Cynthia McCloud, director of Food Industry Programs and adjunct faculty at the University of Southern California (USC) Marshall School of Business, is retiring. McCloud, a student in the Food Industry Management (FIM) program in 1990, has served as director since 2014, following a 40-year career in the food industry.
In a farewell speech during the recent FIM capstone presentations and graduation ceremony on the USC campus in Los Angeles, McCloud recalled writing down her goals when she was a student.
“One of them was bold. I said I wanted to come back and maybe teach but ideally lead this program. And that dream took a little time and a lot of living and a good friend … and now a decade later, I stand before you, closing this treasured chapter in my life.”
McCloud thanked her friends who walked beside her “through this extraordinary 52-year journey in the food industry and these past 11 years here at USC. Your love and your loyalty and your laughter have been truly the soundtrack of this beautiful chapter in my life,” she said.
McCloud noted that, as a woman of faith, she does not fear the end of a chapter in life but sees it as the beginning of “the next grand adventure.”
She recalled a sentiment expressed by executive coach and author Marshall Goldsmith – you should leave when people want you to stay.
“That sentiment resonates with me deeply. This is the right time,” she said. “This program is strong. The community is vibrant, and the next chapter is filled with promise.
“It’s said that every teacher stands on the shoulders of those who taught before them, and I had the privilege of building on this legacy of incredible leaders. I’m especially grateful to Dr. Jim Stevenson, who was the director when we were all in the program, whose wisdom and dedication paved the way for all of us.
“And now I look forward to handing the baton off to the next director, someone who will stand, I hope, on my shoulders and take this program to a very extraordinary level, to new heights.”
McCloud said each year in the Food Industry Management program, students work on defining their personal values and weaving them into their leadership narrative. She shared hers as director of the program.
“Those values start with faith, which is the anchor of my life and my husband’s life. And then comes kindness,” she said. “It has always mattered, and it will always matter to everyone, especially to leaders in this industry. Then there comes hope. I proudly call myself a hope dealer. And education inspires hope that opens doors.
“Then there’s generosity – to whom much is given, much is expected. And gratitude. Every day I thank God for His blessings and family, the greatest joy and source and meaning of my life. Our son and our daughter-in-law remind us constantly that the best treasures are not things but shared experiences – laughter around the table, memories made together.
“It’s these values – faith, kindness, hope, generosity, gratitude and family – that have shaped how I live and how I lead.”
McCloud noted that when she worked in the food industry, she often was called “the velvet hammer.”
“We can, I believe, be strong and also be kind. We can hold people accountable and still treat them with dignity. Leadership is not about being loud. It’s about being clear and compassionate and consistent.”
When it comes teams, she added, it is vital to get the right people into the right seats.
“Hire and develop those who are hungry and humble and emotionally smart. Build leaders who lift while they climb and always, always surround yourself with people who challenge you to be better,” she said.
“As a hope dealer, I have deep hope for you … I hope you will live with courage. I hope you will thrive with curiosity. I hope you will love without fear, and I hope you will even demonstrate a little audacity from time to time, so that your life is lived without apology.”
[RELATED: USC Marshall Enhances Fall 2025 Food Industry Executive Program]
Cynthia,
Our paths occasionally crossed over the years and I was always so pleased to see you advance your career according to your steadfastness of the criteria you had set for yourself and your next step along an exemplary successful journey. Thanks for making the industry and people better at every stop!
My best wishes for a wonderful retirement!