2025 Women of Excellence Profiles: Mentorship
Stefanie Beach
Founder and CEO
The Marketeer Group (and "The Digital Marketeer" podcast)
As founder and CEO of The Marketeer Group and host of "The Digital Marketeer" podcast, Stefanie Beach has created multiple platforms that serve as catalysts for professional growth and development among women entrepreneurs and marketers.
She has personally guided dozens of female entrepreneurs from startup concepts to thriving businesses with an approach that goes beyond surface-level advice, diving deep into strategic planning, skill development and confidence building. She consistently invests her time in one-on-one mentoring sessions, group workshops and speaking engagements specifically designed to address the unique challenges women face in business.
Her podcast serves as an invaluable resource where she regularly features successful women entrepreneurs, creating a platform that amplifies their voices while providing practical insights to her listeners. This initiative demonstrates her commitment to creating pathways for women to learn from each other's experiences and successes.
Beach is known for her open-door policy and genuine interest in supporting women's careers. She frequently provides impromptu guidance through social media interactions, networking events and industry conferences. Her ability to recognize teaching moments and offer valuable insights in casual settings has earned her respect as an accessible and approachable mentor who truly cares about others' success.
Beach consistently models the behaviors and values she encourages in others, demonstrating that success can be achieved without compromising personal values or ethical standards. Her confidence is infectious, inspiring mentees to believe in their own capabilities while remaining humble and approachable. Her collaborative approach to mentorship emphasizes teamwork and mutual support rather than hierarchical relationships. She treats mentees as partners in their development journey, respecting their unique perspectives while providing the guidance and structure they need to succeed.
Lisa Blizzard
Senior Manager, Digital Commerce
The Krusteaz Co.
Lisa Blizzard is a dynamic and results-driven leader who is known for her ability to foster growth and development in her colleagues and team members. Her leadership is not just about driving revenue or brand presence; it’s about empowering the people around her to excel both personally and professionally.
Her mentorship journey extends beyond individual interactions. She built her team from the ground up, transforming what started as a solo effort into a high-impact collective filled with professionals who thrive under her guidance. Through both formal and informal mentorship, she has cultivated an environment of trust, openness and candor, ensuring her team members feel supported and valued.
She consistently shares her expertise, guiding her colleagues in developing retail media strategies, optimizing digital shelf performance and leveraging data-driven insights for business growth. Blizzard not only imparts technical knowledge but also instills confidence, teamwork and integrity in those she mentors. Her ability to streamline operations and drive innovation is matched by her commitment to building high-performing teams, emphasizing collaboration and individual empowerment.
Blizzard actively supports women outside of Krusteaz as well, offering guidance and encouragement that propels their careers forward. She has inspired women to take ownership of their ambitions, navigate challenges with resilience, and confidently pursue leadership roles. Her mentorship isn’t just about professional development; it’s about creating a culture of empowerment, where women feel valued, heard and capable of achieving excellence.
Blizzard recognizes that mentorship isn’t just about guiding others, but also about helping people evolve alongside a dynamic industry and follow their passions. Her impact on the industry and the women she mentors is both profound and lasting.
Colleen Borne
Director of Shopper Marketing
Talking Rain Beverage Co.
Colleen Borne’s purposeful leadership and genuine influence have shaped the growth, confidence and careers of countless team members since she joined Talking Rain Beverage Co. in late 2020. She is a visionary leader who created a clear growth framework within the shopper marketing department, which has become foundational to the organization. The structure outlines development pathways, supports both hard and soft skill growth, and provides visibility into career progression.
In the past 18 months alone, her leadership has contributed to three internal promotions. She also champions stretch assignments that empower team members to lead high-profile initiatives and present in key leadership settings, both internally and externally, such as with top growth retail partners.
As a leadership mentor, Borne actively coaches managers through team dynamics and helps them develop strategic decision-making skills aligned with business objectives. Her guidance strengthens leadership across the team and prepares others to step confidently into expanded roles.
Borne is the grounding force in a fast-paced environment, bringing composure, empathy and intention to every interaction. An active listener and empathetic leader, she provides constructive feedback, fosters accountability and builds trust. She’s not just a mentor; she’s a sponsor and advocate who uses her voice to elevate others and create space for their growth.
Borne’s leadership has not only transformed the shopper team but also created a culture where development is expected, supported and celebrated. Whether through formal coaching or a moment of encouragement, she consistently shows up with intention and impact.
Raina Nelson
President
Westfalia Fruit Marketing USA
Raina Nelson is a trailblazer in the fresh produce industry. She has consistently demonstrated a commitment to developing future leaders while championing innovation and integrity. Her diverse background spans marketing, procurement, food safety, sales and supply chain — experience that has uniquely positioned her to lead with both strategic vision and operational excellence.
Throughout her career, Nelson has made mentorship a cornerstone of her leadership. A former member of the board of directors for the Southeast Produce Council (SEPC), she shaped the future of the council by founding the Next Generation Leadership Academy (NGLA). This groundbreaking program fosters professional development and cultivates the next wave of produce marketing leaders, many of whom credit her mentorship as instrumental in their career growth.
Nelson is integral to the growth and evolution of Westfalia Fruit Marketing as its president. She leads by example, encouraging those around her to think bigger, work smarter and lead with authenticity. Her mentorship style is empowering, approachable and rooted in trust. She is known for investing time and energy in developing others, both formally and informally.
Nelson is more than a mentor; she is a catalyst for change. She has helped shape not just careers, but the culture of leadership within the industry.
Victoria Van Dusen
Senior Vice President, Retail Consultancy
Mars United Commerce
Victoria Van Dusen has more than 20 years of experience in marketing and more than 13 years working in the Walmart ecosystem. She is a nine-year veteran of Rogers, Arkansas-based Saatchi X, where she rose from senior manager to director and even served on the client-side while filling an open role at The Hershey Co. She joined Mars United Commerce in 2021.
Van Dusen was promoted to her current post in early 2022 and now leads Mars United’s Walmart and Club channel (Sam’s Club, Costco and BJ’s Wholesale) practice, which gives her responsibility across more than 20 clients for elevating the agency’s relationship throughout the retailer enterprise across marketing, merchandising, retail media and data integration.
She is charged with managing the company’s Bentonville commerce hub, which in addition to leading all the in-market client and retailer relationships, involves community outreach, employee engagement and even facilities management.
Van Dusen has the nuanced ability to strategically guide large-scale commerce marketing programs while applying the thoughtfulness and attention of small, personal partnerships. Her expertise in developing and implementing strategic commerce marketing initiatives is informed by a history of successful brand management. She brings a level of detail to engagement that fosters trust while driving success for both clients and retailer partners. She is highly regarded as a leader with strong collaboration, communication and mentoring skills.
With clients, she goes beyond the business-mandated interaction of quarterly meetings, joint business planning sessions and top-to-top planning to regularly schedule more informal connections such as store walks and coffee chats. She also elevates the agency’s relationship with retailer partners like Walmart by hosting thought leadership discussions and feedback sessions at monthly agency partnership meetings and workshops.
