2024 Star Women in Grocery Award Winner Jody Fitzpatrick (Q&A)
Jody Fitzpatrick
VP, Integrated Supply Chain
Sobeys
How did you get your start in the grocery/CPG business?
I started with Empire two years ago. My whole career has always been in operating retail supply chains, but grocery is new to me and an exciting challenge.
What intrigues you about the grocery/CPG business?
As part of the supply chain team at Empire, we’re delivering food to Canadians. It’s not a discretionary purchase. We’re helping Canadians feed their families every day. I’m excited to be part of a team that takes this responsibility seriously and is constantly striving to add value.
What do you like most about your job?
Supply chain is contagious! As a supply chain professional, you’re always thinking, moving, learning, growing. Things are always changing and evolving and supply chain is always in the centre of that as a critical enabler. Supply chain is all about solving complex problems and I love leading teams through that journey and making meaningful impacts.
What keeps you motivated at work?
Change. Our supply chain at Empire is preparing for an amazing transformation that has the ability to evolve our technology and capabilities for the future. We have an amazing team that is excited for the challenge, and a culture that is extremely supportive and collaborative, with a strong desire to improve.
What is the biggest challenge you have faced in your career?
From a business perspective, it’s hard to pick just one. Every year in supply chain we rise to the occasion and deal with extreme situations. Things like extreme weather events and labour disruptions happen frequently; it has become a necessity to have flexibility and diversity within your supply chain to deal with these situations. As a female leader in supply chain, that role means more to me now as I’ve progressed through my career. In the majority of my career, I did not have the luxury of being around other females in the distribution and transportation field. I consider myself very lucky to have had some amazing male leaders and mentors that guided and encouraged me in the early days when trying to balance having children and raising a young family in a job that is global and 24/7. Today, the environment is much more aware and diverse. And at Empire, it’s amazing to see the levels of diversity.
What career advice would you give your younger self?
Never apologize for wanting to win and be the best! Competition is awesome, exciting and healthy. It’s important to learn how to harness that and use it as fuel. As leaders, we have to set the bar high and never apologize for it. I love leading our teams through that journey and achieving great things together.
What is the best career advice you have ever received?
Be patient! Enjoy every role and experience and really take it in. They all shape you and have value in ways that you don’t even realize in the moment.
What is a fun fact about you?
I’m a hockey mom with two teenage boys. I think I’ve been at every rink in York region and the GTA [Greater Toronto Area] over the last 10 years. And loving every minute of it.
Click here for the full list of 2024 Star Women in Grocery award winners.