2024 Star Women in Grocery Award Winner Rana Trindade (Q&A)
Rana Trindade
Senior Sourcing Manager, Corporate, North America
Bimbo Canada
What do you like best about your current role?
What I enjoy most about my role in corporate procurement is the opportunity to collaborate with various teams and stakeholders globally across the organization. It’s fulfilling to work together towards common goals, leveraging our collective expertise. Additionally, I enjoy the strategic aspect of the role where I can help contribute to long-term planning and decision making to support the company’s objectives. I am super lucky to have such an amazing North American team to work with. They are more than just colleagues.
What is your proudest moment?
My father is a food scientist and my first job in the food industry was working with him at Maple Leaf Foods. I was always proud of him and his work and to have the opportunity to work with him for a short time was incredibly rewarding and something I will always cherish.
What is your best quality?
My best quality is relationship building. Building strong relationships is invaluable in any role, especially in procurement where collaboration and trust are crucial for success. The ability to connect with others, understand their needs and foster positive interactions can make a significant impact on achieving goals and maintaining partnerships. I love the friendships I have made along the way.
What is your greatest career achievement?
My greatest achievement has led me to be a recipient to win this award. In 2020, we went from a Canadian procurement team to a North American team. This change enabled me to broaden my skills and to expand my network across the organization. It provided me the opportunity to lead one of the largest global media RFPs (request for proposal). I was able to grow professionally and collaborate with people from different backgrounds and cultures.
Tell us about your commitment to mentorship and why it’s important to you.
I have been very fortunate to have some wonderful mentors/role models in my career. Mentorship is vital because it fosters growth, learning and development. My personal goal is to inspire, empower and help guide others the way my mentors have influenced me. It’s rewarding to witness their achievements, whether it’s reaching a career milestone or overcoming a challenge.
How do you spend your time outside of work?
Family is super important to me. As a mom of a 16-, 14- and seven-year-old, my time outside of work is busy with basketball, dance and Taekwondo. I love having my valuable one-on-one time with my kids taking them to all their activities. I also love to vacation with my family, garden and bake.
Click here for the full list of 2024 Star Women in Grocery award winners.