Early Life
Lynda Rae Harris was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1943, and was raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her father, Jack H. Harris, worked as a film distributor, and her mother was an interior designer. At a young age, she had a recurring role on The Horn & Hardart Children's Hour. She founded an advertising agency, Lynda Limited, at age 19.
Rise to Success
Resnick's career took off with her advertising agency, which led her to meet her future husband and business partner, Stewart Resnick. Together, they built The Wonderful Company. Lynda's marketing strategies were key in transforming agricultural commodities into leading consumer brands. In 1979, she became the executive vice president of marketing at Teleflora and later president, implementing innovative campaigns that earned her industry awards. The acquisition of Teleflora was a turning point. She oversaw the creation and marketing of the POM Wonderful brand, making pomegranate juice a national sensation. Resnick is known for creating unforgettable advertising campaigns and groundbreaking marketing strategies, such as “Get Crackin'” for Wonderful Pistachios.
Key Business Strategies
A key strategy of Resnick's was to identify and capitalize on consumer trends, building brands like Wonderful Halos mandarins. This focus on branding, product development, and innovative marketing has been critical to her success. Under her guidance, Wonderful Pistachios became an international leader.
Philanthropy
The Resnicks have contributed billions to charitable causes, including climate change research, education, healthcare, and the arts. In 2018, they pledged $750 million to Caltech for environmental sustainability research.