2024 Star Women in Convenience winner: Marie-Ève Thibault

Key account manager

Labatt, AB-INBEV

How did you get into this business?  

I have been working in the food industry my whole life. I seized an opportunity with Labatt Breweries at the start of my professional life, and to this day, my career and industry knowledge continues to evolve through the various roles I’ve had in this great organization.

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

I worked in close collaboration with all my customers to optimize their total industry sales through various promotions and market insights. I grew Labatt's market share month after month.

What do you like most about your job?

The beer industry continues to fascinate me. I’ve worked in logistics, operations management and sales, and what excites me is the strategic creativity I can demonstrate to optimize the beer category. I love turning challenges into opportunities. 

What was the biggest challenge or your career?

Learning three very different leadership roles in the organization while completing my undergraduate degree part-time and giving birth to two children—all done with a lot of perseverance and a desire to demonstrate to my two daughters that by putting in the effort and knowing our limits, anything is possible!

What's the best advice you ever received?

First, in everything you do, have integrity and always feel in line with your values. Second, make mistakes; you’ll either learn from them or succeed. Both guide me in everything I do.

What excites you most about the future of this channel?

People change, as do their values and shopping habits. It’s a wonderful opportunity for us to innovate in this channel and have a greater impact on consumer behaviour and environment advancements. This will be a big challenge, especially in the beer industry, and I look forward to helping evolve our category.

Anything else you would like to add?

I am honoured to have been nominated by my customer Suncor and selected for this wonderful recognition. I believe that women bring another perspective and have a different approach, which benefits the organization. This magazine will inspire other women to pursue careers in this exciting and developing convenience segment.