Liberty Sessions With Nada Jones | Celebrating Women Who Do & Inspiring Women Who Can |

Since stepping down from the “day to day” of running Mendocino Farms, a premium fast-casual gourmet sandwich and salad concept that she co-founded in 2005, Ellen Chen has focused her time, energy, and passion on investing in female and minority-founded businesses. Ellen is leveraging her twenty years of experience growing food brands to help early-stage founders understand their purpose, operationalize their values, secure the necessary resources, and hopefully avoid some of the mistakes she made. In 2015, Nation’s Restaurant News included her on their annual Power List, and in 2020, Nation’s Restaurant News named her the 50 most influential women in food service. She sits on the Boards of Directors of Mendocino Farms, Sugared + Bronzed, and HomeState, as well as an Advisor to Curbit, Womaness, Kirra, and Vibrant Funds. Ellen strongly believes in giving back to her community. She serves as a Board Member of Teach AAPI and AAPI LA, an initiative launched by the Mayor’s office in Los Angeles.  In today’s epis