Chelsea Matzen, Vice President Foundation at the National Grocers Association, unpacks how scholarships, mentorship, and community-powered programs shape the next generation of independent retail leaders.

She gets candid about:

• drawing healthy boundaries in an always-on world,
• the broader shift toward digital convenience, especially for Gen Z shoppers,
• and leadership, inclusion, and the future of feeding communities

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Host: Kristin Popp
To have your podcast produced: contact Rachael Melot

How Sheila Ebanks Leads at Coca-Cola While Raising Four Kids

Sheila Ebanks, Head of Large Store at The Coca-Cola Company, shares her inspiring journey from delivery truck driver to managing key retail partnerships with Albertsons, Publix, and H-E-B. As a mother of four (ages 5 to 28), Sheila redefines work-life balance through intentional integration—prioritizing family events and embracing flexibility.

She opens up about mentorship, building a “challenger network,” and using AI to free teams from mundane tasks. From relaunching Diet Coke with Lime to navigating career growth, Sheila offers four guiding principles: ask powerful questions, learn from failure, own your worth, and leverage your network.

Tune in for candid insights on leadership, motherhood, and making meaningful impact. Share this episode with anyone balancing ambition and family.

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National Grocers Association Foundation
Welcome to "Grocery From Her Seat," the WGA podcast offering a unique perspective on the independent

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Host: Kristin Popp
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Shannon Clark takes us on a remarkable journey from building a log cabin by hand in rural Kentucky to revolutionizing marketing strategies at Houchens Food Group. This conversation reveals how her unconventional path—beginning in apparel manufacturing before transitioning to retail operations and eventually grocery e-commerce—equipped her with unique perspectives that drive her success today.

Shannon offers refreshingly honest insights about work-life balance, challenging the notion that we can "have it all." Instead, she advocates extending grace to yourself, recognizing that balance looks different every day, and being fully present for non-negotiable moments with family. This philosophy has sustained her 20-year marriage and allowed her to thrive professionally while raising two children.

Her forward-looking perspective emphasizes the strategic implementation of AI, evolving data management practices, and seamless integration of technology into physical stores, all while maintaining the human connection that ultimately wins customers' loyalty.

Ready to transform how you approach challenges in grocery and beyond? Shannon's mantra of "Edit As You Go" reminds us that success requires constant learning, adaptation, and the courage to pivot when necessary. Subscribe now to hear more stories and insights from the remarkable women shaping the independent grocery industry.

Houchens Food Group, Inc

(2) Shannon Clark | LinkedIn

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National Grocers Association Foundation
Welcome to "Grocery From Her Seat," the WGA podcast offering a unique perspective on the independent

Support the show

Sign up for women leadership opportunities in the independent grocery industry
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F: https://www.facebook.com/NationalGrocersAssn
L: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-grocers-association/

Host: Kristin Popp
To have your podcast produced: contact Rachael Melot

Did you love the show - Text and tell us why.

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Host: Kristin Popp
To have your podcast produced: contact Rachael Melot

What happens when you grow up immersed in grocery technology from age 14? For Caroline Catoe, President of ECRS, it created a unique perspective on both the challenges and opportunities facing independent grocers in today's rapidly evolving technological landscape.

From her early days taking support calls as a teenager to her current leadership role, Caroline shares the wisdom gained from working alongside her father in their family business. The daily mentorship she receives as her father continues in the CEO role provides her with an exceptional leadership development experience that few executives enjoy. This father-daughter partnership mirrors the multi-generational approach that makes independent grocery so special—a world where fourth-generation family business ownership isn't unusual but celebrated.

Caroline candidly discusses the leadership challenges facing the industry today, particularly the critical need to develop the next generation of leaders as experienced veterans retire. She also addresses the realities of being a woman in a predominantly male industry and how organizations like Women Grocers of America have created valuable networks that foster both professional development and personal confidence. "Having that focused group to talk about how we can be better leaders has been super helpful to me personally," she notes.

Looking toward the future, Caroline identifies three essential technology priorities for independent retailers. Most encouragingly, she emphasizes the unique agility of independent grocers as their secret weapon in adapting to technological change. "We're not gigantic national brands... but what the benefit of that is, we can turn on a dime."

Join us for this insightful conversation that bridges technology, leadership, and the enduring power of family business in grocery. Subscribe to never miss an episode, and help others discover Grocery From Her Seat by leaving a review on your favorite listening platform.

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Host: Kristin Popp
To have your podcast produced: contact Rachael Melot

Sierra Brewer stands at the exciting intersection of tradition and innovation in grocery. As a Cornell University student preparing to become the first US category manager for The Modern Milkman, she brings fresh perspectives on how sustainability and convenience can reshape grocery retail.

What makes this episode particularly compelling is Sierra's bold prediction that the grocery industry is approaching a critical inflection point—"a bubble about to pop." She identifies four major forces driving this change: economic pressures forcing price sensitivity, expansion of hard discounters, acceleration of digital shopping options, and shifting consumer preferences toward sustainability and transparency.

Sierra also addresses the significant gender disparity in grocery leadership. Despite women comprising two-thirds of the grocery workforce, only 10% of newly appointed retail CEOs last year were women. Her experiences with female mentors like Stacey Tovar at Whole Foods and Jennifer Boone at Albertsons highlight the importance of seeing women succeed in leadership positions.

Her enthusiasm for bringing young talent into grocery is matched by her conviction that independents can thrive by emphasizing local connections, sustainability, and personalized shopping experiences that mass retailers cannot replicate.

Ready to hear how the next generation views the future of grocery? Sierra's insights will challenge your assumptions and inspire new thinking about where our industry is headed.

#FreshProduceAssociation

#GlobalProduceAndFloralShow

#Suppliers

#Vendors

#WGASyncUp

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Host: Kristin Popp
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Anne Feder, Senior Vice President of Client Growth and Product with eGrocery, shares her journey from psychology grad to grocery tech leader and how she balances career ambitions with motherhood of three children.

• Managing client services from implementation to day-to-day operations for eGrocery's white-label SaaS platform
• Starting in mortgage banking during a recession before moving through automotive, pharmaceutical, CPG and eventually grocery tech
• Taking a three-year career break to be a stay-at-home mom before gradually returning to the workforce
• Finding passion in grocery during the pandemic by seeing how e-commerce technology helped essential workers serve communities safely
• Setting firm boundaries and asking for help to balance professional responsibilities with family priorities
• Addressing women's leadership challenges including data bias and the tendency to over-internalize negative feedback
• Emphasizing the importance of representation through organizations like Women Grocers of America
• Advocating for e-commerce as essential for independent grocers: "It's like putting on your tennis shoes to play basketball"
• Seeing opportunity for independent grocers to reclaim market share through community connection and technological innovation

If you find value in our podcast, be sure to subscribe to never miss an episode and leave a review on your favorite listening platform to help others discover Grocery from Her Seat.
#boundaries #successwithoutapology #womengrocers #leadership

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Host: Kristin Popp
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Greg Ferrara, President and CEO of the National Grocers Association, brings his unique perspective as both a former independent grocer and long-time industry advocate to discuss the rapidly changing political landscape affecting food retailers.

Drawing from nearly two decades of experience at NGA and his background running his family's New Orleans supermarket, Ferrara offers a candid assessment of the volatile tariff situation that's "changing not by the day, but sometimes by the hour." He explains why even grocers who source little directly from China should be concerned about equipment costs, supply chain disruptions, and potential economic impacts on agricultural communities that export to affected countries.

The conversation explores surprising shifts in antitrust enforcement, with both political parties now showing interest in addressing market consolidation. Ferrara connects these issues directly to food deserts, noting how the loss of independent grocers devastates communities: "If we're going to rebuild middle America, rebuild these communities, rebuild our middle class, make America healthy again, we have to have grocery stores, full-service grocery stores."

Perhaps most concerning for grocers are coming changes to SNAP regulations, which Ferrara describes as "the greatest challenge we've had in 20-plus years." With states submitting waivers to restrict purchases and potential budget cuts looming, the industry faces significant uncertainty. The NGA is working to ensure any changes minimize disruption at checkout and recognize SNAP's role in supporting both economically disadvantaged communities and grocery jobs.

Ready to make your voice heard? Join the NGA fly-in this May in Washington DC and help shape the policies affecting your business.

NGA’s Fly-In for Fair Competition Begins in Washington, D.C. - National Grocers Association

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F: https://www.facebook.com/NationalGrocersAssn
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Host: Kristin Popp
To have your podcast produced: contact Rachael Melot