Dr. Winnette McIntosh Ambrose is an engineer-turned-entrepreneur and two-time Food Network Champion with over two decades of experience in the medical device, bioengineering and hospitality industries.

Winnette is a veteran of the cardiovascular device industry and holds the patent for the first FDA- approved device for carotid stenting. In her doctoral and post-doctoral research, Winnette combined stem cells and biomaterials to rebuild the layers of the retina and cornea, with the ultimate goal of restoring vision in patients with damaged or diseased ocular tissue. Winnette is the recipient of multiple prestigious academic fellowships including a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship and two UNCF-Merck research fellowships for her graduate and post-doctoral work.

Winnette founded The Sweet Lobby, a Capitol Hill-based, leading retail and wholesale producer of French-inspired pastries in 2011. Under Winnette’s leadership, The Sweet Lobby, founded on the ethos of Craft, Community and Culture, has grown from neighborhood treasure to national brand. Known for its sharp and distinctive retail branding and innovative flavor combinations, The Sweet Lobby and sister store, Souk by The Sweet Lobby supply wholesale clientele throughout the USA, including some of the nation’s premier food retailers, luxury brands and coffee shops. Winnette is the recipient of multiple national awards including the Mayor’s Advisory Commission on Caribbean Community Affairs (MACCCA) Award and the National Caribbean Heritage Trailblazer Award. Winnette lives in Washington DC with her husband and children. She is passionate about the dual role of an Arts and STEM education in creating successful entrepreneurs.

Winnette was born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago and holds bachelor’s degrees in Chemical Engineering and French from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University. She completed her post-doctoral training at the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health.