Cheryl Appleton is a strategist, consultant, and community-builder known for helping founders turn possibility into momentum. Her entrepreneurial roots run deep — from her first paper route at age eight to a career spent inside manufacturing, retail, operations, and founder-led brands — giving her a practical understanding of how businesses work and what founders need to thrive.

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As the Founder of Canadian Women In Food (CWIF), Cheryl has become a leading voice in Canada’s food ecosystem. She created the organization in 2014 to close the gap in support, visibility, and opportunity for women-owned food businesses. Today, CWIF is a nationally recognized community where founders access connection, clarity, and mentorship that accelerates their entrepreneurial journeys. Cheryl also hosts Monday Morning Manager, a weekly virtual gathering known for setting the tone for the week and sparking conversations that shift how founders think about growth, leadership, and possibility.

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Her work has been recognized across the industry, including being named one of “10 Women Changing the Canadian Food Industry” by The Huffington Post, and most recently earning the 2025 Foodism ICON Award for Mentorship — a reflection of her long-standing commitment to lifting others as she leads.

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Through STRAGENTIUM, Cheryl brings this same mentor-forward philosophy into her consulting practice. She guides founders through startup foundations, scaling into distribution, strengthening sales, navigating operational complexity, and steering business turnarounds with clarity and confidence. Her clients span emerging brands like Magic Oats and Stocky AI to established companies like LIVA Foods, all benefitting from her ability to translate industry experience into practical strategies that work in the real world.

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Known for being an out-of-the-box thinker and a super-connector, Cheryl blends strategic acumen with genuine people leadership. She understands the realities of modern entrepreneurship — the pressure to wear every hat, the challenge of balancing creativity and operations, and the importance of building systems that support sustainable growth. Her guiding principle is simple: When founders have clarity, support, and a roadmap they can execute, everything becomes possible.

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Whether she’s consulting one-on-one, facilitating a community, or moderating conversations that spotlight emerging voices, Cheryl remains committed to creating pathways where founders feel seen, supported, and equipped to succeed.