Kerry Brodie (she/her)

Founder & Executive Director

Kerry Brodie is the founder and Executive Director of Emma’s Torch. Since its launch in 2016, Emma’s Torch has opened multiple locations in New York City and has recently expanded operations to Washington, DC. 

Kerry’s passion for sustainable business models has played an important role in Emma’s Torch’s growth. She believes in being mission-driven and data-informed. Her interest in philanthropic R.O.I. has kept the organization laser-focused on ensuring program graduates get the best possible outcomes: to pursue their own goals and attain financial freedom.

Since founding Emma’s Torch, Kerry has had the opportunity to grow her leadership at the intersection of culinary arts and social advocacy. She is a recipient of a Gaudium Award from the Breukelein Institute and was a 2020 JWI Woman to Watch. She has been featured on CNN Heroes, The Forward 50, City & State’s 40 Under 40, and 36 Under 36–among many others.

Kerry is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education, where she received the Wusthof Award for Leadership and was named the ACCSC Graduate of the Year. She holds a Master’s in Government from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor’s in Near Eastern Studies from Princeton University.