2025 Star Women in Grocery Award Winner Krizia Znidarcic (Q&A)
Krizia Znidarcic
Integrated Media & eCommerce Business Lead
The Clorox Company of Canada
How did you get your start in the CPG business?
My CPG career started at Maple Leaf Foods through their Leadership Trainee program after graduating from Schulich [School of Business]. Early rotations in Supply Chain and Marketing—and later brand roles at Canada Bread—gave me a strong foundation in business management and consumer insights. I expanded my expertise at Church & Dwight, managing brands in women’s health and hair removal, and eventually led digital and e-commerce marketing nationally. That curiosity for the evolving consumer path to purchase inspired my move to Clorox, where I now lead connected commerce strategies and help shape integrated commercial growth in a fast-changing retail landscape.
What do you like most about your job?
Leading and growing high-performing teams while building strategies that drive meaningful business impact. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing bold ideas come to life through collaboration—and knowing that together, we’re delivering real value to the consumer, retailers and our organization.
What’s your superpower?
While I’m often recognized for strategic thinking, my greatest strength—and the part of my role I value most—is people leadership. I’m passionate about creating a culture where individuals feel seen, supported and empowered to grow. Whether leading a small team or a large cross-functional group, I prioritize empathy, trust and development. I believe the best results come when people are energized and connected to purpose. It’s incredibly rewarding to help unlock potential and see team members thrive, because their success is truly the most meaningful measure of my own.
Best advice you’ve received?
Some of the best advice I’ve received came from mentors and my father who shaped both my career and character as a business leader: “You are only as good as your team” and “As long as you’re living, you’re learning.” These values have guided my journey—reminding me that success is never a solo effort and growth is a continuous process. I’ve learned to lead with humility, invest in others and embrace each challenge as an opportunity to evolve. I’m deeply grateful to those who believed in me and inspired a mindset of lifelong learning and team-centered leadership.
What is a career challenge you’ve faced?
One of my most formative challenges was leading the launch of a product innovation in a highly competitive category, with limited budget and a compressed timeline. Success required a scrappy, solutions-focused approach—leveraging cross-functional agility, creative problem-solving and strong retailer partnerships. We prioritized consumer insights, streamlined execution and adopted a test-and-learn mindset to optimize along the way. Despite the constraints, the launch exceeded targets and reinforced the value of resilience, collaboration and strategic clarity under pressure. It was a pivotal moment that deepened my belief in the power of focused teams and thoughtful innovation.
What are you passionate about outside of work?
Outside of work, my greatest joy comes from time with my family—especially the many hours my husband and I spend at the hockey rink cheering on our two sons. It’s a big part of our lives and a source of connection and pride. I have a deep passion for books. I carve out time to read every day and make it a ritual to visit a bookstore or library in every city I travel to. Immersing myself in fictional stories not only brings me joy, but also subtly fuels my creativity and empathy—qualities that naturally shape how I lead and problem-solve. Kristin Hannah is a favourite author of mine—The Nightingale and Night Road especially left lasting impacts.
Click here for the full list of 2025 Star Women in Grocery Award winners.