Marissa was born in Philadelphia and lived in upstate New York for a bit before growing up outside of Chicago.
“I grew up with two older siblings: one brother, Nick, and one sister, Jenna. I always had a lot of energy as a kid. I was involved in a lot of sports growing up and had a big sense of adventure as I wanted to travel, see the world and try new things.”
Her passion for sports continued throughout college as she graduated with a B.S. in Food & Nutrition with the intent of pursuing sports nutrition. During this time, Marissa interned with Taco Bell, which changed her career path! She ended up getting a full-time position at The Bell while getting her M.S. in Health Communications.
“I ended up sitting next to someone on a plane, and we got to chatting about roles in the nutrition industry. Turns out, she worked at Yum! Brands. After the flight, she connected me to Missy S., my current boss at Taco Bell. I found out that her team was hiring a summer intern and applied. It was a little bit of ‘right place, right time,’ but I ended up being Taco Bell’s first Nutrition and Product Development Intern during college. I fell in love with the work and Taco Bell culture, and it completely changed my career trajectory. I’m very passionate about helping people understand what’s in their food and breaking down barriers to help people find food that fits their lifestyle. So when the opportunity to join Taco Bell permanently a few years later came by, I knew being at the company would allow me to help make a positive impact on public health. That was eight years ago, and the rest is history (or shall we say, HERstory).”
Now, Marissa’s role spans nutrition, sustainability and food innovation.
“The nutrition work touches the menu side, such as emphasizing Taco Bell’s transparency about what’s in our food and offering choices for all lifestyles. The sustainability work includes improving the food and packaging and our restaurants for the longevity of the planet. The food innovation includes developing delicious food for our restaurants. Currently, I’m working on the Cantina Chicken menu. We’ve got some exciting things coming, so stay tuned! I wear a lot of hats at work and love it because no two days are the same.”
It’s no doubt that Marissa’s career trajectory has been incredible as a woman in STEM. At the same time, she believes the challenges women face in and outside the industry are still a work in progress.
“It’s hard to distill down such a huge topic into one piece of advice, but what comes to mind is ‘take up space’. Don’t be afraid to voice your opinions and ideas in meetings, don’t hold back if there is a role you want to be considered for, and speak up if you find yourself being underestimated, pigeonholed or overlooked. Though it may be uncomfortable at first, advocating for yourself is like a muscle: the more you train it, the stronger it becomes.”
Along with advocating for yourself, Marissa looks to role models that have helped her advance both personally and professionally.
“I am very fortunate to work with a team of inspirational female leaders at Taco Bell. I have learned so much from women in my department and colleagues throughout the organization about navigating the workplace as a woman in an authentic and fearless way. From a personal perspective, I would be remiss to not mention my own mom. After obtaining her MBA, she left the workforce to raise myself and my two siblings, allowing my dad to work a job that required a lot of travel. Without her, I would not have the career or truly just the life I have today, to which I am eternally grateful.”
Marissa, who is now a mother of twins, believes that supporting and uplifting each other through shared experiences creates a bond of strength, which helps everyone rise above challenges.
“There is nothing more powerful and inspiring than women supporting other women. Go out of your way to give credit where credit is due, help someone make a connection to pitch their idea, or mentor a junior colleague. Helping other women amplify their voices and take up their own space is a win for everyone. Be the woman on the plane – help another woman on her career journey!”