BENTONVILLE, ARK. — As a staunch vegan and animal welfare advocate, Emilie Mesnier was destined for a career that would enhance the lives of her four-legged friends. As the vice president of European operations at technical business services consulting firm BSM Partners, Mesnier is helping provide turnkey solutions that support her sustainability and social welfare interests alongside the changing demands and interests of the pet food industry.

“I’m most excited about animal welfare and the innovative solutions emerging in this space like lab-grown cultured meat, fermentation-based meat and non-meat proteins, including climate-resistant crops,” Mesnier said. “I’m a big advocate of not putting all our eggs in one basket and am passionate about educating pet parents and clients on the value of balanced, integrated solutions.”

In the following Q&A, Mesnier shares how her passion for animals steered her career toward the pet food industry and has helped guide her work on behalf of her clients and the pets they serve.

PFP: How did you get your start in the pet industry, and how did that experience lead you to where you are now?

Mesnier: My journey into the pet industry began during my food science engineering program in France, where internships are practically a rite of passage. By the time I reached my third and final internship, I was determined to find a path that resonated with me. SPF (now Symrise) stood out not just because they were one of the few companies offering paid internships — a rare €1,000 per month — but because it involved working with animals. After a somewhat sobering lecture on the career options awaiting us — think baby food, weight-loss foods and knock-off grocery store brands — I was craving something different. The opportunity to work in pet food felt like destiny knocking. I completed my internship with SPF in France, fell in love with the work and the people, and haven’t looked back since. While the human food industry might have offered broader learning opportunities, I’ve never felt the pull. My heart has always been with the pets.

PFP: What has been your biggest challenge — personal or professional — related to your work in the pet industry?

Mesnier: One of the toughest challenges has been navigating the old-school, “it’s who you know” mentality of a male-dominated industry as a younger, foreign woman with ambition. I’ve been in more meetings than I can count where I was the only woman in the room, offering innovative ideas that were initially ignored — only to see them praised when a male colleague voiced the same thought moments later. Staying engaged and motivated has been a challenge, but Sheryl Sandberg’s book, “Lean In,” was a game-changer for me. Realizing that I didn’t want to spend a lifetime battling biases and sexism, I decided to start my own consulting firm: Nugget Pet Corp. It was a leap of faith that turned out to be the best decision I ever made.

PFP: Tell me about a professional accomplishment in the pet industry that you are proud of.

“Winning through honesty and value-centered work is the accomplishment I’m most proud of,” said Emilie Mesnier of BSM Partners.

Mesnier: I’m most proud of the fact that I’ve consistently put my clients first, even under pressure from upper management, and stayed true to my values — no matter the consequences. It’s this integrity that has helped me build strong, lasting relationships with my clients and partners. For instance, when I was asked to keep impending layoffs a secret from my team, I chose transparency so they could prepare. The result? They all stayed.

I’ve also stood my ground when pressured to stretch the interpretation of results for a key client — they still trust me today. Calling out double standards cost me a job once, but it was the best thing that could have happened. Winning through honesty and value-centered work is the accomplishment I’m most proud of. And yes, it does pay off.

PFP: What is top of mind for you and/or your business in the industry right now?

Mesnier: Sustainability, climate change and social responsibility are front and center for everyone, myself included. But personally, I’m most excited about animal welfare and the innovative solutions emerging in this space like lab-grown cultured meat, fermentation-based meat and non-meat proteins, including climate-resistant crops. I’m a big advocate of not putting all our eggs in one basket and am passionate about educating pet parents and clients on the value of balanced, integrated solutions.

As Jim Collins would say in his book, “BE 2.0,” it’s about avoiding “the tyranny of the OR.” I envision a future where we see more products combining insect protein with conventional meats, or treats blending invasive species with familiar flavors, for example.

PFP: If you could pick three trends influencing the industry today, which are the most important and why?

Mesnier: Sustainability — Not a surprise here, but all major pet food companies now have aggressive sustainability goals, particularly around packaging materials.

Functional ingredients — Especially for aging pets and longevity. With people delaying parenthood and treating their pets like children, the focus on wellness and lifespan is intensifying, and pet parents are willing to pay for it.

Cats — After years of playing second fiddle to dogs, cats are finally getting the attention, innovation and investment they deserve.

PFP: What is something about the pet industry that people outside of the industry may not realize?

Mesnier: I’m sure this has been said before, but the clichés are true. When people find out I’m a pet food consultant and formulator, they’re often surprised such jobs exist. The next questions are usually about what they should feed their pets or whether formulating pet food is harder than human food. Once I explain the strict regulations we work under — formulating to meet 42-plus nutrient guidelines with variable ingredients — they quickly realize how much more complex pet food formulation is than they may have thought. And while humans might eat anything they believe is good for them, regardless of how it tastes, pets are far harder to please.

PFP: What advice would you give to other women in this industry?

Mesnier: Our industry’s gender balance has been shifting rapidly over the past five to 10 years, with more women stepping into leadership roles. But challenges like unconscious bias, slower career advancement and imposter syndrome still exist. My advice is to focus on your circle of influence rather than your circle of concerns — and seek out female mentors beyond your current company.

PFP Just for fun, do you consider yourself a dog person or a cat person? Or, if you have pets of your own, tell us a little bit about them.

Emilie Mesnier with her Cornish Rex Cooper.

| Source: Emilie Mesnier

Mesnier: That’s a fun one. I used to be a die-hard cat person — so much so that I was labeled the “cat lady” in two of my previous positions where I managed the cat product platforms and products development. That label may have influenced my career. I have a Cornish Rex, who’s almost hairless, and my friends love to tease me about him, which I don’t mind.

In 2019, I rescued two senior Dachshunds and convinced my allergic husband to keep one. Now, I’m obsessed with Dachshunds. I also started rescuing farm animals, and I’ve fallen in love with chickens as pets. They’re incredibly underrated companions, and the fresh eggs are a bonus.

Emilie Mesnier currently serves as vice president of European operations at BSM Partners. She has an extensive background in the pet nutrition industry spanning nearly 20 years. Before joining BSM Partners, she held various R&D, project management and sales roles with Symrise Pet Food, Mars Petcare and American Nutrition. Mesnier grew up in France, where she earned her master’s degree in food science from AgroSup Dijon. She will soon move back to France to kickstart BSM Partner’s European business.

Continue reading about other female leaders featured in our Women in the Pet Industry series.