Taste testing cookies as a career is a dream job for most of us. For Beth Shelton, Chief Executive Officer of Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa, it’s reality. Tasting cookies is just another day in the office. She’s a member of a secret Girl Scout leadership team that taste-tests cookies before the public knows about them. That’s only a very small part of her job, however. Shelton spends her days leading the charge setting up women for success.
Girl Scout Cookie R&D
First of all, yes in Shelton’s job description is “Cookie R&D.” The Innovation Committee for the Girl Scout cookie program includes 4 individuals in total. They are responsible for all new product R&D for new girl scout cookies and it’s not a simple process.
The cookie R&D team looks at database research, trending flavors and of yes does the taste-testing. The team traditionally meets in New York 4-6 times a year to do tastings. There are two bakers that make cookies for the entire country, and those bakers bring various concepts, 3-5 varieties of each flavor profile.
The entire process from start to cookie rollout is about 3 years!
During the pandemic though, their process changed. In the case of Raspberry Rally, they were overnighted shipments on ice to taste-test over Zoom. It’s such a secretive process, Shelton had to sign an NDA, and even her own children must leave the room when the cookie packages comes in the mail.
Beth Shelton, CEO, Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa
Working for Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa, she strives to teach young girls “courage, confidence, leadership, character, and entrepreneurship.” This goes much deeper than just cookie taste testing. According to Shelton, there is clear data that proves girls who participated in Girls Scouts during their youth go on to better careers and are paid more than those who did not.
As a working single mother of three kids, Shelton knows the challenges women in the workplace face. There are things that are systematically in place that in some ways deter women from working and also make it more challenging for men. As a leader her goal is to treat her employees as human beings and find a way to be more accommodating than other workplaces. Whether it be guaranteed paid parental leave or unconventional ways for them to reach success. Shelton and her team know creating a better work culture gives them their pick of the best employees available.
Iowa stories for your inbox
Justin, David, & Kaylee cover Iowa news, agriculture, business and tech. No clickbait. No rage. No agenda. Support our vision and subscribe!
Closing the gender gap in the workforce is one of Shelton’s main goals. She is passionate about teaching women to advocate for themselves in a professional environment and preparing them with skills to compete for a promotion or negate a raise. The platform Girl Scouts provides, and the skills it focuses on teaching young girls, are aligned with the drive Shelton has to continue to find gender equity are a breath of fresh air for a lot of women trying to make an impact in the professional world. Listen to this episode to find out more about Shelton’s goals and send it to a woman you know who is trying to break down barriers in the professional world for some mid week inspiration.
Links
Connect with her on LinkedIn
Check out her website