2023 Star Women in Grocery Award Winner Isabelle Bernier (Q&A)

Isabelle Bernier

VP Private Label & Business Development
A. Lassonde

How did you get into the grocery/CPG business?

I got in the grocery business right out of school. There is so much to learn about the grocery business. I found it fascinating to be able to explore the different layers, from product development to operations to supply chain, all the way to the impact our products have on consumers. 

What are some of your career highlights?

I am grateful I had the opportunity to work my way up the ladder. I started out in customer service, followed by revenue management, project management, account management and business development. This enabled me to understand some of the different challenges that each department faces and try to contribute to finding solutions that could help everyone in their everyday tasks. 

How would you describe your leadership style?

I am a true believer in work/life balance. I would say that my leadership style is based on trust and giving my team space to do things their way as long as we get to the required results. Communication is key and setting clear objectives is essential to ensure we are all working towards the same goals.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

Believe in yourself. Take risks, think outside the box and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. It won’t always be easy, but resilience is key.

What excites you most about the future of the industry?

If one thing is certain it’s that people will continue to eat and drink! There are still many opportunities to explore and ways to optimize the way we do things to meet the constantly changing needs of both retailers and consumers.

What do you like to do outside of work?

I really enjoy cooking and having dinner with family and friends. Travelling is also a big part of my life as it is quality time spent with family exploring the world and learning along the way. My go-to when I want to relax and have some “me time” is puzzles.

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