Libsyn Directory

Building AI for Food Scientists with Thomas Hayes, Co-Founder at Agilitas (#108)

Release Date: 05/23/2025

VP of People and Culture at Fine Choice Foods | Steve MacIntyre

That's a Food Job!

This is part two of FoodGrads’ three-part HR miniseries, built for students entering the food and beverage industry with support from De Lacy Executive Recruitment. In this episode, we get into what hiring managers actually do when they open your resume - and what happens in those first five to seven seconds that determines whether you make the pile or not. Steve McIntyre is the Vice President of People and Culture at Fine Choice Foods, a Richmond, BC-based manufacturer of spring rolls, gyoza, bao buns, and other premium dim sum products. Steve started his career as a maintenance...

Nicolas Pretorius, Talent Aquisition Manager at High Liner Foods | HR Mini-series (#125)

That's a Food Job!

In episode one of our HR-Miniseries we are talking about what hiring managers actually look for, how to approach resumes and interviews, and realistic ways that students can build experience and momentum as they start their careers. Nicolas Pretorius is Talent Acquisition Manager at Highliner Foods, one of North America’s leading processors of frozen, added-value seafood. In this conversation, you'll learn: What hiring managers actually look for on an entry-level resume Why soft skills often separate candidates more than technical ones How to use the skill bucket resume format with limited...

Enea Lelaj, Confectionery Scientist at Tilray Brands (#124)

That's a Food Job!

Enea Lelaj is a Confectionery Specialist at Tilray Brands, working at the intersection of food science, product development, and one of Canada’s fastest‑changing industries. In this episode of That’s a Food Job!, Enea shares how his path into food science was anything but planned. Starting in chemistry at Toronto Metropolitan University, he followed curiosity into a food research lab and discovered a field that combined science, creativity, and real‑world impact. Today, Enea develops gummies, chocolates, and tablets infused with active cannabinoids. He talks candidly about what real...

Domenique Mastronardi, President of Beck's Bone Broth (#123)

That's a Food Job!

Domenique Mastronardi is President of Beck's Bone Broth, a Canadian food startup bringing bone broth-based lattes to market — blending comfort, wellness, and innovation for retailers across Canada. In this episode of That's a Food Job!, Domenique shares her journey from engineering student to co-leading one of Canada's most creative emerging food startups. She opens up about what entrepreneurship really looks like behind the scenes — navigating uncertainty, balancing structure with creativity, and learning to trust your intuition. --- --- is Food and Beverage Ontario’s...

Talha Rashid, Continuous Improvement Manager at Handi Foods Ltd(#122)

That's a Food Job!

Talha Rashid is a Continuous Improvement Manager at Handi Foods Ltd., a Canadian food manufacturer specializing in crackers and better‑for‑you snack products supplied to major retailers across North America. In this episode of That’s a Food Job!, Talha breaks down what a continuous improvement career looks like in food manufacturing and how data, teamwork, and problem‑solving drive real change on the production floor. He explains how organizations identify inefficiencies, reduce waste, and improve productivity without compromising quality. --- --- is Food and Beverage...

Careers in Food and Beverage (#121.5)

That's a Food Job!

In this special solo episode, Veronica breaks down something that often gets overlooked — what the food and beverage processing industry actually is, and just how many career paths exist within it. If you've ever stood in a grocery store aisle and wondered how all those products got there, this one's for you! --- is Food and Beverage Ontario’s multi‑year workforce development initiative that is connecting students and job seekers with employers in Ontario’s food and beverage processing industry for exciting career opportunities. Check out for more information on jobs,...

Salma Fotovat, Co-Founder & Sourcing & Procurement Director at Riverside Natural Foods, Ltd. - Home of MadeGood (#121)

That's a Food Job!

Salma Fotovat is the Co-Founder & Sourcing & Procurement Director at Riverside Natural Foods, Ltd. - Home of MadeGood. They are a Canadian-owned company that specializes in creating healthy, allergy-friendly snacks She shares her insights on the complexities of product development in the dairy industry. She discusses the importance of collaboration, the challenges of optimizing established products, and the innovative processes involved in launching new products. Pratisha emphasizes the significance of curiosity, human connections, and networking in her career journey, providing...

Pratistha Banerjee, Product Development and Commercialization Manager at Darigold (#120)

That's a Food Job!

Pratistha Banerjee is a Product Development and Commercialization Manager at Darigold, a global supplier of dairy and specialty food products. Pratistha shares insights into her role, emphasizing that food product development is not just about flavor but also about functional ingredients, supplier collaboration, and navigating complex operational and regulatory requirements in the dairy industry. She discusses the challenges of optimizing existing products and taking new product ideas from concept to plant launch, as well as what innovation truly means in a large food company. Pratistha...

Leslie Herbas, Product Development Specialist at Ascona Foods (#119)

That's a Food Job!

What does a Product Development Specialist actually do in meat manufacturing? Leslie Herbas Marañon is a Product Development Specialist at Ascona Food Group, a global supplier of customized dry blends, edible films, and casings for the meat industry. With over 10 years across production, quality management, and R&D in Bolivia and Canada, she brings a hands-on, formulation-first approach to every project. --- Shownotes: --- Explore food industry careers with CareersNOW!: --- CareersNOW! is Food and Beverage Ontario’s multi-year workforce development initiative that is connecting...

Senior Project Engineer at Agri-Neo | Mohammad Kathawala

That's a Food Job!

Mohammad Kathawala, a senior project engineer at Agri-Neo, explains what it takes to work in food safety engineering. He describes how project engineers translate technology into systems that work in real food processing environments, often across global operations. Mohammad shares how his engineering background led him into the food industry, what his role looks like day to day, and why communication and continuous improvement matter as much as technical skill. The conversation also covers how food safety technology is changing and what students and early-career engineers should know before...

More Episodes

Thomas Hayes is the co-founder of Agilitas, a company building AI-powered tools to help food scientists formulate faster, smarter, and with more confidence. By transforming messy spreadsheets into an intelligent platform, Agilitas is tackling the “cold start” problem in food R&D and making it easier for teams to benchmark products, create base formulas, and retain critical institutional knowledge.

In this episode of That’s a Food Job!, Tommy shares his unconventional path from chemical engineering to food tech founder. He talks about building a customer-first platform, the power of feedback loops in product development, and how AI is being used to reduce trial-and-error in formulation—without replacing the scientist behind the bench. We also dive into his global experiences working in Singapore and Saudi Arabia, and what those perspectives taught him about innovation, communication, and risk-taking.

If you're curious about the future of food science, the role of AI in product development, or how to build something new in a traditional industry, this conversation is a must-listen.

Shownotes