I spent just under a decade of my career working in R&D with a focus on snacks, bakery, and plant-based innovation, turning big food ideas into better–for–you products. My background is in food science and nutrition, and over the years I’ve led everything from new ingredient development and product launches to technical training across global organizations. I’ve always loved digging into the science behind ingredients and translating that knowledge into products that are smarter, stronger and ultimately better than where they began.
When Science Deserves a Bigger Stage
I’ve seen firsthand how powerful science can be, and how easily technical insight can get diluted as it moves between teams, presentations, and final deliverables. Compelling data doesn’t always become a great final story, and strong science doesn’t always get the stage it deserves.
That’s what makes this role exciting to me. As Director of Science & Strategy, my goal is to help bridge science, strategy, and execution; bringing the rigor of food science into the way we shape product stories and communicate them. When the science is clear and the narrative is intentional, it becomes easier for teams to align, for stakeholders to see the value, and for consumers to understand what makes a product truly different.
Those of us in the world of food science know that every ingredient, process, and test result carries meaning. Each decision in the lab contributes to a larger story about performance, quality, and purpose. Much like a well-balanced formula, the way we communicate those stories requires the right mix of clarity, timing, and context to resonate.
Whether we’re speaking to consumers, internal teams, or external partners, the goal is the same: make the science usable, aligned, and actionable, so the work happening in R&D can have the impact it was always meant to have.
How Upstream 360 Brings Food Science to Life: 5 Steps to Impactful Storytelling
So, how do we turn the details of food science into storytelling that actually drives impact? Here’s a simple five-step framework I love for making science understandable, memorable, and actionable with Upstream.
1. What’s Your Product’s Superpower?
Scientific stories fail to engage or resonate because the emphasis is misplaced, or the key benefit, differentiator, or value isn’t clearly highlighted. My first step is to uncover where your product truly stands out in the world of food, and why people should care.
2. I Get My Hands Dirty
I experience the product firsthand. How it feels, smells, looks, and see how it stacks up against the competition. By combining this hands-on research with your original goals, we uncover the insights that matter most.
3. Bringing Your Product to Life
This is where your product starts to come alive. In science storytelling, following the same routine only yields the same results. Our most unconventional aproaches often spark the best insights. Want to stand out? Shake up the process, break the pattern, and see what happens when you think outside the box. Through sketches and animations, we begin to make your science tangible. Sometimes, all it takes is a single word to ignite an entire idea.
4. Turning Sparks into Stories
A single “WOW” moment grabs attention, but it’s the full story that makes your product stick. Like a well-crafted formulation, we layer every insight and detail to create a cohesive, memorable narrative. The result is a story that resonates, engages, and lingers with your audience.
5. Shaping the Story Together
No story is built in isolation. From initial concept to final execution, we collaborate closely with you and the minds of your team, making sure your insights, priorities, and feedback are incorporated at every stage. This ensures the final story is not only compelling but also true to your product, your vision, and the science behind it.
Making Your Science Matter
Finding your “aha” moment, when the story clicks, insights come to life, and you see how your product truly resonates, is what makes all the difference. This matters not just for you, but for consumers, innovation teams, and the broader food science community. It helps everyone understand the value, differentiation, and impact of your work, whether you’re showcasing a new ingredient, highlighting a breakthrough, or celebrating company wins throughout the year.
That’s exactly what this role is here to do: help the food science community turn knowledge into action and bring your story to life visually. From go-to-market videos and trade show visuals that stop people in their tracks, to compelling internal communications, we make your science meaningful, memorable, and actionable.
If you want to elevate how science shows up in your work, this is where it starts, at Upstream 360. Explore our work for inspiration and imagine what your next project could become.