Her Story
About Madison
Madison Rall is a senior sales and category management leader at General Mills with nine years of progressive experience spanning customer management, category development, sales strategy, and trade planning. She currently manages major retail accounts including Kroger and Albertsons in the pet division after previously leading category strategy for Albertsons and Safeway. Her career path has included roles on the Kroger business for dry dinners and baking products, customer account lead covering the full General Mills portfolio for Albertsons Portland division, business category lead with team management responsibilities, product sales manager for brands such as Totino's and Dunkaroos, and multiple flex roles post-maternity leave. She holds an undergraduate degree studying biology, chemistry, and Spanish as well as an MBA. Her background also includes extensive leadership as a dance instructor and coach across multiple states.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Madison
01What do you attribute your success to?
I think for me, it's a little bit of a lot of things. I was raised to be very, very independent, and never rely on others for truly anything. Growing up, I learned I could do and be anything I wanted as long as I put in the work. Smarts are nice, but they really don't get you where you need. As long as you're tenacious and you really understand how to keep working, that's what's gonna help. When I got to the company, I spent a little bit of time trying to assimilate and figure out how does corporate life work. I had really powerful mentors and friends that really took me under their wing. I attribute much of my understanding of not only the corporation, but also just how to be a badass and figure out what I want to do to some of the mentors that I had growing up in my career. Keeping a passion outside of work has also really continued to develop me into the person I am. I've danced my whole life and coach a team of dancers, which allows me to mentor young people and live out this passion.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
For especially younger women, there's a piece of assimilation that happens where you start a new company, you're trying to understand, you want to fit in, you really want to be a part of the group. I would encourage people to watch and learn, but then to kind of throw assimilation out the door, and make your own life, and build your own career, and surround yourself with male and female allies and leaders who you trust, and you can grow from. The company wants me to be me, and that's why they hired me, and that's why they keep promoting me, is because I don't follow the norm, and I question things, and I'm very direct, and I change up the system a little bit. Surround yourself with people you trust, female allies and male allies as well.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Passion would be number one. Follow where your heart is, where the fuel of your fire in your heart is. Go towards the roles that excite you. Go towards the people that bring you joy, and work will come naturally if you love what you're doing. Support is the second one. I could not do any of the things that I do without the undying support of my husband John. He is always there, always saying yes, hey, go do it, go do that thing, go be. He is always willing to take a backseat to whatever I need to do, or to support my passion or my dreams.
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