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visionariesnetwork Team

08 April, 2025

women in leadership

Few businesswomen today have had as large an impact as Lynda Resnick. She is vice-chair and co-owner of The Wonderful Company, a $6 billion private company. Resnick demonstrates that effective marketing can go hand in hand with high values. Her path demonstrates not only inventiveness and wise business acumen but also a sense of responsibility to humans and to the planet.

With brands like POM Wonderful, Wonderful Pistachios, Halos, and FIJI Water, Resnick has changed the way people shop, has set the trends in the space, and has turned everyday essentials into iconic health brands. But outside the store walls, her influence can be felt in schools, communities, and discussions about what it means to be a woman in leadership today.

A Leader in the Making

Lynda Resnick's entrepreneurial skills started early. At 19, she started a full-service ad agency called Lynda Limited, where she produced award-winning campaigns and demonstrated that women could be business-savvy and creative leaders.

This early beginning laid the foundation for a career that would combine innovation, branding, and purpose. Throughout, the Lynda Resnick leadership style was one of confidence and curiosity—pushing boundaries while being very human in approach.

Her ability to spin engaging brand stories would prove to be one of her hallmarks—especially in developing health-giving products that performed well at the checkout counter but stoked national discussion. From teaching consumers about the antioxidant properties of pomegranate juice to getting nuts mainstreamed as part of a health program, she knew leadership was not just about leading but also about inspiring.

The Wonderful Company: A Business with a Greater Purpose

Lynda and her husband Stewart Resnick founded The Wonderful Company. It is a market leader today in agriculture, healthy brands, and sustainability. It stands out in that it focuses on a mission.

The Resnicks have spent over $2.5 billion on giving back, mostly in the Central Valley of California, where they grow much of their produce. Their giving includes building free clinics, offering college scholarships, launching career initiatives, and opening preschools in underprivileged communities. These efforts aren't extras—they're at the heart of how the company does business.

Lynda Resnick's leadership style of management comes more clearly into view here: it is a combination of empathy, long-term thinking, and tough responsibility. Rather than viewing community outreach as an afterthought, she has integrated social good as an integral component of the business plan.

Her belief is clear but new: success doesn’t mean much unless you help others, too.

Empowering Women and Raising Voices

As a female executive in a traditionally male-dominated industry, Lynda Resnick has shattered glass ceilings and set new standards. She's accomplished this not with bravado but with sincerity, emotional intelligence, and a collaborative approach to decision-making.

She has enabled women all along her career—not only as a role model but also by creating spaces for them to lead and thrive. Wonderful Company has established firm support systems for women and families, such as mentorship, wellness programs, and learning tools.

One of the most important aspects of Lynda Resnick's leadership style is her commitment to empowering others through the power of storytelling. Whether she is launching brand campaigns or giving a voice to communities, she ensures that people—particularly women and minority groups—are heard, seen, and valued.

This strategy has brought her praise and notice in several areas. More importantly, however, it has shown a new generation of female leaders that results, creativity, and compassion can be complementary traits, not opposing ones.

A Legacy That Transcends Business

Lynda Resnick impacts not just business or branding but also climate, education, and the arts. She and her husband Stewart Resnick have made a substantial donation to Caltech for climate research and given to PBS, museums, and educational foundations. They want to make the world a better place.

Her book, Rebels in the Garden, provides insight into the values and aspirations that have guided her life. It's not just a success story—it's a lesson in leadership, resilience, and wielding power for the greater good.

For women beginning to take on leadership positions today, Resnick's legacy offers not only inspiration but a model. A style of leadership that involves leading with compassion, leading with purpose, and always keeping in mind the power of vision and action.

Conclusion 

Lynda Resnick has shown that leadership is not a question of fitting into a category—it's about creating something new. With a career spanning decades across industries, her legacy is a reminder that women can run businesses, influence culture, and transform lives simultaneously. And maybe that is the most significant element of Lynda Resnick leadership style: a deep belief that business must do more than make money—it must serve people.