Girls Who Own

From Monday 13 to Wednesday 16 July, I had the privilege of participating in the 'Girls Who Own' programme initiated by Foodstuffs North Island, as one of 30 girls selected from across New Zealand.

This amazing opportunity provided invaluable insight into supermarket ownership, supply chain operations, and the many career pathways within the retail industry. Through store tours, distribution centre visits, hands-on supermarket designing workshops, and one-on-one mentoring with owner-operators and industry leaders, the programme deepened my understanding of the different facets of the Foodstuffs cooperative, while challenging me to strengthen my interpersonal skills and reflect on my long-term goals. Motivational sessions from guest speakers, including Sacha Coburn (COO of Coffee Culture NZ), encouraged us to think confidently about our future aspirations, leadership potential, and personal growth.

A particular highlight of the programme was touring New World Te Atatū before its opening to the public. Gaining firsthand exposure to the behind-the-scenes planning, merchandising, and even contributing to the preparations in progress revealed the practical realities of bringing a retail business to life.

Every conversation, workshop, and site visit offered a different perspective on what it takes to build and lead a successful business I’m incredibly grateful for the knowledge, encouragement, and connections I gained throughout the programme, and I look forward to applying these lessons as I continue working towards my own goals.

~ Ekam Minhas 13B7