Throughout March, we honor and celebrate Women’s History Month – a time to recognize women’s numerous contributions and achievements throughout history, while also looking forward to the trailblazing work being done by women today across all fields and industries. This week, we’re thrilled to introduce six more talented women leaders at Giant Eagle.

Erin, Executive Store Leader

I am a proud mom of two loving and energetic boys and partner of a talented artist and theatre professor. As a family we love to stay active and enjoy traveling, sporting events, and art culture on all levels. After spending over a decade as a communication professor I took my love for teaching and leadership to retail. I have spent 10 years in retail operations as a logistics leader and store leader. During my time with Giant Eagle, I had the humbling opportunity to organize and oversee the Heinz Field COVID Vaccination Clinic volunteers; serve as the Internal Impact Chair for the IE&D council and the Education Committee for the Women’s Business Resource Group; coordinate multiple events and programs; and most importantly develop current and future leaders for our company.

Women empowerment to you is..

For me, Women’s Empowerment is about supporting, encouraging, and advocating for women to have access to their desired opportunities – politically, financially, socially, educationally, and psychologically. I feel empowered through self-care, continued education, and honest self-reflection. I empower others through mentorships, leading by example, and uplifting women in both their personal and professional journey. I believe one of the most powerful acts of empowerment is listening. When we listen, we are better able to explore, discover, connect, and promote one another’s goals and dreams.

Share with us one of your personal experiences that made a significant change in your life and your outlook towards life.

When my oldest son was five years old, he told me during our evening prayers that he wished I didn’t work so much and that I was home more. My heart was broken. I felt the same way. Merely days later Giant Eagle reached out to me, and I began a new journey and I promised to myself and my family to be more present. I love my family, but at my core, I also love to work. The more I allowed myself to reflect, the more I was able to value my time as a professional AND as a mom and wife. I realized that I could be fully invested in both.

What is that one piece of advice you would like to give your fellow women Team Members?

I live by three tenants: Do what’s right, be the best you can be, and treat others as you want to be treated. My dad taught me this as a child and it is something I live by closely and have passed down to my children, friends, and peers. I truly believe that when you do the right thing, even when it’s not popular, and you treat others with kindness and respect, you will always find yourself on the right path.

How do you give back to the community?

As an educator and philanthropist, I am passionate about both research and giving back to my community. I am an active member of my church, a volunteer for the PTA, Rotary Club member, donor for the arts as well as a physical and financial participant for multiple charities.

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Samantha, Senior Corporate Counsel

My legal career started 27 years ago, straight out of law school and right into corporate practice. This gave me a unique perspective of business objectives critical in my current role for Giant Eagle. I’ve always had a passion and skill for corporate training, contracting efficiencies, and creative negotiation methods, so within a year of joining Giant Eagle 2.5 years ago, I implemented a comprehensive contracting policy designed to serve our need for streamlined processes in contracting. These processes are now part of my oversight of Giant Eagle’s Contracting Center of Excellence (COE), a team of amazing people resources and tools responsible for the management of legal support for commercial contracting lifecycle, from assignments to attorneys with specific expertise, negotiation phases to signature, legal advisory and periodic review of vendor performance. Ever evolving, the contracting COE reflects my passion for innovative and creative solutions for best contracting practices.

Women empowerment to you is..

It means to allow a woman to chart her own course and bring her authentic self to her life journey, including both career and personal pursuits. A woman can contribute unique experiences, skills, and approaches when she feels safe to do so. I empower myself and the women around me through active listening - without falling into the temptation of preparing a response, but rather listening with my whole self and all senses to understand. I practice active listening because I know so many women feel “unheard”. I also listen to my inner self to assess how I’m feeling and why.

Share with us one of your personal experiences that made a significant change in your life and your outlook towards life.

Years ago, I suffered a torn achilles tendon playing soccer that wouldn’t heal. I had four surgeries, spent over a year on crutches and was completely depressed. They recommended treatment involving bariatric chambers of 64 dives daily for several hours and plastic surgery after. I met an elderly patient seated when I arrived in the chamber with a quilt over her lap. When we finished the dive, a nurse carried her out as she had NO LEGS. I was bitter about my condition but seeing how warm and kind she was in a situation worse than mine changed my perspective.

What is that one piece of advice you would like to give your fellow women Team Members?

You deserve to be in the room, on the call, on the team, etc. You have something valuable to contribute. You are a cherished asset to this company and your voice is heard. If you ever feel otherwise, talk to someone, reflect on your goals, take time to replenish your reserves, get ready to engage, and prepare for your next opportunity. It is closer than you think.

How do you give back to the community?

I recently became a member of the Women’s Leadership Council-United Way of Southern Pennsylvania and I actively participated in the annual campaign raffle events, donated to the Team Member Care Fund and participated in the “Inspire A Young Reader program”. I also have volunteered to fill gift boxes for Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse and participated in Got Sneakers - a sneaker recycling organization that recycles shoes to support a circular economy and to keep CO2 from entering the atmosphere.

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Doris, ASF Services Manager

I am a seasoned professional with over 40 years of experience in the grocery industry. Throughout my career, I have sharpened and refined my skills in the fields of process and operational efficiencies, becoming proficient in driving results through creative problem-solving and innovative thinking. I trust in my inquisitive nature and sense of humor to bring a unique perspective to every situation. I have been graced with a wonderful team which has made me grateful and proud of our accomplishments. When not supporting our Wholesale Non-Banner business, I enjoy cooking and eating good food. Together with my husband of 39 years, we have raised two amazing young men. I appreciate nature, sports, and spending time with my family.

Women empowerment to you is..

Empowerment to me means giving all individuals, the tools, resources, and support they need to succeed both professionally and personally. Specifically, empowerment in the workplace can be achieved through knowledge transfer and delegation, setting clear expectations and accountabilities, and fostering a flexible and innovative spirit.

Share with us one of your personal experiences that made a significant change in your life and your outlook towards life.

Watching my children develop into accomplished men has been one life-changing experience for me individually. I gained a fresh perspective on life and learned to embrace the simple things and find joy every day. I came to recognize that life is best lived when there is a good balance between work and family. Making memories and developing connections with those around you is the most important way to have no regrets.

What is that one piece of advice you would like to give your fellow women Team Members?

Be true to yourself and embrace who you are and what you stand for. Fear can hold us back and prevent us from reaching our full potential, but I encourage others to overcome this fear and embrace their individuality. Nurturing and supporting others with kindness is another key value of mine. By lifting people up and helping them reach their full potential, we create a positive and supportive community. This means being there for one another, offering encouragement and support, and celebrating each other's successes. I strongly believe that everyone has the potential to achieve great things, and it is my goal to help others reach their full potential by lifting them up and offering support and encouragement. Whether it's through kindness, mentorship, or simply being a positive presence, I believe in making a positive impact on the lives of others.

How do you give back to the community?

I am an active volunteer and believe in giving back to the community. I value helping people and strongly believe that everyone should be treated with respect and dignity.

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Meera, Director, Merchandising Operations

I have over 20 years of work experience in diverse roles across retail business operations and customer support. I have added value to various transition projects by providing effective change management solutions and conceptualized operational framework to support business globally. I am a Commerce graduate with CA Inter and have completed a graduate degree in Supply Chain Management and Human Resource Management, currently pursuing PMP certification. Some of my key deliverables have been in the space of merchandising operations and application support, marketing operations, RPA and Own Brands. I am a certified 6Sigma Black Belt holder. At Giant Eagle Bengaluru, I am currently responsible for the Data Governance & Central Processing, Space Planning & Development, GetGo, Non-Banner, Own Brands, Ecommerce Merchandising, Partnership Marketing, Marketing Operations Teams. I am also associated with our CSR and POSH Committees.

Women empowerment to you is..

Women Empowerment to me is being able to do what you love fearlessly, achieve your dreams and aspirations, believing in yourself, and being you. There are numerous roles we play in our lives - children, parents, mentors and so on. We need to keep in mind, choice, change, and chance. Embrace the change. Make a fearless and calculated choice. Take the chance and see where it takes you. You will be surprised. I take a lot of inspiration from people around me, be it at home or office and learn every single day. I share my failure stories and how I never gave up and stayed focused, to motivate, support and empower them.

Share with us one of your personal experiences that made a significant change in your life and your outlook towards life.

We always have a choice in life, either we take the plunge, or we decide to change our paths when we are confronted with multiple aspects in life. There is always a balance a working mother must do all through, and I was able to do that to the best of my ability. I felt at a certain point in my kids’ growing years, I needed to be there to shape them and empower them with certain aspects that I could otherwise not do if I was working. I made a bold decision to give my undivided attention and quality time to my kids with my family’s support. That CHOICE which I made was a well thought of and informed decision. Looking back, I feel content that I was able to make this choice and there are no regrets now.

What is that one piece of advice you would like to give your fellow women Team Members?

I sometimes wonder how my life would have turned out to be if I had not taken the chance and made the right choices that worked for me and for the people in my life. It resonates with me every single moment to leverage from my beautiful experiences so far, continue to look through the lens of optimism with a goal to be happy and ensure everyone around me is happy. Life is beautiful. It is very simple, and we just need to believe in ourselves and just be you, the authentic and genuine you. We all have our own set of unique strengths and opportunities, so we need to leverage our strengths to improvise on our opportunities constantly. Every day opens a lot of them to grab from, to become a better human and have a happier life!

How do you give back to the community?

Volunteering services is all about making a difference in the lives of others and contributing towards a noble cause. I started with captaining volunteering activities with over 48 varied activities at five schools and received the ‘Best in Community’ Award at workplace. Personally, I am very passionate about volunteering and conduct activities to support, empower, and educate the under privileged around my apartment over the weekends. I have had opportunities to lead and participate in a number of CSR activities, themes being children's education, community giving, and sustainability at various NGOs to drive participation to 'Make a Difference' to the society over the last few years.

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Amanda, Director, Corporate Financial Planning & Analysis

I began my career in external auditing. From there, I went to a consulting firm where I could continue in a client-serving role while learning many industries and finance/accounting roles. I then joined Giant Eagle originally in a short-term backfill capacity in the accounting team. Over the last 11 years, my career has progressed through many roles in the Accounting and Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) Teams While at Giant Eagle, I obtained my Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license and have begun working on my CMA (Certified Management Accountant), which will benefit my current FP&A role.

Women empowerment to you is..

Supporting women in developing and maintaining a sense of self-worth and confidence that enables them to choose what they want their path to be. Encouraging them to be confident enough to share opinions and viewpoints, yet vulnerable enough to ask questions and admit mistakes, all in the pursuit of continued growth and development. I make these all part of my daily life – personally and professionally – and encourage women to do the same.

Share with us one of your personal experiences that made a significant change in your life and your outlook towards life.

In elementary school, we would play the flashcard game around the world to practice math skills. One time, the teacher had me be the flash card holder instead of playing because I had mastered my multiplication tables. Not only was it not challenging me, but it was also not helpful for the other students because I would win every time. I had a choice – accept it or figure out another way to continue to grow if that’s what I wanted. That experience got stuck with me. It fueled me to take ownership of my growth and development and push myself.

What is that one piece of advice you would like to give your fellow women Team Members?

Giant Eagle offers the unique combination of being a large well-known company while also being a “small” family-owned business. Your career here can be as big as you want it to be. Take advantage of every opportunity to meet people outside of your team, build a network, ask questions, and learn new areas of the business. There are so many opportunities out there – don’t be afraid to ask for ones you’re interested in.

How do you give back to the community?

I enjoy participating in community volunteer events like days of caring and angel trees as well as donation drives or events for food, clothing, toys at the holidays and pet supplies for shelters. My family and I attend events for organizations that are important to each of us, getting to have fun and spend quality time together while benefitting people and animals in need.

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Katie, Director, Transportation

I began my career with Giant Eagle in 2007 in Human Resources. I have held numerous HR management roles supporting supply chain and corporate before transitioning into my current role of Transportation Director in 2019. I oversee all outbound transportation operations including over 430 transportation leaders, drivers, loaders, mechanics, and jockey drivers to ensure that all product is delivered safely and timely to all retail locations. I earned the Certified Transportation Professional (“CTP”) designation in 2020 and received multiple Rising Star awards throughout my career with Giant Eagle, along with a Top Women in Grocery award in 2016. I am a chairperson on the WBRG, as well as a mentor within the PA Women Work 3 Cups of Coffee program, a member of the National Private Truck Council, and a member of the Pitt Women in Supply Chain Group.

Women empowerment to you is..

Empowerment is believing that I have the strength, knowledge, and influence to positively impact the people and environment around me. I empower other women by creating and fostering an environment that feels safe to share thoughts, ideas, and to be fully oneself without fear of judgment and by expecting others to do the same.

Share with us one of your personal experiences that made a significant change in your life and your outlook towards life.

My predecessor was a legend in Giant Eagle; everyone knew “Puff” and he could not have left bigger shoes to fill. I doubted myself and thought I would never be good enough or live up to the standards he created. In time, and with some help from a few friends, I realized that while I can’t be Puff, I can answer the phone in the middle of the night when someone needs a trailer. I can help and I can be there for people. Turns out, I don’t have to be Puff. Turns out, I can be me…and that’s enough.

What is that one piece of advice you would like to give your fellow women Team Members?

Quit worrying. Especially as women, we worry constantly about whether we said the right thing, whether we used the right tone, whether we came across as too bossy or whiny, whether we’re smart enough or fit enough or friendly enough or a good enough parent or a good enough leader or…or…or. Worrying does nothing but rob you of time that you already don’t have enough of, and it delays the joy you could be creating. Quit worrying about it, whatever “it” is for you, and move on. You are enough.

How do you give back to the community?

I volunteer as a mentor with the 3 Cups of Coffee Program through PA Women Work organization where we mentor women and men who need support and guidance dealing with challenges on reentering the workplace. I also volunteer with the Cleveland and Pittsburgh Food Banks.

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Celebrating Women's History Month at Giant Eagle

At Giant Eagle, we’re honoring Women’s History Month by embracing storytelling. No two people share the exact same experiences. It’s our stories – stories of our experiences, hardships, and perseverance – that fully portray who we are so that others can truly get to know us. Through storytelling, we create connection and empathy. In honor of storytelling, this month’s theme is ‘I am woman, hear me roar: celebrating our truth through stories.’ The theme is symbolic of women’s inherent strength and ability to use their voices and actions to bring positive change. This month’s purpose is to honor women through education, connection, and action.

Throughout the month, we're excited to offer all Team Members a variety of ways to celebrate including guest speakers, a book club, volunteer opportunities, and much more! We'll also be internally featuring profiles and stories of women and allies within our organization who are doing tremendous work at Giant Eagle and within the community.