2026 Star Women in Convenience winner: Jessie Aitchison
Jessie Aitchison
Category manager, non-alc beverages
Petro-Canada, a Suncor business
How did you get into this business?
Right out of university as part of Suncor’s New Graduate Program. I’ve held nine roles in various parts of the Petro-Canada business.
What are you most proud of?
Coming into the beverages category was a huge shift, given its size and vast portfolio. I’m most proud of my ability to get up to speed quickly, add value to the category and integrate myself into the role.
What do you like most about your job?
We have an amazing team and I’m also fortunate to work with wonderful vendor partners. It’s also an ever-changing landscape, which keeps the days interesting.
Biggest career challenge?
At the start of COVID, I found out I was moving into another role the next day, one that was completely new and different. I learned the importance of asking questions, which helped me acquire the knowledge I needed.
What’s the best career advice you’ve received?
You can’t learn without making mistakes. Don’t be afraid to try new things or push the boundaries but ensure that you take the learnings from it.
Career highlight?
I used to help organize an annual conference. One year, one of my leaders couldn’t present due to an illness and the next day I stepped onstage in front of hundreds of people. It was scary and thrilling all at once!
What excites you most about the future?
The channel is constantly shifting and we’re seeing so many different facets coming into play to differentiate from one another. I love seeing how various brands are adapting through loyalty, promotions or social media; and I’m excited to see how those strategies evolve and how they impact consumer behaviours.
Nomination highlights
Over the past decade with Suncor Energy, Jessie Aitchison has built an impressive career defined by versatility, leadership and measurable impact across multiple areas of convenience retailing. From category management and retail programs to digital, she consistently demonstrates strategic thinking, operational excellence and a strong commitment to innovation. In retail programs, she played an integral role in major initiatives, including associate of the year recognition programs, the Annual Retail Associate Conference, the retail uniform relaunch and the retail program scorecard. Today, as a category manager overseeing a non-alcoholic beverage portfolio exceeding $100 million in annual sales, Aitchison leads assortment strategy, pricing, promotions, supplier negotiations and merchandising execution with confidence and expertise. Known for her collaborative leadership style and customer-first mindset, she continually brings teams together to drive innovation and results across the organization.
Click here for a full list of the 2026 Star Women in Convenience winners
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