2024 Star Women in Convenience winner: Nicole Spehar

General manager             

PepsiCo Beverages Canada

How did you get into this business?

I applied for a part-time job with Frito Lay while I was still in university. I was a merchandiser and loved the work and building customer relationships so much that I decided to stay on after graduation. It was a unique role and one that not many women were doing at the time. 

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

The work accomplishment that I am most proud of is the opportunity to lead an all-female leadership team in Hamilton. I have had the pleasure of leading this team for the last two years and have not only enjoyed the experience of an all-female team but have also benefitted from their strong performance.

What do you like most about your job?

Hands down the people that I have had the opportunity to work with at PepsiCo over the last 28 years has been what I love most about my job. I have worked alongside and for some pretty amazing co-workers and leaders. 

What was the biggest challenge of your career?

The biggest challenge of my career has been the never-ending quest to find balance between my work and my home life. 

What's the best advice you ever received?

The best advice I have ever received was as a leader to focus on taking care of my team, and the team will help take care of your business.

What excites you most about the future of this channel?

Very excited to see what innovation in consumer-packaged goods will look like in the future. Particularly around completely new offerings and new ways of providing snacks and packaged foods on the go. I’m also excited to see how AI and machine learning impact the future of the convenience channel both from a business perspective and as a consumer. 

How do you define yourself as a leader?

I would consider myself to be a leader that utilizes a coaching approach with my team.  I believe in removing obstacles for my team and supporting their development with coaching and real time feedback. The success and individual development of my team members is ultimately how I define my own success as a leader.