Scholarships available to cover attendance of PepsiCo-sponsored conference at Cornell University
Washington, D.C. – The NGA Foundation (NGAF) invites nominations for grocery industry leaders to participate in its Executive Leadership Development Program (ELDP). Sponsored by PepsiCo, this program is designed to equip leaders with the skills to navigate a variety of business challenges. The conference will take place from June 1-5, 2025, at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.
The conference offers a dynamic and impactful learning experience, featuring engaging, interactive instruction led by renowned academics and industry experts. Participants will undergo an interactive 360-degree assessment and receive personalized one-on-one coaching to gain deeper insights into their leadership style and strengths. The program will cover key topics such as effective communication, strategic decision-making, leadership in an evolving workforce, and advanced negotiation skills.
“Developing these skills is essential for implementing new strategies in the fast-paced, ever-evolving independent food industry,” said Chelsea Matzen, NGAF VP. “The ELDP program provides emerging executives with practical insights to drive growth within their companies. I would like to thank PepsiCo for their continued support of this incredibly important program for independent grocers.”
Two scholarship opportunities are available to cover registration and travel costs:
– Diversity in Leadership Scholarship, provided by PepsiCo. Eligible candidates should be from underrepresented backgrounds, inclusive of race, color, sex or gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, or who have otherwise demonstrated an actionable commitment to advancing diversity on such basis.
– Women Grocers of America Scholarship. Candidates should be a woman or identify as a woman to be eligible.
NGAF’s Executive Leadership Development Program is currently reserved for employees of retailer and wholesaler members of NGA. Participants should be mid- to upper-level executives with large spans of control and responsibilities that require delegation of tasks to others. These employees must be rising executives who are candidates for increased “people” and general management responsibilities.
Those who wish to be considered for a scholarship must submit their applications by March 21, 2025.
ELDP nominations can be submitted here.
About NGA
NGA is the national trade association representing the retail and wholesale community grocers that comprise the independent sector of the food distribution industry. An independent retailer is a privately owned or controlled food retail company operating a variety of formats. The independent grocery sector is accountable for about 1.2 percent of the nation’s overall economy and is responsible for generating more than $250 billion in sales, 1.1 million jobs, $39 billion in wages and $36 billion in taxes. NGA members include retail and wholesale grocers located in every congressional district across the country, as well as state grocers’ associations, manufacturers and service suppliers. For more information about NGA, visit www.nationalgrocers.org.
