With us today is Javon Nicholas, creator, founder, and owner of Egg Rolls Etc.
Javon was named one of Food Processing’s 2022 Influential Women in Food, and for good reason. Her Chicago-based frozen food company, which specializes in comfort-filled egg rolls, is a lesson in love.
Javon, who has always had insatiable love affair with all things food, knew from an early age that she wanted a career that would keep her close to what she loved. In this episode, we talk about how her career evolved from food service director and restaurant manager to quality assurance auditor and now creator and founder of her own food manufacturing company. Javon walks us through how losing her mother and a trip to Taiwan became the impetus for launching a series of food products both made with – and from – love.
Throughout this episode, you’ll definitely understand why was named one of this year’s Influential Women in Food. From the advocacy work she does to help entrepreneurs learn how to build their businesses to the community work she does helping children understand how to be better, more culturally-sensitive humans, Javon truly is an Influential Woman in the Food Industry. We talk her children-focused What's Inside That Counts program as well as the advocacy work she does with numerous women’s business groups throughout Chicago area.
We end the episode talking about the advice Javon has both received and would give women just entering the food and beverage workforce.
Follow along in this episode through the topics timestamped below
Introduction & Role 2:31
Career Progression and Falling in Love with Food 3:12
Working with the Community; Teaching others Entrepreneurship and Cultural Sensitivity 5:37
The “It’s What Inside That Counts” Program 8:21
Mentoring and helping Other Women in the Food Industry 11:13
Advice received at the start of career that is still used today 13:36
Advice for those coming into the food & beverage industry 14:58
