2025 Star Women in Grocery Award Winner Leanne Claerbout (Q&A)
Leanne Claerbout
Director of Sales
General Mills Canada
How did you get your start in the CPG business?
I got my start right out of university. I was recruited from Wilfrid Laurier University through an on-campus posting for General Mills and began my career as a sales representative in southwestern Ontario. The rest is history!
What keeps you passionate about your work?
My competitive spirit and love of winning have always fuelled my passion for this work. Calling on customers is both challenging and rewarding—it keeps every day interesting and brings a sense of adventure to my role.
What's your superpower?
A strong sense of integrity paired with a genuine passion for developing and supporting my team. Helping others grow and advance in their careers—and seeing them succeed—is both inspiring and deeply rewarding for me.
What is your leadership style?
My leadership style is best described as situational—I recognize each person and situation require something different from me. I adapt my approach to meet the unique needs of my team, drawing on my understanding of their strengths and motivations. I also believe in building teams with diverse skills, experiences and personalities, which leads to richer discussions and broader perspectives. As both a mentor and a support system, I’m committed to helping everyone—from seasoned professionals to new employees—grow and succeed. I’m always willing to lend a hand.
Proudest career moment?
One of my proudest moments was being promoted to director of sales—a role I intentionally put on hold while my children were younger. When the time was right, I updated my development plan and actively pursued the next step in my career. I want others to know that it’s possible to prioritize both family and professional growth; you don’t have to sacrifice one for the other. Throughout my journey, I also embraced opportunities to broaden my experience, recognizing that growth doesn’t always mean moving up—it can mean moving across, too.
What is a fun fact about you?
I spent more than 15 years as a community volunteer with Guelph Ringette, coaching or assistant coaching my two daughters’ teams from the time they were five until they turned 19. As an assistant coach, I had the privilege of representing Ontario at the Canadian Ringette Nationals twice and attended three more National Championships as a supportive and enthusiastic parent. I was fortunate to be on the bench for both my daughters during their under-19 careers—a challenging, exhausting and deeply rewarding experience. I also served on the Guelph Ringette Board for more than five years, including two as association president.
Click here for the full list of 2025 Star Women in Grocery Award winners.