Patricia Duffy

Senior Fellow at Food Sol

​​Patricia Duffy is an experienced marketing strategist, consultant, trainer/facilitator and connector focused on independent food and beverage entrepreneurs. Emphasizing sustainable business models, her priorities include: clear understanding of market needs/opportunities; business planning and competitive analysis; and identifying/developing mutually beneficial alliances for production, promotion, distribution and financing.

A champion of cooperatition in the food system, Patricia is active in initiatives/organizations designed to advance sustainable food businesses via market and industry connections. This includes hosting a monthly Community Table forum (pioneered by Babson College’s Food Sol) for food professionals and students at New York University; serving on the Executive Committee of Slow Money NYC’s Food+Enterprise Summit; and mentorship at the Brooklyn FoodWorks incubator.

Patricia became keenly interested in business start-ups in 2009 while working with Golden Seeds, a New York-based angel investment group committed to women entrepreneurs. Operating under Golden Seeds’ Academy umbrella, she conducted workshops in business planning, marketing strategy and investor pitching—drawing on past experience, along with observing/evaluating pitches and investor assessments of numerous technology, medical and consumer product companies.

Patricia's corporate experience includes 13 years at American Express where she managed key industry relationships in both the card and travel businesses. As Vice President, Travel Supplier Relations she managed teams in five cities, responsible for negotiations and program management for all major U.S. airlines, hotel chains, car rental companies, cruise lines and tour operators. As a Director and Vice President responsible for relationships and mutually building business with national merchants, Patricia’s industry responsibilities included (at various intervals) all U.S. restaurants accepting the American Express Card; national and international hotel chains; and key entertainment venues ranging from Radio City Music Hall to Disney and Ticketmaster.

Patricia began her career in advertising, gaining experience on both the client and agency sides of the business. She had roles as a copywriter, agency account management executive and a corporate advertising and public relations manager. This dual perspective cemented her consistent emphasis on developing win-win relationships to optimize effectiveness and success.

Patricia holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

She lives with her husband (and son when home from college) in Brooklyn. Whenever possible, they escape to an ancient farmhouse in Tuscany that they lovingly restored in the last century—with the support of Italian friends who are now extended family.