Shaping perspectives from women in Manufacturing, FSQA, and Supply Chain roles throughout our diverse work culture.
Each year on March 8, we recognize International Women’s Day, a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. This impactful day also falls during Women’s History Month celebrated each March, two important events for us at Maple Leaf Foods.
Our theme for International Women’s Day this year is ‘A Seat at the Table’, which encapsulates the essence of women’s progress over time and in the workplace. A Seat at the Table symbolizes not only the physical space but also the voice, influence, and impact that women bring to the decision-making processes within our organization. This theme and programming were developed by our Employee Resource Group, The Women’s Impact Network (WIN), which works to advance gender equality in the workplace.
At Maple Leaf Foods, we have many talented and inspiring women who contribute to the success of our company. So, in honour of International Women’s Day, we interviewed three of them and asked them about their experiences being women in the workplace, their challenges and achievements, and their advice for other women who aspire to pursue their career goals.
Read along to hear from Kareen Wong, Manager, Supply Chain and Logistics; Agnes Rup, Team Leader, Reliability; and Jasna Suarez, Manager, Food Safety and Quality Assurance (FSQA). They each share their stories, insights, and perspectives on what it means to be a woman in diverse roles within the food industry, and how they face and challenge unique stereotypes and barriers.
A seat at the table for women in manufacturing and beyond
“I’m not sure if I’ve just been lucky, but I’ve actually worked in two Maple Leaf Foods plants so far and I feel like I’ve been welcomed at both with open arms. I’ve never been made out to feel like I don’t know what I’m doing and have felt supported, encouraged and have been offered valuable feedback,” says Agnes, whose role as Reliability Team Leader falls into the Manufacturing and Maintenance department.
Agnes has worked at Maple Leaf Foods for four years now, originally starting off at our Walker Drive plant in Brampton, Ontario, and currently working on the Ready to Eat (RTE) line at our Hamilton, Ontario site.
She says that being a woman in a traditionally male-dominated team allows her to bring more to the table by having a unique angle and providing structure and organization to the team.
“I’m very focused on bringing the team together, pulling out their strengths and weaknesses, and celebrating achievements in our department. I like to focus on uplifting Team Members and making them understand why they are here and how their work actually makes a big difference. If they care, it will show,” says Agnes.
For Kareen, she’s been in manufacturing for more than two decades, having recently celebrated her 20-year anniversary at Maple Leaf Foods.
“When I first started, it was quite difficult — being a woman working in a man’s world,” she explains. “I used to joke about it and say that when I retire, I would write a book and the title would be, ‘Surviving a Man’s World.’ Today, it’s totally different because there are so many women in manufacturing and there’s a strong drive to break the glass ceiling in our field.”
Kareen has been in a variety of roles during her tenure at Maple Leaf Foods — starting in Quality Assurance, then moving into Distribution, she spent some time in Maintenance, which she notes was the most challenging role when it came to the gender divide.
Today, Kareen has found a home at our Walker Drive plant in Supply Chain and Logistics, holding the responsibility of planning production, managing inventory, ingredients, packaging, and distribution. “There’s lots of support from my male counterparts, and I find that there’s more initiative and drive as an organization for woman to be successful. I love what I do.”
And just like Kareen, Jasna has been at Maple Leaf Foods for more than 20 years and has seen the evolution and progression of our organization.
“When I first started working here, it was very male-dominated, and I did feel that there were some differences in the way we were treated as women compared to men. But I do feel that Maple Leaf Foods has come a long way — over the last 10 years, things have really changed, and I feel like being a woman doesn’t make a difference anymore,” says Jasna, who has been a part of the FSQA team at our Lethbridge, Alberta plant for the past 23 years.
Empowering Canadian women in the workplace
One can say that there is a lot of power of being a woman in a male-dominated workplace. Beyond breaking stereotypes and shattering the glass ceiling, there’s also the opportunity to mentor and nurture future women leaders. And that’s exactly what Kareen sets out to do.
“I do mentoring and that is one of my greatest accomplishments. I mentor new supervisors in Production, and I like volunteering my time in order to coach and help women come into a new role. One focus in my mentoring is for young women supervisors transitioning from lead hands position.”
With 23 years at Maple Leaf Foods, Jasna has advanced into progressively more senior roles within the FSQA team, and for her, that’s one of her greatest achievements as a woman in the corporate world.
“Being given the opportunity to move up and being able to showcase my skills and what I can offer to the company has been one of my most significant accomplishments,” says Jasna.
She adds that she feels pride in being able to show her own daughter that anything can be done as a woman as long as you believe in yourself.
When it comes to the challenges of being a woman working in a male-dominated industry, there seems to be a unanimous feeling felt by each of these women: proving yourself and being taken seriously can be one of the biggest obstacles to tackle.
“Proving yourself when you join a team and showing what you have to offer and that you actually care deeply can make a big difference,” says Agnes.
Jasna looks back at when she first started working here, and how things were very different. “We didn’t see a lot of women in leadership or in manufacturing. Now, there’s about 20% of women in these roles. So, as we’ve progressed, things have gotten easier. But I think being taken seriously and being heard was my biggest challenge in the beginning.”
Building up the next generation of women leaders
When it comes to guidance for future women leaders, the advice is plentiful.
“Don’t feel intimidated. If you don’t try it, you’ll never know,” says Agnes. “I’m all about taking on challenges and trying new things, and actually learning and growing from my mistakes and setbacks, and then moving forward. Don’t ever think that you’re not good enough because you can make a difference.”
For Kareen, she advises to not let fear hold you back. “I think as women, most of the time, fear is the biggest thing that holds us back from accomplishing our goals. Sometimes, we are fearful about applying for a new role. It’s like we question ourselves as to what we can and cannot do, and most of it is fear.”
Jasna emphasizes the importance of resilience and not giving up. “I think that’s very important because if we laugh along with something, like a sexist joke or whatever may be said, then we don’t put a stop to it — it just continues that behaviour. So, for me, it’s about being able to have that empowerment, which when I first started here, I didn’t have. But feeling empowered now has been huge for me and has earned me respect from other Team Members.”
Our shared value on International Women’s Day
So, what does International Women’s Day mean to each of these women?
For Agnes, “it’s the opportunity to celebrate women all over the world and to honour those who have been at the forefront fighting against gender discrimination, inequality, and human rights. I feel like being a woman in Maintenance and Manufacturing is very empowering and it’s something that I would encourage any woman to take on.”
Jasna says that it’s “an opportunity to showcase the many talents women bring to the table, not just at Maple Leaf Foods, but all around the world. It’s a testament to what our perseverance and empowerment can achieve.”
Kareen adds that it’s about celebrating women’s achievements. “I celebrate the women inside our facility here at Walker Drive,” she explains, noting that she has prepared an extensive presentation to share with her fellow Team Members! She helps shine a spotlight on the diverse women at their plant, recognizing the unique voices that contribute to their team.
As part of the presentation, Kareen quotes former Secretary-General Kofi Annan who once said: “There is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women.”
A powerful quote indeed, and one to take forward as we celebrate women on this International Women’s Day and beyond.
