2024 Star Women in Convenience winner: Karley Kavic

Business area manager – GTA West and vape

Imperial Tobacco Company

How did you get into this business?

I worked with BAT on their Vype (now Vuse) launch. As the frontline representative, I listened to inspiring stories, such as a 74-year-old who quit a 50-year smoking habit in a week with our product. Another memorable story involved an entire family of three adult nicotine consumers using our products to quit smoking. These experiences ignited my passion for our products and their efficacy. Through building and growing my relationships at BAT, I took the opportunity to apply for a territory manager role. Now, nearly five years later, I remain grateful to my supportive hiring managers who believed in me and have since guided my personal and professional growth.

What work-related accomplishment are you most proud of during the last 12-18 months?

Over the past year, I've had the opportunity to engage with various global stakeholders and directors from many regions to showcase the achievements of our Canadian business. It has been truly fulfilling to highlight the significant contributions of the Canadian team. Presenting our team's success and Canada's impact on the global stage are experiences I deeply value and looking back on these experiences is something I'll always cherish. It’s been nothing short of inspiring and a true career highlight of mine to have met, and continue to meet with, so many incredibly successful individuals across our British American Tobacco community.

What's the best advice you ever received?

Trust the process. While it's important to set goals, what's equally essential is maintaining resilience and adaptability when things veer off course. It may sound cliché, but I've found that embracing setbacks often opens doors to unforeseen opportunities and ultimately paves a better path forward when looking back. 

What excites you most about the future of this channel?

The potential for growth across various categories, the introduction of alcohol into convenience being a prime example of this. Convenience remains a constant in the market and within communities, whether in rural or downtown settings. This channel will continue to serve as the backbone of our communities for years to come.