Diana Gonzalez is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Cactus Foods, a Pasadena-based women-owned snack company on a mission to transform cactus (nopal) into delicious, sustainable, better-for-you snacks like Cactus Crunch tortilla chips. Inspired by her own health journey—including a diagnosis of Hashimoto’s disease and a family history of colon cancer—Diana set out to create gluten-free, non-GMO, culturally resonant snacks that are both nutritious and flavorful. With nearly two decades of experience in sales and marketing, including leadership roles at NBC/Universal, she brought her passion for health, sustainability, and cultural food heritage to life through Cactus Foods. Diana’s work exemplifies resilient entrepreneurship and innovation in the plant-based snack category while championing wellness and sustainability.
