Branching Out
Making a living is one thing; making a difference is quite another. And that’s precisely what our 2014 Top Women in Grocery (TWIG) award winners do every day: make a living for themselves and their families while making a big difference in their companies, and in the lives of those around them.
It’s something we firmly believe is well worth celebrating, as did a star-studded, sold-out crowd of nearly 500, who joined with us last month at the Loews Chicago O’Hare hotel for our eighth annual Top Women in Grocery gala, which by all accounts delivered on our unending goal of continuous advancement of the industry’s premier women’s recognition program.
In addition to providing an opportunity to mingle with, and shine an individual spotlight on, a full two-thirds — or roughly 200 — of our total 311 winners, this year’s TWIG event branched out in new directions — during both the afternoon educational and networking program and the evening bash — to culminate in what one senior retail executive described as “an overall amazing event.” Added another industry leader: “The collaboration and integration of all sectors of the retailer and supplier communities were exceptional. It was so well planned, and it really made the women feel appreciated and recognized while providing ample opportunities to network, reconnect with old friends and also make new ones.”
I’m particularly partial to the viewpoint of yet another attendee, who noted, “The overall ‘feel’ of the total event was excellent; it was simply a great celebration of the accomplishments of inspirational women in our industry.”
Ode to Joy
No doubt, the contagious vibe of joy, gratitude and esprit de corps was unmistakable — not only among our honorees, but also for our illustrious special guests: FMI President/CEO Leslie Sarasin, who presided masterfully for the second year as TWIG awards emcee; Janel Haugarth, Supervalu’s EVP and president of independent business and supply chain services, who received the distinguished Trailblazer Award; and keynoter Deanie Eisner, EVP and CMO of Kraft Foods, who was positively sensational in delivering “five life lessons” for our distinguished guests.
Elsner’s riveting wisdom dovetailed splendidly with the valuable life lessons shared by this year’s TWIG event attendees, who were asked to tell us who has had the biggest influence on their lives or careers, and what they learned from them. And though space doesn’t permit me to expound on the many inspiring stories revealed by our 2014 event attendees (30 of whom were selected as the lucky winners of a sleek Microsoft Surface Pro 3), a universal theme of trust, respect and abiding appreciation — be it for parents, grandparents, siblings, sisters, first bosses, former store directors, current district managers, corporate SVPs, mentors past and present, corporate presidents, or CEOs — permeated each heartfelt narrative.
Considering the past hurdles faced by many of our Top Women in the forms of gender discrimination, family tragedies and personal setbacks, alongside responsibilities related to their roles as mothers, daughters, wives, sisters, friends, community leaders and grass-roots volunteers, the excursion to the TWIG winners’ circle is hardly a cakewalk. But as always, understanding their paths provides an optimal platform for the industry to appreciate the present and plan for the future. We encourage you to learn more about the inspiring journeys that brought our 2014 Top Women winners to Chicago last month on our website: www.progressivegrocer/TWIG2014.
While we’re acutely aware of the great strides women industry leaders have made as TWIG enters its ninth year of existence, there’s clearly more to be done, and there remain many gifted and deserving women throughout the industry who deeply deserve to be recognized — not only by their companies, but more importantly, by their fellow industry peers as well.
With this in mind, it’s my hope to see at least one member of each progressive grocery organization represented in our 2015 awards program, nominations for which will open on our website on beginning on Jan. 1, 2015.
All of us at Progressive Grocer wish you an invigorating and productive 2015, and extend our abiding thanks for your friendship, trust and support.
Meg Major
[email protected]
Twitter @Meg_Major/@pgrocer