Giving to Gain at Farm Boy
Giving to Gain
at Farm Boy
#GiveToGain
#GiveToGain
Charlene Corcoran
Plant Coordinator
Central Ottawa
Years at Farm Boy: 22
I have always been a person to give, never expecting anything in return. I enjoy giving in all aspects of life. I enjoy sharing my experiences and knowledge. Giving can be time, resources and visibility as well. As Individuals, Communities or Organizations giving is a win/win.
Nicole Salloum
VP, Admin Service Operations
Home Office/Remote
Years at Farm Boy: 8
Four things I do: 1. I encourage my colleagues speak up and make sure their ideas are heard. 2. I encourage them to be brave—raise their hands for new opportunities and take risks. 3. I give direct, constructive feedback with kindness, looking for chances to help women learn and grow. 4. I actively look for opportunities to mentor, recognize, and recommend deserving teammates.
Leena Gidwani
HR Partner
Home Office/Remote
Years at Farm Boy: 5
I #GiveToGain by sharing my time, experience, and support to help others grow with confidence. I offer guidance, create safe and positive spaces for open dialogue, and actively listen so others feel seen and empowered. I believe that when we intentionally invest in one another, we multiply opportunities, grow together and strengthen our communities
Alessandra Bisaillon
Director of Marketing and Media Relations
Central GTA – Kenway
Years at Farm Boy: 3.5
Together, let's help forge gender equality through abundant giving. The IWD 2026 #GiveToGain Campaign encourages a mindset of generosity and collaboration. At the current rate of progress, it will take until 2158, to reach full gender parity, according to data from the World Economic Forum. As a mother of two daughters, it is imperative to me to ensure I lead by example and encourage my peers, colleagues, leaders and team members to unite and take the necessary steps required to make a difference. With leadership comes responsibility and accountability to share valuable insights and learnings, while inspiring and empowering our team members to celebrate and support gender equality. Ensuring all team members feel valued and have an opportunity to develop their capabilities, grow and progress is also critical. I look forward to sharing my experiences over the last 20 years as a female leader and meaningfully contribute to change.
Jenna Benn
Store Manager
Beaverbrook
Years at Farm Boy: 8
I #GiveToGain by investing in people consistently, genuinely, and without expecting anything in return. My leadership philosophy has always been “Fun, Firm, and Fair,” and I live that through coaching, celebrating small wins, creating safe spaces for growth, and showing up for my team in both the exciting and the challenging moments. I believe giving is contagious. When I support and empower the women around me, they gain confidence, skills, and opportunities and in turn they lift others. That ripple effect is how we build strong teams, strong communities, and a stronger Farm Boy. Giving isn’t something we lose from it’s something that multiplies. When women thrive, we truly all rise.
Ester Azgomi
Store Manager
Kingston
Years at Farm Boy: 5.5
I #GiveToGain by mentoring women on my team, supporting their growth and creating opportunities for them to succeed. When we lift others, we all rise.
Melanie Noblet
Store Manager
Greenbank
Years at Farm Boy: 17
I give 110% in all that I do in order to gain experience, a respected reputation and healthy workplace relationships. I give time and energy to develop myself and my team. I give leadership by example and the best of myself professionally to gain the best from my team.
Heather Newton
Director Front End
Home Office/Remote
Years at Farm Boy: 15
By reflecting on the opportunities that I was given to grow in this business, I hope to support others and ensure they gain similar positive experiences. I believe it is my responsibility to give the same opportunity to the next generation of leaders. By giving people a space to express their ideas, sharing as much knowledge as possible and offering a chance to develop new skills, we will all gain.
Fueled by a vision of reducing food waste while making the world a kinder place, Mindful FÜD rose from the ashes of an arson fire to become a business dedicated to making a sweeter, more sustainable planet.
Co-founder Venessa Stonehouse was inspired after seeing fallen apples from local orchards, and saw how rescuing this produce could be transformative—for the environment, for bees, and for those looking for something a little sweeter.
Mindful FÜD’s BeeMindful Hunnie is a plant-based alternative made from 100% rescued apples. (You can find it under our Farm Boy Private Label as Farm Boy™ Plant Based Hunni.) “The idea that something as simple as a jar of honey can reduce food waste, protect bees, and shift how people think about sustainability—that keeps me going.”
Geez Louise’s commitment to “creating something that’s good for people inside and out” doesn’t stop with the brand’s prebiotic sparkling water: A portion of all sales goes towards Indigenous-led clean water initiatives like Indigenous Climate Action.
“Access to safe water is a human right,” say co-founders Carmen Douville and Lauren Jones. “Supporting communities is a responsibility we take to heart.”
The gut-friendly fizzy water is proudly made in Canada with five grams of fibre, no sugar, and no sweeteners. Geez Louise also partners with local manufacturers at every stage in the process to provide customers with the most “made in Canada” product possible.
With a desire to bring the taste of her culture to Canada, MEUI founder Meui Kang turned to the kimchi she had learned to make with her family.
An immigrant from South Korea, Kang began offering MEUI kimchi at farmer’s markets, where a sense of community and collaboration was fostered among other vendors. Through her strength of culture, vision, and commitment to tradition, MEUI has continued to grow as local business.
As for other aspiring entrepreneurs who want to follow in her footsteps, Kang advises, “You don’t need to be perfect to begin. Start with what you have, trust your story, and believe that your voice matters.”
In the male-dominated coffee industry, the owners of Las Chicas del Café stand apart. Sisters Maria Fiallos and Valeria Fiallos-Soliman’s history with coffee dates back to childhood, as daughters of a third-generation Nicaraguan coffee grower.
Bringing their heritage full-circle, they’ve continued to honour their family traditions through the growing, roasting, and importing of coffee beans exclusively from Nicaragua. “Coffee is community, relationships. That’s what it represents to us. As immigrants to Canada, it is an honour to connect our two homes—Nicaragua and Canada—by one of life’s simplest pleasures.”
The sisters continue to champion small family farms, growers, and other women-led businesses through community events, fundraisers, and the coffee they offer in their café.
When Rawcology founder Tara Tomulka became a holistic nutritionist, she was shocked by the lack of healthy packaged snack options on store shelves. With the help of her sister Laura and sister-in-law Megan, Rawcology was born.
“Creating accessible, functional nutrition that genuinely improves people’s lives,” is part of what keeps the Rawcology team motivated. Along with opening their own manufacturing facility to meet their high ingredient standards, the Tomulka women continue to see the importance of collaboration with fellow brands and “the strength of community over competition.”
Newer to the food scene, Situ’s Kitchen first began in 2019, when owner Sharon Kelly decided to ditch the corporate world in favour of exploring her passion for baking. Along with her daughters and co-founders, Nicole and Aidan, the plant-based business of Situ’s Kitchen took off, crafting vegan pastries, calzones, and more.
In addition to working closely alongside her daughters, Kelly knows that the support, collaboration, and connection don’t end at family: “[The food industry is] rooted in mutual support, where meaningful connections can play a critical role in long-term success.”
