2024 Star Women in Grocery Award Winner Chantal Montambeault (Q&A)
Chantal Montambeault
Store Manager, Super C Trois-Rivières
Metro
How did you get your start in the grocery business?
I started at Super C in 1993 as a cashier. Over the years, I wanted to open my horizons and seek new challenges. I progressed to various positions in customer service, administration and management. My versatility, ease of learning and ability to communicate with my team allowed me to overcome every challenge. In 2017, I was named store manager of Super C Trois-Rivières.
What is the biggest challenge you've faced in your career?
As I was a mother when I began, I knew how to deal with the work-family balance issue despite having a demanding job with atypical working hours and being in a majority male workplace. I put an enormous amount of pressure on my shoulders to perform and be up to the job. I knew how to maintain a balance despite all the challenges of recent years, like the pandemic and staff shortages.
What is the best advice you have received?
Take the time to stop time! Take a break to see things more clearly so you can face daily challenges. Taking this break allows you to make more enlightened and less impulsive decisions.
What is your best quality?
Listening to others allows me to develop the confidence of my peers. What’s more, my versatility, availability and ease of learning have enabled me to meet several challenges. I have a good work ethic and impose standards on my team that allow us to be consistent every day.
What are your greatest career achievements?
Despite recruitment challenges and staff shortages, I know how to keep my team motivated. I’ve helped my team become versatile, and for different departments to help one another. Together, we’re achieving great results. As a [United Way] Centraide ambassador for my sector, my entire team’s involvement allowed our performance to stand out and I received the “Coup de coeur” award in 2022.
What do you like most about your job?
It’s never routine and no day is the same. We have a good team spirit with great collaboration. Our team synergy is great. Despite challenges, we have fun working together. I’m proud of my team.
What do you like to do when not working?
On days off, taking walks is my way of escaping and re-energizing myself. I love hiking in nature. Also, given that I work with the public, I sometimes need to be alone with a good book. I also like to spend quality time with my family.
Click here for the full list of 2024 Star Women in Grocery award winners.