2024 Star Women in Convenience winner: Maryline Vuillerod

Director dealer business

McDougall Energy Inc.

How did you get into this business?

By chance. I joined BP (British Petroleum) straight after university in my home country, France, on a short-term assignment, which turned into a full-time job as a territory manager overseeing the retail operations of 30 BP gas stations. After having two children, I found travelling the world less glamorous and joined a private family-owned British company working in business development in oil commodities. I moved to Canada and joined McDougall Energy four years ago. McDougall Energy is a Canadian family-owned business that distributes quality petroleum products and services reliably and responsibly and is celebrating its 75^th anniversary in business this year. With the support of a great team, I am now overseeing 170 McDougall-supplied locations in Ontario and Manitoba. Being part of McDougall Energy allows me to embrace and promote the company's core commitments of trust, care, ambition, and excellence.

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

McDougall Energy is a company in constant growth. Four years ago, our growth was centred around adding Esso-branded locations. Over the last 18 months, we have significantly grown the business representing the Shell brand, our proprietary brand called Pump, and unbranded supply to wholesale customers. This accomplishment reflects our dedication to excellence and ambition, continually striving to meet and exceed customer needs while enriching the communities we serve. 

What do you like most about your job?

There is never a dull moment. Our industry has always been very competitive, but the pace of change is accelerating fast, from customers’ needs and wants to the adoption of new technologies and competitive offers.  This keeps me on my toes, constantly challenging the status quo and thinking ahead. It’s exciting to be part of a company that values ambition and excellence, continually pushing for improvement and innovation. I particularly like the diversity of culture and background of our dealers.

What was the biggest challenge of your career?

Having moved around a fair bit and worked in three different countries and three different companies, my career path is not linear. I had to redefine my goals and career path and start over a few times, balancing professional and family life while adapting to the culture of the country and the company while preserving my own cultural and personal style.

What's the best advice you ever received?

Particularly relevant to a sales role is, 'Keep trying; you never know where the break is going to come from,' emphasizing the importance of perseverance. However, my favourite advice is from my dad at a very young age: 'If you don’t like it, change it.' He taught me the importance of being in control of my destiny. This aligns perfectly with McDougall Energy’s core commitments to ambition and authenticity, encouraging us to pursue our goals and stay true to ourselves

Career highlight/biggest achievement?

In 2002, I sat in a small room with a bunch of scientists in Manchester, England, to define the business requirements of a fuel-pricing tool based on a formula calculating elasticities. People thought I was crazy and that this was doomed to fail—how could we let a machine define the most optimized price point? The challenges associated with change management were overwhelming. I had the privilege to spearhead the implementation of this pricing tool across all BP operating units globally. Fast forward 22 years, this is now commonly known as AI and is widely used by retailers worldwide.

What trends or innovations are you keeping an eye on right now? Is there anything you think will shape the business in the next 5 years?

I am closely watching advancements in renewable energy, AI-driven analytics and the evolving landscape of customer preferences. These trends have the potential to significantly shape our industry. At McDougall Energy, we are committed to staying ahead of these changes, leveraging our commitments to ambition and excellence to drive innovation and meet the needs of our customers and communities.

How do you define yourself as a leader?

Passionate, authentic, empathetic, and fun. Teamwork is everything—I work with the team and for the team, not the other way around. By being authentic and empathetic, I strive to create an environment where everyone feels valued and motivated to contribute their best.