2023 Star Women in Grocery Award Winner Christine Batke (Q&A)

Christine Batke

Commercial Operations Manager
Conagra Brands Canada

How did you get your start in the CPG business? 

My introduction to CPG wasn’t planned. I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do after university when an opportunity as an administrative assistant at Canada Bread (now Bimbo Bakeries) became available and I joined that great company. Within six months, I was promoted and continued my career there  in progressive positions for the next 10 years.

What's your proudest moment?

I don’t have one stand-alone moment, rather a culmination of many of them that have gotten me to where I am today. I have had opportunities to lead many different projects that were outside my regular scope of work, ranging from a new technology rollout to a complete office renovation. These projects forced me to step outside my comfort zone and were, ultimately, very successful while providing me with great learnings.

What is your best quality?

I consider myself a culture champion. I think teams are more successful when the culture is inclusive, collaborative, and fun! Whether it’s leading charitable campaigns or committees that inspire others to network and engage or everyday conversations that create an exciting environment, an impactful culture makes a big difference.

What keeps you motivated at work? 

I have always been motivated by the people I work with every day. Not only do they inspire me to think differently, but I gain momentum working within a team environment where there is a shared vision and definition of success. I’m happy to have found that and an impactful, inclusive culture in Conagra Brands.

What's the best advice you've received? 

One of the responsibilities that has stayed consistent across my CPG journey is communication and change management. Early on in my career I had a mentor that emphasized the importance of empathy and understanding how the key stakeholders will feel about change. Keeping this in the forefront has influenced my communication plans and made implementations far more successful. 

What is a fun fact about you? 

My husband and I are starting a new challenge of learning how to sail. Last fall we bought a sailboat without having any clue how to sail it! We’ve always talked about doing it, so we decided to just jump in with both feet and figure it out together. 

Click here for the full list of 2023 Star Women in Grocery award winners.