2026 Star Women in Grocery Award Winner Lindsay Moore (Q&A)

Lindsay Moore

Head of R&D Canada
Mondelēz

You oversee innovation across a portfolio worth more than $1 billion. How do you balance the blue-sky creativity of R&D with the reality of manufacturing at a massive scale?

Creativity and scale are not competing priorities. The strongest innovation happens when they are built together from the start. True innovation only matters if it can live successfully in the real world. That means partnering closely with marketing, consumer insights, operations and our global R&D network to bring forward ideas that are exciting, differentiated and executable at scale. Every decision, from ingredient selection to packaging design to manufacturing capability, needs to work together seamlessly.

In R&D, we start by deeply understanding the consumer problem we are solving and defining what success looks like, not only for consumers but also for our customers and the business. From there, we assess feasibility early by integrating product, process and manufacturing considerations upfront, rather than treating scale as a later-stage challenge.

R&D also plays an important role in advancing broader business priorities, including sustainability, efficiency and resilience across the supply chain. Whether we are reformulating recipes, optimizing pack formats or improving how products move through the network, we are constantly looking for ways to create meaningful value for consumers, customers and the business.

At the same time, continuous reinvention is essential. What made us successful yesterday will not be enough for tomorrow. Balancing creativity with discipline allows us to deliver innovation that resonates with consumers and delivers meaningful results at scale.

You lead a team of 20 scientists and engineers. How do you help them stay connected to the average shopper during the design and development phases?

Staying connected to the shopper is essential, particularly in R&D, where teams can naturally focus on technical detail. I encourage my team to use every available input to truly understand the consumer and shopper. This includes a close partnership with marketing and consumer insights teams, leveraging data and social listening, and working with global experts and external partners to deepen our understanding.

Just as important is spending time in the store. Observing how products are presented, how shoppers navigate the aisle, and what, ultimately, drives choice provides context that cannot be replicated in the lab. We also prioritize direct connection wherever possible, through consumer interactions and collaboration with customer teams, to ensure we are grounded in real needs.

That understanding is translated into clear design principles that guide product and process development. I also challenge and empower the team to consistently ask who we are solving for and what role does this product play in someone’s life? That focus helps ensure we are creating solutions that resonate beyond the lab.

How did you get your start in the CPG business?

I grew up in a small town in Southern Ontario, where I was exposed to both agriculture and retail at an early age—two worlds that would, ultimately, shape my career.

As a teenager, I worked seasonal jobs supporting local crops, which gave me a firsthand appreciation for where food comes from and the complexity behind producing it. At the same time, my grandmother owned a convenience store, and I was fascinated watching how products moved from suppliers to shelves and became part of consumers’ everyday routines and rituals.

Those early experiences sparked a curiosity about the intersection of food, science and consumer behaviour. I went on to study at the University of Guelph, focusing on food science and consumer research, and an early role in sensory science further deepened my interest in understanding why consumers make the choices they do.

That foundation led me into R&D, where I have built my career across multiple geographies and functions, connecting consumer needs with products that can be delivered at scale through manufacturing and the broader supply chain.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced in your career? How did you overcome it?

One of the most defining challenges in my career was stepping into international roles, particularly during my time in Brazil. It was the first time I was leading and influencing in a completely different cultural environment while not yet speaking the language fluently.

That experience pushed me far outside my comfort zone. I had to learn quickly how to build trust, communicate and lead without relying solely on words. It taught me the importance of listening deeply, observing and approaching every interaction with humility and empathy. At the same time, it strengthened my resilience and gave me the confidence to step into uncertainty before feeling fully ready. That became a major turning point in both my personal and professional growth.

Looking back, the experience fundamentally changed how I lead. It reinforced that strong leadership is not about having all the answers, it is about creating connection, bringing diverse perspectives together and building trust through authenticity and adaptability.

What do you like most about your job?

What I enjoy most is bringing ideas to life in ways that connect with consumers in meaningful, everyday moments. There is something uniquely rewarding about seeing a concept move from insight to shelf at scale. I still find it exciting to walk into a store and see something our teams brought to life on shelf. Equally important to me is developing people and building strong teams. I am passionate about creating diverse, strengths-based environments where different perspectives are encouraged and collaboration happens naturally across functions. In my experience, the best ideas emerge when people trust each other, challenge each other constructively and move with agility toward a common goal.

What is the best career advice you have ever received?

The best career advice I have ever received is to start before you feel fully ready. Some of the most meaningful growth in my career has come from stepping into opportunities that stretched me beyond my comfort zone and challenged me to learn in real time.

I have also learned that continuous reinvention is essential. Industries evolve, consumer expectations shift and leadership itself changes over time. Staying open to new perspectives, embracing change and continuously evolving how you think and lead are critical to long-term success.

What keeps you motivated at work?

I am energized by solving complex challenges and turning possibilities into tangible impact. What keeps me motivated is the combination of strategy, creativity and execution that defines this industry.

The pace of change in CPG is incredibly dynamic. Consumer expectations are constantly evolving, which pushes us to think differently, challenge assumptions and continuously reinvent how we innovate and operate. 

I am equally motivated by people and teamwork. Building strong, diverse teams, developing talent and collaborating across functions are what ultimately drive speed, innovation and long-term success. I genuinely believe the best outcomes happen when different perspectives come together, ideas are challenged constructively and teams rally around a shared purpose.

Click here for the full list of 2026 Star Women in Grocery Award winners.