Ryan Shadrick Wilson has been referred to as “the good food whisperer” because of the quiet yet significant role she has played in launching many of the innovative ideas and companies shaping the future of health, climate, and culture. Throughout a career that has spanned law, civil rights, public policy, marketing, philanthropy, and finance, Ryan has maintained a devotion to creating a healthier, happier, and more equitable future
Ryan is the founder and CEO of Boardwalk Collective, a venture catalyst firm that advises and invests in cutting edge ideas. She is the Executive Chairperson of Mealogic Inc.—a tech company providing a platform for healthy meal delivery brands. She serves as Co-Chair of ICON–the Investor Coalition on Nutrition. And, she is the Chairperson of Amir “Questlove” Thompson’s Future of Food Entrepreneurship Program. Ryan serves on the boards and advisory boards of numerous companies and organizations, including Instacart, the Rockefeller Foundation, OneBio, Arcaea, Voyage Foods, Arcaea, and Partnership for a Healthier America. In addition, as a Senior Advisor to the Milken Institute, Ryan launched — and now serves as Chairperson of — Feeding Change, an effort to catalyze a more nourishing, sustainable, and equitable food system.
Previously, Ryan served as Chief Strategy Officer and General Counsel of Michelle Obama’s Partnership for a Healthier America, where she worked with CEOs, celebrities, government officials, and health experts to improve health in all communities. During this time, Ryan was an architect of the innovative FNV campaign, which engaged over 85 celebrities in a humorous, national campaign to promote fruits and vegetables. Ryan also launched and served as the Chairperson of Feeding Change at the Milken Institute.
Ryan began her career at international law firm Hogan Lovells, where she counseled food and agriculture companies around the globe. While at the firm, she also maintained a commitment to a robust pro bono practice, handling civil rights, death penalty, and political asylum cases.
Ryan is a proud graduate of Virginia Beach Public Schools and graduated with honors from Princeton University and Harvard Law School.
