By Rick Hynum
Alexandra Mortati, founder of Women in Pizza, started out as a girl in pizza—at 13, she was bussing tables at a Neapolitan shop and filing paperwork for her family’s food importing business, Orlando Foods. But after going to work full-time at Orlando Foods in 2019, she rarely saw women properly represented at industry events or in publications (like PMQ Pizza)—at least not as the leaders and innovators that they truly are. And that just didn’t make sense.
Today, Mortati—known to her friends as Azie—leads a movement that has caught fire globally and elevated the entire pizza community. The nonprofit’s mission is stated forthrightly on its Instagram page: “We Empower Women in Pizza and Open Doors for Their Future.” Mortati inspired PMQ’s annual Women to Watch report, which launched during Women’s Pizza Month (March) in 2024, and has served as its guest editor each year. She prefers to stay behind the scenes, interviewing female operators, chefs and managers for the Women in Pizza website and Instagram account (now with 8,700 followers) and letting them speak for themselves. But the woman who has helped so many other women find their voices deserves to be heard, too.
In this expanded version of our March 2026 cover story interview with her, Mortati talks about her own life in pizza, explains how Women in Pizza got started, and looks at the “common threads” that run through the journey of every woman’s journey to success in our community.
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PMQ Pizza: First, Azie, tell us about yourself and your life in the pizza community. How did you become a woman in pizza?
Alexandra Mortati: Food, and the stories behind and around it, have always been a part of my life. Starting at 13, my first summer jobs meant splitting my time between bussing tables at a Neapolitan pizzeria and filing paperwork at Orlando Foods, my family’s food importing business. Even then, I was surrounded by the rhythms of restaurants, ingredients and the people who bring food to life.
In 2019, after spending a few years working in New York City, I returned to Orlando Foods full-time. It felt like a natural way to bring together the two things I’ve always loved most: storytelling and food. From my very first official day, which happened to be a visit to Pizza University, I was immediately welcomed into the pizza community.
From there, I dove in headfirst. I learned everything I could, from how ingredients are made and sourced to how they’re best used in real kitchens. I spent time with restaurateurs and pizzaioli, listening to their stories, learning about their processes, challenges and craft. Over time, I became deeply immersed in both the culture and the industry, and that’s where my own path as a woman in pizza really took shape.
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PMQ: Was there a specific moment that made you realize Women in Pizza needed to exist?
Mortati: There wasn’t one single “aha” moment, but there was a very clear realization early on. When I started at Orlando Foods, it was right after the Pizza Expo where Orlando Foods…hosted a “Women in Pizza Power Hour,” creating a dedicated space for women to make pizza, connect and build relationships. I remember asking Fred and Carlo, “Why is this something that only exists for an hour at a trade show? You clearly see the need to make space for and celebrate women in this industry.” Their response was immediate and honest: “We’d love to do more, but we don’t have the time or resources right now. If this is something you’re passionate about, we’ll back you 100%.”
At the same time, I was meeting women who were absolutely integral to their businesses—owners, operators, leaders—yet often weren’t the public faces of them. I had grown up watching women like Giorgia Caporuscio, but I was now seeing how many other remarkable women were doing extraordinary work without the same visibility or recognition. When you don’t see yourself represented, it’s hard to imagine yourself succeeding, even when you know you belong. I realized I knew—and kept meeting—so many women whose stories deserved to be told, and that’s what pushed me to say, “OK, this needs to exist, and I’m going to do something about it now.”
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PMQ: Have you encountered any resistance or pushback in the industry? Are there some people who just don’t “get” it?
Mortati: Honestly, no—at least not in any direct or meaningful way. If there was pushback, it never made its way to me. From the very beginning, the response was overwhelmingly positive. People didn’t just accept the idea, they embraced it and actively championed it. What really stood out to me was how the industry came together around it. Men and women alike recognized the value of creating space, visibility and support for women in pizza. That level of encouragement was incredibly affirming, especially early on, and it reinforced that this wasn’t about exclusion; it was about strengthening the industry as a whole.
PMQ: What’s something that women in the pizza world still feel pressure to prove that men rarely have to worry about?
Mortati: I think we still feel a constant pressure to prove our credibility in ways men rarely have to think about. There’s often an unspoken expectation to be exceptional just to be seen as competent—to know more, work harder or justify your presence before your voice carries the same weight. Whether it’s being taken seriously in technical conversations, being assumed to be “the face” rather than the operator, or having leadership questioned in subtle ways, women are often navigating layers of validation that men simply don’t have to. It’s not always overt, but it’s persistent. And while that pressure can build resilience, it also highlights why representation and visibility matter so much—because the more women are seen in these roles, the less we’re asked to prove we belong there at all.
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PMQ: How would you describe the progress that women are making these days?
Mortati: I think the progress has been real and visible, even if there’s still work to be done. Women are taking up more space, stepping into leadership roles, opening their own businesses, and being recognized for their expertise—not just their presence. That includes more women holding influential positions at the companies that service and support the pizza industry, shaping decisions, driving innovation, and helping move the entire industry forward. There’s a growing confidence and sense of ownership that feels very different than it did even a few years ago.
I’m also seeing more and more women competing and putting themselves out there—entering competitions, stepping onto stages, and raising their hands for opportunities that historically felt out of reach or unwelcoming. That visibility matters.
What’s also changed is the conversation. There’s more awareness, more allyship, and more intentional effort to make the industry welcoming and inclusive. Women are supporting one another more openly, sharing knowledge, and advocating for each other in ways that create real momentum. It feels less like women are asking for permission and more like they’re claiming their place—and that shift has been really encouraging to watch.
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PMQ: Is there a story you’ve published—or a woman you’ve met through this work—that changed how you think about or define success in this industry?
Mortati: There isn’t just one story or one woman—it’s really been all of them, collectively. Every conversation, every profile, every introduction has added another layer to how I think about success in this industry. When you step back, there are so many common threads: resilience, generosity, creativity and an incredible amount of heart. So many of the women I’ve met define success in ways that go far beyond titles, awards or visibility. It shows up in the communities they build, the teams they support, the balance they fight for, and the passion they bring to their craft every single day. Hearing those stories again and again makes it impossible not to be inspired. It’s reshaped my understanding of success as something deeply human and rooted in impact, connection and purpose, not just recognition.
PMQ: What kinds of stories do you hope we’ll be telling 5 or 10 years from now that we’re not quite ready to tell yet?
Mortati: I hope we’re telling stories where being a woman in pizza is no longer the headline; it’s simply part of the story. I’d love for the focus to be on innovation, leadership, creativity and impact, without gender being the qualifier or the surprise. I also hope we’re telling more stories about longevity and sustainability—women who have built businesses that last, who have grown teams, passed on knowledge, and shaped the next generation. Stories where balance, boundaries and wellbeing are part of success, not something achieved at the expense of it.
Most of all, I hope we’re telling stories that reflect how normal it has become to see women competing, leading, mentoring and being visible at every level of the industry. When those stories feel ordinary rather than noteworthy, that’s when we’ll know real progress has been made. I see Women in Pizza as the conduit to helping expand these horizons and making this a future reality.
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PMQ: For a young woman reading this article, someone’s who’s just entering the pizza business, what do you want her to know?
Mortati: I want her to know that she belongs here—fully and without question. You don’t need to wait until you feel “ready.” You don’t need to look or sound like anyone else, and you don’t need permission to take up space. Your perspective, your voice and your passion are valuable exactly as they are.
I’d want her to walk in understanding that there is room for her in this community and that she doesn’t have to do it alone. That she has support from all sides. This industry is built on relationships, generosity and shared knowledge, and there are so many people—especially other women—who want to see her succeed. Trust yourself, stay curious, and know that the pizza community is better because you’re in it.
Rick Hynum is PMQ Pizza’s editor in chief.
