Client Spotlight: How Corto Olive Co. Expands Access for Women Pizza Makers
On March 1, applications opened for the third year of the Corto x Stanislaus Pizza Scholarship.
That’s the timely headline, but the real story is about long-term commitment and how a brand can move an industry forward in a measurable way.
Pizza Industry: Room to Grow Equity and Opportunity
According to a November 2024 Total Food Service industry report, of the more than 774,000 pizza makers currently employed in the United States, 39.8% are women and 60.2% are men. That means women make up less than 40% of the pizza workforce in a $45+ billion industry.
The visibility gap can be even wider at the top. Search “top U.S. pizza chefs” and the names that surface are overwhelmingly male.
After one visit to Pizza Expo, Corto’s VP of marketing, Amy Hsiao, recognized the challenge and quickly challenged her team of internal pros and agencies to craft a campaign designed to support a more equitable and accessible industry.
The Strategy Behind the Commitment
From the beginning, Corto’s goal wasn’t to attach its name to a stunt or make a big public splash. It wanted to build an enduring structure for support. An environment where a community could flourish and grow over time.
With that in mind, Dadascope worked closely with Corto to architect a multi-layered platform that could:
Build an authentic community and support system
Elevate the role of women in the pizza industry
Generate earned media momentum
And translate cultural energy into structured opportunity
Here’s how that took shape.
1. Showcasing the Commitment: Camp Corto
Dadascope conceived and produced Camp Corto, a multi-day immersive experience that brought together 15 pizzaiolas from across the country for two days of learning and inspiration in a laid-back, glamping-inspired environment.
From touring the groves to blending their own oils to inspirational speakers, stargazing and campfires, Corto nurtured the women who have dedicated their lives to nourishing others. Beyond the organic social engagement, industry buzz, and strengthened peer networks, the program ignited a movement while establishing Corto’s commitment.
2. Bringing the Message Home: The Pizza Kit with Christy Alia
In partnership with Christy Alia, founder of Women’s Pizza Month, Corto launched a limited-edition “For the Love of Pizza” Kit celebrating women in pizza.
Working with Corto and its agency partners, Dadascope shaped the narrative strategy and media outreach, ensuring the initiative resonated beyond trade audiences and into broader lifestyle and food media.
The goal: Expand the conversation, shine a light on the women shaping the biggest trends in pizza, and give consumers the opportunity to tap into the knowledge and excitement of the movement.
The result: The “For the Love of Pizza” Kit sold out and millions of consumers learned about Corto’s commitment to the movement through dozens of media articles.
3. Impacting Lives: The Scholarship
“ And then I won, and it changed my life.”
Corto’s Pizza Scholarship has become the structural backbone of Corto’s commitment, turning industry support into direct professional opportunity
Dadascope surfaced the scholarship as a way for Corto to codify its commitment and create a credible pathway tied to real professional development.
The scholarship, now in its third year, thanks to the commitment of Corto and Stanislaus, funds a three-day master class at Pizza University in Beltsville, Maryland. The master class has been a catalyst for growth and change.
Why We’re Highlighting This Now
“At Dadascope, we seek out brands that strive to play a meaningful role in shaping their industries. We’re proud to have helped shape the strategy, programs, and visibility that make that commitment tangible for Corto and others.”
Since Corto launched the first Pizza Scholarship, a growing group of women and LGBTQ+ pizzaiolas are reshaping the industry while stacking up awards, launching independent concepts, and building community-driven businesses. This recent article in Sonoma Magazine highlights a growing community in the Bay Area that includes a past Pizza Scholarship winner and a few Camp Corto attendees, too.
We’ve even seen the industry trades expand their coverage of women making great pizzas.
I’ll admit that PMQ didn’t feature women nearly as much as we should have on our covers until Women’s Pizza Month started. And that wasn’t because we didn’t think women deserved to be covered. It was mostly men who came to us about being featured. But with this movement, we started finding more and more women pizza makers and owners on Instagram, and now I feel like we have a good mix of women and men on our covers every year. — Rick Hynum, PMQ’s editor in chief
Corto chose to invest in education, elevate underrepresented voices, and support women who are advancing pizza culture and craft. But the work is not over, and the Pizza Scholarship exists to expand opportunity and inclusion.