was in high school, the test kitchen director at Castle & Cooke Foods (Dole) where I interned near the end of my college career, my first manager at General Mills, receiving a fellowship to study cooking in France from a woman I idolized, to an older colleague who took me under her wing and encouraged my every move. The generosity of spirit I experienced bolstered my self-confidence—but also made me keep a tight eye on how I conduct myself. I’m no different from us all, in that I question my decisions often and do a little mental assessment if I think I’ve stepped on toes or been anything less than professional.
Early on in my styling career I wished there were more regular resources for information, tools, or touchstones for problem solving. So in 2001 I launched Foodesigns.com, with the idea that I’d help provide that support. I gave time to help lead the professional development section of a large culinary organization (where I met Stef) and that led to teaching online and co-founding an international food photography conference at Boston University for three years. For a time, I taught in-person workshops as well—basically coaching budding stylists. And I found all these sidelines to be very satisfying, a deep well of connecting to my work community. I still try to be a mentor when I can, but for the past several years I’ve pulled back to concentrate on my own work. Our industry is in a state of flux—and I believe there are younger pros who are better resources than I am!
Capitalize on the abundance of cauliflower, here topped with a creamy tikka masala + chickpeas. Vegan at its best. Styling by Lisa Golden Schroeder, photo by Dennis Becker. For General Mills Convenience & Food Service division, winter trends report.
I lost my mother to Covid-19 this past fall and I miss her spirit and love—but just as keenly her cheerleading—everyday. I recently discovered a large sheaf of old newspaper clippings she saved from articles I’d written for the local food pages + she heralded my every move to her friends and family. I give her total credit for laying the groundwork for who I am as a professional; striving to be kind, supportive, and enlightened as much as I can be with every job.
To connect with Lisa
foodesigns@comcast.net
Portfolio: www.foodesigns.com
Creative capabilities/blog: www.2fish1dish.com
If you are a mushroom lover like me, check out Lisa’s book Untamed Mushrooms.
You can find the book at Barnes & Noble here:
or on Amazon
