Meet Michael Finete

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Michael Finete a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Michael, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?

I attribute my work ethic to the values instilled in me growing up in Point Loma, San Diego, a close-knit Portuguese fishing community. My grandfather and others in the community pioneered the tuna fishing industry, and I saw firsthand the dedication and hard work it took to sustain our livelihood. That experience grounded me in the importance of persistence, respect for all workers, collaboration, and responsibility — not just for the success of my work, but also for the people and environment impacted by it. Those principles have shaped my career and continue to guide me in my role at Mary’s Gone Crackers.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

As the CEO of Mary’s Gone Crackers, I lead a company committed to creating delicious, gluten-free, and organic snacks that align with our mission of sustainability. What excites me most is our commitment to regenerative agriculture and creating a positive impact on both families and the environment. We prioritize sourcing high-quality ingredients and continuously innovate to meet the demands of health-conscious consumers.

We recently expanded our product line to introduce new flavors of crackers as well as a wider variety of packaging options and a complete packaging redesign. We’re also deepening our sustainability efforts, even down to personally working with the family farms that supply our ingredients to enhance soil health. Mary’s Gone Crackers has been the industry leader, and after 20 years in business, we’re not slowing down anytime soon! You’ll see new packing, flavors, and products hit shelves in the coming months.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

The three qualities that have been most impactful in my journey are perseverance, adaptability, and strategic vision. In any career, especially in food and CPG, perseverance is key to overcoming challenges. My advice is to develop resilience by embracing setbacks as learning opportunities. Adaptability is crucial, too, as industries evolve rapidly — understanding market shifts and consumer trends allows you to stay ahead. Lastly, having a strategic vision helps align your work with long-term goals, ensuring every decision is purpose-driven. For those early in their journey, I recommend seeking mentors, staying curious, being authentic, and continually refining your skills. But also, simply observe, and speak plainly with empathy – always. Talk to team members at all levels, listen to what changes they would make, and then find ways to turn these conversations into actionable steps.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

The most impactful thing my parents did was model the importance of community, integrity and teaching me, sometimes the hard way, that the end does not justify the means, but the means represent who we really are. Growing up in a tight-knit immigrant family, I learned the value of hard work and the responsibility we have to those around us. My parents taught me that success isn’t just about personal gain—it’s about contributing to something greater, whether that’s supporting your community or preserving the environment. This belief has been a driving force in my career, especially in sustainable food production, where every decision we make affects both people and the planet. It may take us longer to find the solution, but we will keep working on something as long as it takes to get it right. And I hope that by leading by example, I can inspire other team members to find passion in creating Mary’s Gone Crackers and creating something you look forward to serving to your families.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.marysgonecrackers.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marysgonecrackers
• Other: It keep changing the LinkedIn link to a past client, so please use this as the LinkedIn one: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-freitas-finete-31bb575/

Image Credits

Mary’s Gone Crackers