2025 Star Women in Convenience winner: Samantha York

Samantha York              

Operations Manager - ABN/Man/SK, Western Canada Division   

Circle K | Alimentation Couche-Tard            

How did you get into this business?

I worked in the restaurant business for 15 years and a friend of mine had a family member working for Mac's at the time (now Circle K) and she suggested I go and have a conversation with the RDO, and we talked for an hour, and he offered me the position of being a Market Manager at the time. I had a five-year-old who was in hockey and this job would give me the flexibility of being able to take him to practices and games on the weekends where before I always had to work. I thought about it for a few days and just made the decision to take the plunge. I do not regret a moment about it. I have been given the opportunity to better myself and my family with this opportunity. The convenience store industry is such a unique business to be in, and you are learning new things every day and always taking on different projects. Your day is never the same and I love that.

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

I am proud of becoming an operations manager for Alberta North, Manitoba and Saskatchewan as well as helping get our team back to full capacity. We had a few people move on and get promoted and we have had to shuffle team members around the provinces to help out and I am proud that I have been able to support them all and be someone they can come to for support and help. Becoming an operations manager has been something I have been proud of for the last year as I have been working professionally to continue to improve my skills and personal growth within Circle K. I was able to complete a program that Circle K offered called Emerging Leadership and from that I gained more confidence in myself professionally.

What do you like most about your job?

The people I work with. I enjoy getting to work with everyone around me and having different friendships with all sorts of them. Co-workers are a lot like family; I talk to some of them more than my family most weeks. Circle K has always had a great culture and lets you learn and be yourself and with that you make a lot of great friends with this job.

What's the best advice you ever received?

Always stand up for what you believe in and be confident in your opinion as you have a voice in the room. A little goes a long way when speaking in big groups.

What excites you most about the future of this channel?

That it is always changing and evolving. People know that convenience stores will always be there for you, but we always want to be everyone's destination, and I think we are doing that every year. I am a competitive person and like to be number one in a lot of things I do, and I think that Circle K is always wanting to do that as well. If you’re not first you’re last.