About
Scott Mandell is the founder of Mandell Strategic Growth (MSG) and a Scaling Up Certified Coach. He partners with founder-led and privately held companies to scale smarter — with clarity, confidence, and discipline — using the Scaling Up framework. MSG combines proven Scaling Up tools with Scott’s real-world operator and investor experience to help leadership teams set priorities, build alignment, drive accountability, and achieve measurable enterprise value growth.

Scott brings more than three decades of experience as a banker, founder, operator, and investor. He began his career in commercial banking, spending eight years as a lender in Chicago where he built a foundation in finance, cash management, and risk analysis.

In 2001, he founded Enjoy Life Foods, the pioneering “free-from” snack company. Over 14 years as CEO, he scaled the business from start-up to market leader, creating the #1 brand in the category. Following the company’s acquisition by Mondelez International in 2015, Scott continued to run Enjoy Life for nearly two years post-sale, gaining valuable experience inside a Fortune 200 company while ensuring a smooth transition and continued growth. He later served as president of Cannabistry, a cannabis innovation company focused on product development and brand building, while also advising and investing through his family office, Mandell Ventures.

Scott earned a B.A. in History from Indiana University and an M.B.A. in Finance, Management & Strategy, and Entrepreneurship from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He is a long-standing YPO member (since 2009) and has been widely recognized for his entrepreneurial achievements, including Crain’s Chicago Business 40 Under 40 (2008) and the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award (2015).

MSG exists for CEOs who don’t just want to grow, but want to scale smarter — with clarity, confidence, and discipline — and achieve results that truly last.

Professional Highlights

Founder & CEO, Enjoy Life Foods – Built into category leader; led through acquisition by Mondelez International and continued to run post-sale.

President, Cannabistry – Directed innovation, product development, and brand building in a fast-emerging consumer industry.

Founder, Mandell Strategic Growth – Scaling Up Certified Coach, helping leadership teams simplify complexity and scale smarter with clarity, confidence, and discipline.

Private Investor & Advisor – Mandell Ventures; more than a decade of investment and advisory experience in food & beverage, consumer products, and health tech.

Recognized Entrepreneur – Crain’s Chicago Business 40 Under 40 (2008); Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year (2015); YPO member since 2009.

Personal Highlights
Lifelong Chicagoan with strong roots in the Midwest entrepreneurial community.

Devoted husband to Dana and father of three children — Ronnie, Ryan, and Reese.

Passionate sports fan; active golfer, skier, and paddle tennis player — and a poker competitor who qualified for and played in the World Series of Poker.

Coaching Regions
Canada - Atlantic Region
Canada - Central Canada
Canada - North
Canada - Prairie Provinces
Canada - West Coast
US - Midwest
US - Northeast
US - Southeast
US - Southwest
US - West

Industry of Expertise
Accounting/Finance
Administrative/Clerical
Banking/Real Estate
Coaching/Business Consulting
Customer Support
Food Services/Hospitality
Human Resources/Training/Development
Logistics/Transportation
Manufacturing/Production/Operations
Marketing
Retail