2025 Star Women in Convenience winner: Anna Gambioli

Anna Gambioli               

District Sales Manager             

JTI-Macdonald Corp.

How did you get into this business? 

I was introduced to JTI by a friend while I was working as a sales manager in the retail industry. At the time, JTI was in the process of expanding its sales team in Ontario, which presented an excellent opportunity to advance my career. I joined JTI as a sales associate in 2017, and the rest is history!

What do you like most about your job?

What I enjoy most about being a district sales manager is the opportunity to mentor and lead a team. Supporting their development, celebrating wins, and seeing my team’s confidence in their roles is incredibly rewarding. Their success is what drives me and keeps me motivated. 

What was the biggest challenge of your career? What did you learn?

The biggest challenge of my career came after I became a parent. Balancing travel, team leadership, and performance with a family at home pushed me to reassess how I managed my time and energy. I had to become more efficient, delegate more effectively, and be intentional about setting boundaries. Through this experience, I learned that achieving work-life balance is about prioritizing, communicating clearly with both my team and my family, while leaning on support systems. It ultimately made me a more empathetic leader and a more focused professional.

What's the best advice you ever received? 

I had a leadership coach that quoted Mark Cuban: “Every no brings me closer to a yes”. This has always resonated with me, especially working in sales in a highly regulated industry. We need to normalize rejection as an opportunity to keep showing up—it’s all part of the path to success! 

What's your career highlight/biggest achievement?

My promotion into my current position as district sales manager. I have always had a passion for coaching and leadership. This opportunity allows me to influence team culture, support customer engagement, and still have a direct impact on growing the business. 

What excites you most about the future of this channel? 

It is forever evolving. As this happens, success will continue to depend on strong collaboration between manufacturers and retailers. I am always excited to have the opportunity to support our retail partners as the industry continues to evolve. 

What trend or innovation will shape the business in the next three years?

Artificial intelligence will play a role in shaping the business.