The Register: CICC Outstanding Industry Leader Award winner Kory McDonald
When Kory McDonald was named the Convenience Industry Council of Canada (CICC) Outstanding Industry Leader of the Year, it marked a significant moment not just for her, but for the entire convenience retail sector.
For McDonald, head of corporate affairs for Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc. (RBH), receiving the award from the CICC was both a personal honour and a testament to the deepening bond between suppliers and store owners across Canada.
"It means a lot. It probably won't come as a surprise to many that in the tobacco nicotine industry, often these kinds of recognitions at an industry level don't come that often," McDonald said. "So I was absolutely thrilled and surprised and touched to be recognized in this way and really, it is a great symbol of just how integrated and how important the partnership is."
Diverse leadership and the rise of female voices
Historically, the convenience retail sector—from corporate boardrooms to store operations—has been male-dominated. However, the tide is turning and McDonald believes bringing diverse perspectives to the decision-making table makes for better business outcomes.
"Any time we have diverse voices at the table, whether that be gender representation, whether that be diversity in other forms, I think it just makes for better conversations, better decisions," she said, noting that female shoppers make up half of the retail consumer base.
The industry is already seeing strong examples of female leadership, including RBH managing director Milena Trentadue—the first female CEO in the company's history—and Anne Kothawala of CICC. McDonald finds these leaders inspiring and hopes her own career trajectory offers similar encouragement to others coming up through the ranks.
To foster that talent pipeline, RBH utilizes formal and informal mentoring programs to help women build career tracks.
"I myself have definitely benefited from that and also hopefully being able to groom and encourage other women to be able to come to the table," McDonald added. "Just seeing more women represented at the table, seeing more of ourselves there, in and of itself, really is very encouraging."
READ: Changemakers: How women’s leadership shapes the convenience industry
Career advice for aspiring industry leaders
For women striving for leadership roles in convenience retail and consumer packaged goods (CPG), McDonald advises leaning into individual strengths rather than attempting to match a rigid template.
Balancing a career while raising a family, McDonald teaches transferable skills that hold real value in corporate environments.
"Never forget that you're bringing something unique to the table," she advised. "Sometimes the skills that we've learned in raising a family and everything that we do, both at work but also on the home front... those are actually skills that you can bring forward. Always just try to lean into your own unique skills and don't try to imagine that you need to pretend to be somebody else or emulate somebody else's style. Your own style is good enough."
For professionals seeking guidance on how to find a mentor, McDonald's advice is straightforward: have the courage to reach out. Whether through a direct message on LinkedIn asking for a 15-minute conversation or networking inside an organization, putting yourself out there is the key to building strong professional relationships.
"I think having that boldness to reach out... I know it takes a bit of courage to do that, especially when you're a young person coming up in your career," McDonald said. "But I think there are a lot of us out there that will take the call and that will provide some advice and then you're sort of on their radar if opportunities come up. Put yourself out there, make the connections and the mentors will come."
As the convenience retail sector navigates product transformations, regulatory shifts and regulatory enforcement, leaders like McDonald demonstrate that progress comes through strong partnerships, authentic leadership and a shared industry mission.
