2025 Star Women in Convenience winner: Linette Priebe

Linette Priebe

Regional Finance Director - Canada, 3PL, Redistribution

Core-Mark        

How did you get into this business?

I saw the job posting for a role with Core-Mark Calgary on LinkedIn and thought it would be a good fit given my experience in wholesale distribution, so I took the leap and applied. Once I met the local team and learned more about the company, I knew it was a place I wanted to be!

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

My most recent role as regional finance director has given me oversight and exposure to our 3PL and Redistribution Operating Companies in the US. This expanded role has challenged me to step outside of the Canadian marketplace and learn about how these different pieces of our business operate. I have had the opportunity to build relationships with new team members and departments that I did not previously have exposure to. I am proud of the personal and career growth this opportunity has created, and how I have been able to adjust my perspective and approach to allow myself to manage a larger team effectively.

What do you like most about your job?

My favourite part about this role are the people I get to work with. Every day I am impressed and humbled by the amount of commitment and enthusiasm they bring to work, and it motivates me to bring that same energy!

What was the biggest challenge of your career?

The biggest challenge of my career so far has been making the jump from working with our Western operating companies to all of the Canadian operating companies. The change happened during COVID when travel was restricted, so we were forced to build relationships virtually. It was a valuable lesson on how impactful and beneficial face to face contact is, and I will never take for granted having the chance to meet team members in person.

What's the best advice you ever received?

The best work advice I have ever received is to not automatically accept the easy explanation or answer, and to take the extra time to verify. Many times, it takes multiple attempts to find the root cause of an issue, and if you don’t continue to investigate you could be overlooking a material issue or opportunity.

What's your career highlight/biggest achievement?

My biggest career achievement would be obtaining my CPA Designation. Like the many people who have walked that same path, it takes determination to see it through to the end. I truly believe that without having that knowledge and training I would not have had the same level of success as I have had.

What excites you most about the future of this channel?

Currently I am invested in learning about how AI can be used in finance. I believe it will play a large role in what the whole finance function looks like soon, and I want to be sure that we are utilizing it to become more efficient and provide better insights.