2026 Star Women in Convenience winner: Émilie Girard
Émilie Girard
Marketing director
Groupe Saga, a division of Groupe Beaudry
How did you get into this business?
After completing my studies in 2008, I worked in marketing in a different industry. In 2013, I joined Groupe Saga as marketing director.
What are you most proud of?
The role I played in standardizing all banners under a single, unified marketing calendar across a network of more than 400 stores during the acquisition of Groupe Saga by Groupe Beaudry.
What do you like most about your job?
When I can clearly measure the impact of the marketing strategies I’ve implemented. Seeing a significant increase in sales confirms a promotion meets or exceeds its objectives, which I find especially rewarding.
Biggest challenge of career?
I’m currently experiencing it: I returned to school to complete an executive MBA to strengthen my administrative skills, help me broaden my strategic vision and continue evolving as a leader.
What’s the best career advice you’ve received?
From my mother: always stay passionate. A passionate person is energetic, curious, motivated and driven by a constant desire to learn.
Career highlight?
The implementation of the full procedural chain related to pricing and marketing execution. This includes system integration at the point of sale, production, printing and distribution—which was successfully deployed across more than 400 stores throughout Québec.
What excites you most about the future?
We’re in a period of major transformation—digital, environmental and energy-related—which is redefining market expectations. This challenges us to adapt, innovate and develop marketing strategies, campaigns and tools that effectively meet new needs.
How do you define yourself as a leader?
Collaborative, empathetic and focused on developing people. My goal is to help my team reach its full potential by fostering an environment built on trust, collaboration and accountability.
Nomination highlights
Widely respected throughout the convenience industry, Émilie Girard plays a key role in elevating the visibility and reputation of Beaudry’s banners across Eastern Quebec. Through innovative marketing strategies and a strong understanding of evolving social media trends, she continually finds new ways to connect with customers and promote brands in meaningful, modern ways. Her work has been instrumental in building the notoriety of the Super Sagamie banner, which supports nearly 100 retailers throughout the region. Overseeing marketing for Beau-soir, Super Sagamie, A+ and Maestro, Émilie leads branding initiatives and ensures promotional execution is consistent and impactful at the store level. Recognized internally as a high-potential leader, she combines creativity, strategic thinking and operational discipline to strengthen both customer engagement and retailer success. In addition to her professional accomplishments, she is actively involved in community initiatives, demonstrating leadership that extends well beyond the workplace.
Click here for a full list of the 2026 Star Women in Convenience winners
Be there when the industry comes together in-person to celebrate at the Star Women in Convenience Awards Event.