Kelli Heinz | Vice President of Marketing & Industry Affairs | Bell Flavors & Fragrances
Kelli Heinz has had an inspiring career at Bell Flavors & Fragrances, marked by her innovative approach to marketing and trend analysis. Her journey with Bell began as a summer intern while she was attending Tulane University. After studying abroad in Paris, focusing on fashion journalism and fashion photography, she interned again in 2006 and 2008. Kelli continued her education at DePaul University, where she earned a Master’s degree in Communication with a focus on Journalism, while working as a Marketing Coordinator at Bell. We at EliteX, are proud to introduce Kelli Heinz as one of the Impactful Businesswomen: Making a Difference, 2024.
During her master’s program, Kelli participated in international business seminars in Chile, Argentina, and India. Her active involvement in industry associations began early, including serving as the program committee chair for the Flavor & Extract Manufacturing Association (FEMA) from 2013 to 2019 and engaging with the International Fragrance Association of North America (now the Fragrance Creators Association, FCA). She also joined the Women in Flavor & Fragrance Commerce (WFFC) Board of Directors for the Chicago Chapter in 2012. Kelli’s dedication and talent quickly propelled her through the ranks at Bell. In 2014, she was promoted to Director of Marketing & Industry Affairs, where she began speaking at major tradeshows and became a recognized leader in the industry. She further honed her leadership skills through an executive program at Harvard Business School, completing the Program for Leadership Development (PLD) in 2019. During this time, she was promoted to Vice President of Marketing & Industry Affairs and joined the Harvard Business School Club of Chicago Board of Directors.
“Excellence is never an accident. It is the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction, skillful execution and the vision to see obstacles as opportunities”
Kelli’s leadership extends beyond Bell, with significant roles on the Board of Directors for the FCA and the Board of Governors for FEMA. She also serves as the President of the WFFC Chicago Chapter. One of her notable achievements at Bell is the creation of the “Spark” trend program, which began in 2015. This dynamic program analyzes data points to generate insights and predictions for flavor and fragrance trends. The program has evolved to provide a comprehensive understanding of consumer and industry trends, helping Bell stay at the forefront of innovation. Under Kelli’s guidance, Bell Flavors & Fragrances has enhanced its global reach, with the “Spark” program going international in 2020. Each regional marketing team follows five distinct macro trends and develops unique micro trends tailored to their specific consumer preferences. This approach ensures that Bell remains agile and responsive to market demands.
Kelli Heinz’s journey is a testament to her vision and commitment to excellence in the flavor and fragrance industry. Her work continues to inspire creativity and drive innovation at Bell Flavors & Fragrances, shaping the future of the industry. Kelli Heinz’s educational background has been instrumental in shaping her knowledge and expertise. Her journalism program honed her writing skills and taught her to analyze articles without bias. Harvard Business School, known for its academic rigor, was a particularly enriching experience, despite its demanding nature. The program included a diverse cohort of 172 individuals from over 45 countries, which expanded Kelli’s network and cultural understanding, significantly enhancing her business acumen.
One notable experience was when Kelli had to balance a crucial presentation for one of Bell’s major clients with attending an award ceremony for her father. Her father was being honored with the FCA Eric Burell Distinguished Service Award, and Kelli was requested to deliver his introduction at a dinner in New Jersey the night before her presentation in Louisville. Despite the logistical challenges, Kelli managed to attend the ceremony, create a detailed coffee table book of trends for the client, and still arrive in time for the presentation. Her perseverance and dedication paid off, as the presentation was well-received. Reflecting on this experience, Kelli emphasizes the importance of not missing pivotal moments in life. Her ability to make things work under challenging circumstances highlights her dedication and determination. Her career has been shaped by various experiences, including her education, navigating natural disasters, and working hard to build connections and relationships. Kelli has worked tirelessly to make Bell the most creative flavor and fragrance house through their Marketing Department.
“Unexpected turns in life can sometimes lead to the right path. Without the reroute to India, I might not have ended up at Harvard Business School.”
During her master’s program, Kelli participated in an international business seminar in India. Originally, she had planned to study abroad in Japan, but the 2011 Tsunami forced a change in plans. Kelli’s experiences also included being at Tulane during Hurricane Katrina, which led to her attending the University of Illinois for a semester while Tulane and New Orleans were closed. Her parents humorously noted the pattern of natural disasters seemingly following her. Due to the cancellation of her Japan study abroad program, Kelli opted for a summer program in India at the age of 25. The India program quickly became her favorite study abroad experience, introducing her to a unique place and culture. During the program, Kelli met a customer based in Bangalore who later became a mentor and encouraged her to apply to Harvard Business School. This unexpected turn in life ultimately led Kelli to Harvard, underscoring that sometimes the right path is found through unexpected detours.
Kelli believes that leaders should leverage their unique attributes to excel in their own distinctive ways. Authenticity in leadership fosters trust and respect, as people seek genuine connections. Additionally, leaders should cultivate humility, acknowledging and appreciating the support from their team. Kelli emphasizes that a leader’s strength is inherently tied to the collective efforts of those they lead. At Bell Flavors & Fragrances, the company immerses itself in its craft to achieve in-depth knowledge of market dynamics and analyze consumer insights. This foundation allows them to create successful market products and functional solutions for current market needs. Whether preparing trend presentations to guide product development, sharing insights from the Spark program to inspire innovation, or customizing creation and technology to support product performance, Bell’s approach is rooted in high-level customer service and proactive troubleshooting.
One of the biggest topics every industry faces is the use of AI. As a marketing executive, Kelli has investigated the advantages of AI and how it can provide efficiency and productivity within her department and the company from a marketing perspective. Kelli believes the flavor and fragrance industry is resilient because everyone needs to eat. While what people eat may change, there will always be a need for flavors. Similarly, humans will always have a sense of smell, and there will always be a need to scent products for sensory experiences.
“Authenticity in leadership fosters trust and respect, as people seek genuine connections. Cultivating humility and appreciating the support from your team is essential to successful leadership.”
Kelli’s advice for emerging marketing leaders is to put themselves out there and get involved. Half of the job is just showing up and having face time within the industry. Applying to as many speaking engagements as possible can build an audience and presence. Kelli emphasizes that individuals are their own brand and need to promote and advocate for themselves humbly.
