2025 Star Women in Grocery Award Winner Lisa Gilbert (Q&A)
Lisa Gilbert
Senior Director – Strategy and Operations
UNFI Canada
What do you like most about your job?
I enjoy the fast-paced environment, the continuous evolution of our market and the drive for measurable results. Guiding a team toward success, while fostering a culture of trust, accountability and continuous improvement, is both a challenge and a privilege. Ultimately, it's the impact on people and progress that makes the work truly rewarding. And celebrating wins-both big and small. What makes it fulfilling is knowing our collective success directly contributes to the growth of the business and the satisfaction of our clients.
What is your superpower?
The ability to connect data and insights with real-world sales execution. Identifying patterns, anticipating market shifts and turning complex information into clear, actionable strategies that align teams and drive results. This skill allows me to see both the big picture and the operational details, bridging strategy and execution to create sustainable growth.
What is a career challenge you've faced?
The constant challenge is being comfortable in leading through ambiguity—and finding a way to evolve. I started my career as a teacher and had to quickly adapt my approach/plan based on my audience. Similarly in this industry, we are faced with both market volatility and changing organizational structures. Being open to this has not only built trust and resilience across the team, but has also enabled us to stay aligned and perform consistently despite uncertainty no matter the role.
What have you learned about effective leadership?
It’s less about having all the answers and more about creating the conditions for others to succeed. It means setting a clear vision, listening actively and adapting quickly. For those who know me well, I take inspiration from some of my music heroes. To quote David Bowie, “Tomorrow belongs to those that can hear it coming.” My hope is to challenge others to see that and disrupt the status quo.
Proudest moment?
While it’s tough to pinpoint a single moment, the ones that are most memorable are the ones that disrupt your everyday life, having the team come together, rally through a shared vision and emerge stronger together. Whether that is seeing a single student thrive in a class, negotiating a joint business plan, changing a go-to market strategy, executing a merger/acquisition or seeing your team develop in their own career, these are the moments that stand out. How you show up through that is lasting.
What are you passionate about outside of work?
My No. 1 priority is family and friends, whether that involves spending time on the slopes, watching a tennis match, travelling the world, sharing a good meal or having my nephew school me in his Rubik’s Cube skills. [To quote Dr. Seuss,] Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it is a memory”—do not waste a moment!
Click here for the full list of 2025 Star Women in Grocery Award winners.