2022 Star Women in Convenience winner: Kirsten Ross

Director of marketing

MacEwen

How did you get into this business?

I went to college and majored in marketing. I had two amazing co-op placements. One was with Bacardi Rum and the second with Miss Vickie’s. As I passed out drinks and chips at events, I knew that marketing was for me.

What do you like most about your job?

Having boots on the ground. Being more in touch with our stores and customers than I have ever been in my career.

What was the biggest challenge of your career?

Leaving the safety and stability of a large corporation after more than 20 years and jumping into a completely new, privately owned retail industry.

What are you most proud of during the last year?

Resurrecting the Quickie 2.0 brand has been an incredible retail ride. Seeing our vision come to life a little each day is so satisfying and inspirational. Our team is enthusiastic about creating retail excellence and we cannot wait to share it.

How do you define yourself as a leader?

I feel like I am truly leading when I empower others to be in charge and trust them to take the reins. I have an empathetic leadership style.

What challenges do you think lie ahead for your sector?

We have made it through a two-year pandemic, the highest inflationary price increases in decades, and an unforgiving, volatile oil and gas market. What’s next? Bring it on. We have seen it all. Convenience is so resilient, and that is what I love about it.

What is your management or leadership philosophy or approach?

The responsibility of leadership is to simply create more leaders.