2026 Star Women in Grocery Award Winner Cori Norman (Q&A)
Cori Norman
Vice-President, Merchandising, Grocery, Lawton's & Local Development
Sobeys Inc.
How did you get your start in the business?
I began my career in 1996 working in a family friend’s liquor store in Alberta shortly after liquor privatization. That experience sparked a strong interest in merchandising and the science behind how customers shop. I then spent several years on the broker side of the beverage alcohol industry, gaining hands-on experience supporting key accounts across product launches, listings, merchandising and planogramming. In 2007, I joined Sobeys as an assistant category manager in our then Edmonton office—and that opportunity set the foundation for the career journey that followed.
What keeps you passionate about your work?
No two years in grocery are ever the same. I’ve had the privilege of being part of meaningful industry change—both large and small—from the evolution of laundry from powder to liquid to pods, to the introduction of beer and wine in grocery stores across Ontario and New Brunswick. Grocery is a fast-paced, ever-changing industry and being part of the team that brings new, engaging offers to customers, while developing strong teams, is what keeps me energized and motivated.
What is a career challenge you've faced and how did you overcome it?
Much of my career was spent as an indirect leader, where success depended on influence rather than authority. Navigating the right timing and level of engagement to align peers and partners—especially when driving complex initiatives—was a constant challenge. It’s never easy to approach operations teams with urgent, high-impact requests, such as securing more than 100 liquor licenses and launching beer and wine in stores within weeks. Over time, I learned that building trust, strong relationships and a shared understanding of priorities is essential. Many challenges were overcome by focusing on collaboration, empathy for competing goals and clear alignment on what mattered most.
Best career advice you've received?
“Tell it to my mom.” Early in my career, a leader reminded me that we often overcomplicate our work by using language only a few people understand. The advice was simple: if you can explain it clearly enough for your mom to understand, everyone will understand the objective. I still share this advice often. Whether working with stores, internal teams or external partners,simplicity and clarity almost always lead to faster alignment and better outcomes.
What is your leadership style?
I lead with a coaching mindset, focusing on empowering teams through clarity, trust,and development. I’m a transformational leader who embraces change and helps teams navigate complexity while staying grounded in purpose. Above all, I believe culture matters—strong relationships and an inclusive, supportive environment are what ultimately drive performance and results.
Your best day on the job?
It’s hard to narrow it down to just one day. The moments I value most are seeing a team experience the success of a program launch, hearing positive feedback from storesor having someone share that they felt genuinely supported along the way. For me, the best days are the ones where I can see others succeed, grow and gain confidence. There’s nothing more rewarding than knowing I’ve played a small part in helping people within my circle of influence achieve something meaningful.
How do you like to spend your time outside of work?
I enjoy weekend drives, golfing when the weather co-operates, camping and spending time on the deck with friends and family. Having recently moved from Alberta to Nova Scotia, exploring the province and hosting visitors has been a wonderful way to spend time outside of work.
A fun fact about you?
If there’s one thing people should know about me, it’s that I’ve somehow turned workplace chaos into an art form. Whether I’m writing haikus about my grocery team, crafting poems about wildly off-track Friday meetings or imagining my coworkers as eggs in a team portrait, I’ve developed a reputation for finding humour in the everyday. I also have a deep commitment to the emotional rollercoaster that comes with cheering for the Edmonton Oilers—a hobby that requires equal parts loyalty, optimism and resilience.
Anything else you'd like to add?
While the grocery industry is large in scale, it often feels like a close-knit community. I’m truly honoured to join the many accomplished leaders who have been recognized as Star Women in Grocery this year and preceding us. I hope that everyone I’ve had the pleasure of working with over the years knows the impact they’ve had on my career—each teammate has helped shape me into the leader I am today.
Click here for the full list of 2026 Star Women in Grocery Award winners.