Laurie Winward

Evaluator
DISC Type : Dsc

Vice President Innovation and R&D at Sunny Sky Products

Fort Walton Beach, Florida, United States

Overview

Laurie Winward is a culinary innovation executive, currently the Vice President of R&D and Innovation at Sunny Sky Products. An alumna of Penn State and Harvard Business School, she excels at revitalizing iconic food brands by launching consumer-focused products. Colleagues describe her as creative, enthusiastic, and inspiring.

Outside of her corporate roles, Laurie has a deep appreciation for the culinary arts, having worked in the kitchens of the famed Le Cirque. She actively follows industry developments by attending events like the Foodscape food trends conference, staying current on the future of food.

She holds patents for a "Cookie" and a product named "Fling, " showcasing her direct involvement in creating new food items.

Personality Overview

Thorough Evaluator

Quality Focused

Fast But Analytical

They focus on the results, but can still be quite procedural and analytical about how to get there  They are not very likely to become strong advocates of your product or service They have a unique set of diverse traits where they are decisive and methodical but can sometimes be extra cautious and skeptical

Topics They Care About

Menu Profitability
In a recent article, she emphasized focusing on maximizing profitability for restaurant operators by managing SKUs to reduce complexity and waste.
Innovative Food Products
Her entire career, from Mars to Sabra and Jamba Juice, has been focused on developing and launching new, successful food and beverage products.
Brand Revitalization
She is known for turning brands around, notably reversing seven years of decline at Jamba Juice by introducing over 75 new products.

Media Appearances

Laurie has no verified media appearances

Work History

1-2024
Vice President Innovation and R&D at Sunny Sky Products
6-2019
Vice President R&D, Quality and Regulatory at Bevolution Group
10-2016 - 10-2018
Vice President Culinary Innovation at Jamba Juice
3-2013 - 9-2016
Global Director of Product Development at Sabra Dipping Company, LLC
4-2010 - 12-2012
Director of Research and Development (R&D) – Ice Cream and Snacks at Mars Chocolate North America

Education

Bachelor of Science - BS from Penn State University
Executive Training from Harvard Business School

More Information

Social Presence :

Prographics :

Exp : 24 Location : Fort Walton Beach, Florida, United States Job Level : Senior Designation : Vice President Innovation and R&D at Sunny Sky Products
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Insights For Selling To Laurie

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • Help them weigh the risks by sharing objective proof points instead of anecdotes and examples
  • Be prepared for comments or questions that are critical of your product or your claims
  • Use phrases like ‘the ROI of this’, ‘X% more’ etc.

DONT's

  • Avoid inviting them for any social interactions until you have built some rapport with them
  • Don’t nudge them to do something by using the logic that others have done the same
  • Avoid making strong statements, instead invite them to agree with you by asking them questions

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with Laurie is

  • ROI matters the most to them, followed by process and finally proof of results
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from Laurie

  • They might hesitate a little, but will go ahead and say no when necessary (or asked)

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will Laurie move?

  • They are unlikely to move very fast, especially when it comes to new products or services
  • Can Laurie take some risk or not?

  • They have relatively low risk-appetite and are not very likely to go for something unproven and risky

You And Laurie

Personality Compatibility


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