Ariela Gildenson is Senior Sustainability Manager at Oak View Group Hospitality, where she turns sustainability into practical programs across food and beverage operations throughout North America, including the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. With more than 10 years of experience across the food industry, Ariela brings a perspective shaped by work across North and South America, spanning farmers, restaurants, distributors, retail partners, and food and beverage manufacturers. Before joining OVG through the Climate Corps Fellowship in 2023 — a program of the Environmental Defense Fund in partnership with ReFED — she led initiatives across sourcing, inventory, and operations designed to reduce waste, improve operating discipline, and support growth across markets. She holds an M.S. in Sustainability Management from Columbia University and a B.S. in Food Engineering from Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City.