Yet while women have long played critical roles throughout the pizza business — as operators, owners, marketers, financial managers, chefs, strategists and innovators — many of those contributions historically took place behind the scenes. Today, however, the industry is undergoing a major transformation as women across the globe continue stepping into increasingly visible leadership positions throughout every segment of the pizza world.
From independent neighborhood pizzerias to international restaurant groups, from culinary innovation to hospitality management, women are helping redefine what leadership in the pizza industry looks like while also inspiring the next generation to pursue careers within the business.
One of the driving forces behind that transformation has been Women in Pizza, a nonprofit (501c3 charity) organization that has evolved into one of the industry’s most important platforms for mentorship, storytelling, networking and collaboration. The movement was built around a simple but powerful idea: create a place where women working throughout the pizza business could connect, share their experiences, celebrate one another’s achievements and help open doors for future leaders entering the industry.
At the center of the movement has been Orlando Foods’ Alexandra Mortati, whose vision and leadership helped transform a small networking concept into a rapidly growing international organization with members representing countries and cities throughout the world. Mortati explained that the roots of Women in Pizza actually began years earlier within Orlando Foods during the annual Las Vegas Pizza Expo.
“We hosted a special networking hour designed to bring female operators, pizzaiole and customers together inside the Orlando Foods booth. What struck me immediately was that everyone clearly understood there was a need for women to have a space within the industry, but at the time it only existed for one hour during the year,” Mortati said. “I remember asking why this wasn’t something bigger and more permanent because it was obvious how meaningful those conversations and connections were becoming.”
Mortati explained that Orlando Foods leadership encouraged her to pursue the idea and build something larger around the concept. What followed was the launch of Women in Pizza as a formal movement dedicated to creating visibility, support and opportunities for women working throughout the pizza business. “We quickly realized just how many talented women were already contributing to pizza culture, innovation and business growth around the world, even though many of them were not receiving the same public recognition as their male counterparts.”
“As I started meeting more women in the industry, I realized there were incredible stories everywhere,” Mortati added. “There were women leading businesses, developing brands, mentoring employees, driving innovation and helping shape company culture, but many of them weren’t being publicly recognized in the same way. That really became one of the driving forces behind creating Women in Pizza because these stories deserved to be seen and shared.”
What made the organization different from many traditional associations was its focus on creating authentic relationships and community support rather than simply organizing networking events. Mortati and her growing team wanted Women in Pizza to become a place where people could openly discuss challenges, exchange ideas, share solutions and support one another both personally and professionally. Through social media storytelling, member profiles, events, festivals and educational initiatives, the organization created opportunities for women from every area of the industry to showcase their experiences and inspire others considering careers in pizza.
“We want people to feel comfortable simply being themselves — bringing their own experiences, perspectives, needs, and personalities to the group,” Mortati noted. “Some members wanted mentorship. Others wanted to share their stories so someone else wouldn’t feel isolated or discouraged. Some wanted to offer guidance and experience to people entering the business for the first time. The idea was to create a place where people genuinely supported one another and understood the unique challenges that can come with working in this industry.”
That sense of community quickly became one of the organization’s greatest strengths. Members from around the world began sharing insights not only about pizza-making techniques and operations, but also about leadership, hospitality, staffing, work-life balance, technology, marketing and entrepreneurship. Mortati explained that one of the most significant challenges women historically faced within the pizza industry involved visibility and representation.
“You walk into a lot of pizzerias and sometimes the business is even named after a woman, but she isn’t necessarily the public face of the operation,” Mortati continued. “There are so many husband-and-wife teams where the woman is handling operations, finances, marketing, staffing or leadership behind the scenes, but often the recognition naturally shifts elsewhere. Without visibility, it becomes harder for younger women entering the industry to picture themselves in those leadership positions.”
Mortati explained that representation matters because people often need to see others succeeding before they believe similar opportunities exist for themselves. She recalled countless conversations with women who admitted they often felt they needed to work harder in order to establish credibility or gain recognition within kitchens, leadership positions or operational roles. “When people don’t see someone who looks like them leading a business or speaking on a panel or winning awards, it can unintentionally send the message that there isn’t space for them,” Mortati detailed. “Representation matters because it helps people understand that they belong in the industry and that they can succeed at the highest levels.”
As the organization expanded, Women in Pizza increasingly became a global movement rather than simply a U.S.-based initiative. Members from Canada, Italy, Egypt, the Philippines, Chile and numerous other countries began participating in the community, creating an international exchange of ideas, traditions and experiences that strengthened the organization even further.
One of the stories that particularly resonated with Mortati involved Dareen Akkad, who successfully built a thriving pizza business in Egypt while overcoming significant cultural barriers surrounding women in leadership roles. Other stories involved operators such as Blair Pietrini, whose family-centered approach to hospitality and resilience following personal tragedy resonated deeply with members throughout the industry, as well as pizzaiole like Victoria Trupiano, who stepped out independently to build their own brands and identities within the business.
“Success becomes more meaningful when you create opportunities for others along the way,” Mortati added. “The more we support one another, the stronger the industry becomes overall. That sense of mentorship and generosity is one of the things I’m most proud of within this community.”
Women in Pizza currently includes approximately 500 members, with continued expansion expected as the organization launches a redesigned website and additional programming initiatives.
Mortati explained that corporate partners and sponsors have played a critical role in helping Women in Pizza evolve from an idea into a truly global organization. “Women in Pizza couldn’t exist without the support of sponsors, partners and industry supporters,” Mortati continued. “Their support has allowed us to create events, educational opportunities and platforms that amplify women’s voices throughout the industry while helping us continue growing the movement.”
“Women bring incredible creativity, strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities into this industry,” Mortati outlined. “Many successful businesses are succeeding because women are driving innovation, building culture, creating hospitality experiences and helping shape long-term strategic growth.”
At its core, however, Women in Pizza remains focused on something even more fundamental: helping people believe there is space for them within the industry and encouraging them to pursue their passion without hesitation.
Mortati concluded, “One of the most powerful moments for me was at a pizza festival when a mother brought her young daughter over to the Women in Pizza booth. She looked around and saw all of these women — operators, pizzaiole, leaders — thriving in this industry. You could see it hit her that maybe her daughter could have a future in pizza too. That moment really stayed with me. It perfectly captured what Women in Pizza is all about — helping women see that they belong here, that they can succeed, and that they can build something truly meaningful in this industry.”
Restaurant operators, foodservice professionals, distributors, sponsors and industry supporters interested in becoming part of the movement can learn more at https://womeninpizza.com, where information about membership, sponsorship opportunities, events and community initiatives is available.
