Andrea Millette

I attribute my success to the incredible people, organizations, and mentors who have been part of my journey. Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to work with great companies that provided strong training, valuable experiences, and opportunities to learn and grow. Every person I have worked with has contributed something meaningful to my professional development, and I have carried those lessons with me as I progressed in my career. I have built lasting relationships with colleagues and mentors from organizations such as Sysco, PFG, Napoli, and Better Brands, many of whom remain friends and valued connections today. Their guidance, support, and example have helped shape who I am, and I believe the positive people and experiences throughout my career have been instrumental to my success.

The best career advice I have received is to always be honest, authentic, and true to myself. I believe in never selling a product or service simply because I need to make a sale; I only recommend something when I genuinely believe it can help the customer or contribute to their growth. Building trust with customers and colleagues is more important to me than making a quick sale because my name and reputation are a reflection of who I am. I have learned that one dishonest decision can lead to many more, while integrity builds lasting relationships and credibility. Above all, I believe in being myself, staying genuine, and never pretending to be someone I am not.

My advice to young women entering my industry is to work hard, stay open to advice, and learn from constructive criticism without allowing it to discourage you. I believe women sometimes have to work harder to earn the same level of recognition and respect, so it is important to be confident, persistent, and prepared. Knowledge is one of the most powerful tools you can have—learn as much as possible about your industry, even the areas that may seem uninteresting or insignificant. Understanding your products, services, and customers allows you to educate others, build credibility, and demonstrate that you know what you are talking about. Never stop learning, stay true to yourself, and let your hard work and expertise speak for you.

One of the biggest challenges in my field right now is the increasing level of competition, particularly for distributors and sales representatives. With large foodservice distributors, Restaurant Depot, and online platforms such as Amazon competing for customers, businesses are under greater pressure to remain competitive on price and value. Customer loyalty has also changed as economic pressures have made customers more likely to choose lower-cost options, even when they have longstanding relationships with their suppliers. I see this as both a challenge and an opportunity to support the sales representatives and distributors I work with by sharing my knowledge, offering solutions, and helping them strengthen their customer relationships. I believe that success in this environment comes from working together, supporting one another, and doing everything possible to help our customers and colleagues succeed.

The values that are most important to me in both my work and personal life are integrity, strong relationships, continuous learning, and surrounding myself with good people. I have been fortunate to work with great companies and talented individuals who have taught me something valuable throughout my career. I believe that every experience and every person has something to teach us, and I carry those lessons with me. Above all, I value my reputation because my name represents who I am, and I strive to conduct myself with honesty, professionalism, and respect in everything I do.