Dietetic Career Spotlight: Emma Fogt, MBA, MS, RD, LDN
By SARAH KOSZYK, MA RD on MAY 23, 2012
From a successful pediatric private practice owner to a corporate culinary builder and nutrition consultant, Emma Fogt, MBA, MS, RD, LDN, explains how she continues to grow and love her dietetic career path. Read on to learn how all RDs can continue to transform throughout their career and love every moment of it
What attracted you to the field of nutrition and dietetics?
In high school I enjoyed the sciences and worked summers helping fill out clinical case report forms for a clinical pharmacology research unit. I also liked art in high school and would spend my free time painting and doing crafts. When it was time to choose an occupation- I chose the sciences. Nutrition had courses I was attracted to: food science, anatomy and physiology, statistics, education, research, psychology and was a field which was people oriented. I need to be around people.
My nutrition path took me to the areas of nutrition support research and clinical trial management. After my second child In 1998 I reached a fork in the road and thought about leaving nutrition- I felt that the field was too narrow and did not allow me to use my strengths which include creativity and entrepreneurship. That same year, I attended a Nutrition Entrepreneur’s Dietetic Practice Group Seminar called “Opening Up a Private Practice “ and knew I had not only found my purpose and creative outlet but I also had found my peers. This was a pivotal moment.
My practice “Nutrition for Kids, Teens and Families” opened in 2001 and ran successfully for 10 years. Today, with older kids and a new career focus away from pediatrics, I continue to use my strengths every day.
What is your current Job Title?
I presently have four part time jobs under the title
- Work-life Nutrition Consultant
- I work as a Nutrition Consultant to Dietz & Watson Inc., makers of fine deli and artisan cheeses here in Philadelphia. Here I get to use my strengths in evidence based science, and marketing & communications.
- I work as a Corporate Culinary Team Builder for companies who want to cook and strengthen their teams. This is so much fun I forget I am getting paid for it. I use culinary, organizational, business and creative skills here.
- I volunteer as President Elect of Nutrition Entrepreneurs a dietetic practice group of the AND- helping entrepreneurs achieve their professional and financial potential. Nutrition Entrepreneurship is a true passion of mine and feeds my soul allowing me to be creative, to see others for what they do best and to lead. I encourage all dietitians to become a member. It’s the best return on investment you will ever get. www.nedpg.org
- Finally I am working on a book and interactive program to help successful women “Reignite4wellness”. That is my next platform and my new baby. Here I will be using the newer skills of writing, coaching, presenting, marketing and speaking.
Your Company?
I am self employed under: www.emmafogt.com
Describe a typical (or not so typical) day-in-the-work-life for you.
My favorite days allow me to use my strengths. Monday I made it to an early yoga class which I call “therapy”, had a one hour call with my co-author to figure out our next step on our wellness book. I then collected recipes for a corporate cooking team building event using a Moroccan Theme. Then at 2pm I talked with my Mastermind group discussing our weekly goals and called Dietz & Watson to get more information on an upcoming Facebook Forum for a national supermarket chain to take place that evening. Scooted to my son’s guitar lesson, prepared and ate dinner with my family and got on that Facebook Forum call. A truly perfect day.
How did you get your current job in dietetics?
My jobs in the past came through networking and internships. My first job was a combination of having worked in the clinical pharmacology unit during the summers, networking with the head dietitian of the hospital during my internship and going after the job with determination. The Dietz & Watson account came from the owner at my local gym- pure networking.
What skills were you born with and what skills have you learned along the way?
I was born with the skills of compiling data, strategic thinking, creating ideas, leadership and relating to people. I have had to learn to be a good listener and learn management skills. I have made plenty of mistakes along the way.
What advice do you have for others wanting to be just as successful and fulfilled as you?
Success is how you define it. For me success is being able to work with your strengths and get paid for it. Working with people to make a difference, having dinner with my family and still have free time to feed my soul with exercise and creativity is success for me.
I truly believe there is a time and place for each job and job title we hold in life and ultimately in the end the skills we collect along the way create a package which allows us to use all of them in some capacity or another.
To be fulfilled is also relative. What I love to do may be another person’s nightmare! The fortunate thing about nutrition today is that it has changed drastically for the better in the last 30 years. Entrepreneurship supports the movers and the shakers of nutrition and truly lets you be the best you can be. I encourage all dietitians and student to join www.nedpg.org to gain more skills and insight into entrepreneurship, link to peers and make their dreams come true.
If you could be paid for your job with something other than a paycheck, what would it be?
What currency would I be paid with? Probably in the form of house help- someone to clean the house, do laundry, keep the yard, organize the home schedule and take the dog on a walk ( just don’t tell the dog that!).
