‘Have a Plan B,’ Wal-Mart Canada CEO Broader advises NEW members
Monday, January 30, 2012
When career planning, always have a Plan B, Wal-Mart Canada President and CEO Shelley
Broader advised the sold-out crowd at the inaugural NEW Canada networking event,
Jan. 25, 2012, at the Mississauga
Convention Centre.
The Wal-Mart CEO, who has worked for
Hannaford Bros, Michael’s and Sam’s Club, related the story of growing up believing
she’d be a broadcast journalist, only to realize while interning that she hated
journalism. She later worked in the finance industry, before settling into
retailing. "You may think you can plan every step of the way, but life finds
you,” she told 450 NEW members and guests at the event.
"Realize your skills are transferable,” she added,
noting that people often sell themselves short when assessing their ability to
move around an organization.
Broader gave an up-close-and-personal account of her path to
success, sharing many thought-provoking and inspiring gems along the way. Among
them: "Find your passion -- you’ll know it when you do.”
In the subject of diversity and inclusion, Broader said "the
numbers don’t lie; companies that embrace diversity win. We have an
opportunity to make cpg/retail the destination career.”
Asked by a NEW member if she thought a
glass ceiling still exists, Broader said she sees glass "umbrellas” in some
companies that impede women’s success. Given the competitive marketplace and
business advantages inherent in gender diversity in the workplace, Broader advised women to work for companies
that appreciate them.
The Wal-Mart Canada CEO was joined on the program by NEW Canada
Co-Chair Karen Young, general manager, Nestlé Waters Canada, and NEW Canada Co-Chair Logistics Michele Hardinge,
senior vice president of Ontario Operations for Wal-Mart Canada.
"For NEW Canada there was an important lesson in one of
Shelley’s many inspirational perspectives,” Young said. "‘When you’re excellent
where you are, the next great thing comes faster.’ Based on the exceptional
turnout and excellent response to its first event, it’s clear NEW Canada is on
an exciting path to the next great thing.”
Event blog
NEW Canada Co-Chair Michele Hardinge of Wal-Mart Canada (left) joined
Wal-Mart Canada President and CEO Shelley Broader
and NEW Canada
Co-Chair Karen Young of Nestlé Waters Canada.
NEW
Canada committee members came together at the region’s inaugural networking
event, Jan. 25, 2012, at the Mississauga Convention Centre.
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