Where are they now? Generation Next winner Nena Pidskalny

Canadian Grocer’s Generation Next awards debuted in 2011 to honour the grocery industry’s rising stars (under age 40). We recently caught up with a few past winners to find out how their careers have been shaping up—including Nena Pidskalny, who won the award in 2018. Here’s what she had to say:

Job then: Store brands specialist, Federated Co‑operatives Limited (FCL)

Job now: Senior manager, GFR category procurement strategy, FCL

Tell us what’s been happening with your career since 2018, when you won the award?

About a year after winning the Generation Next Award, I was given the opportunity to help lead a procurement transformation at Federated Co-op. This included an evolution of our business to become more strategic and customer focused. I have learned a lot along the way and look forward to continuing to drive strong strategies for our business.

What do you like best about your job?

My favourite part of my job is collaborating with, and coaching others. I thrive working with others to solve complex problems and look at things in new and innovative ways.

Are there any tough lessons you’ve learned along the way?

Absolutely. There have been many challenges throughout my career and to be honest, some of the greatest learnings have come from these failures. If you don’t fail at some point, you’re not pushing hard enough. It is more important how you overcome and learn from these challenges because there will always be obstacles to overcome.

What keeps you motivated?

My biggest motivation comes from wanting to offer a best-in-class customer experience. That keeps me motivated to stay on top of trends, consumer behaviour and the ever-changing aspects of the industry to ensure we are making decisions that set everyone up for success.

What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

Find something you love and get good at it. For me, the food industry is the perfect blend of my passion for cooking (and eating!) and my love of consumer packaged goods marketing.

What's your favourite thing about working in this industry?

The people, the passion and the ever-changing nature of the industry make it a very exciting one to be part of!

Do you know a rising star in the grocery industry? Nominate them now for this year’s Generation Next Awards. It’s quick and easy, but don’t delay! The deadline to enter/nominate is September 15.