Fuelled By Ambition...Annabel McBride

We caught up with one of our incredible members Annabel McBride, Assistant Category Manager, Pork, Ready to Eat Protein & Seasonal at Coles, to get to know more about her career journey and ambitions for the food industry. As part of our campaign 'Fuelled by Ambition' we're sharing the stories of our community and asking them to define ambition in their own terms, as well as give us as insights into their career journeys so far.

Tell us about your current role and how you got there. 

I'm currently an Assistant Category Manager for Pork, Ham and Seasonal at Coles.

Growing up on my family farm, I experienced firsthand both the opportunities and challenges within the meat industry. However, it was an Indonesian internship that truly shaped my perspective. Learning a saying, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to move forward, go together," sparked my passion for creating positive outcomes across the entire value chain.

Joining the Graduate Program was a pivotal step in my career. It gave me exposure to areas of the business I hadn't previously considered and reinforced that great outcomes start with understanding customer needs and working collaboratively across the supply chain to create value for producers, suppliers and customers alike.

What would you say your top strength or superpower is and how has it helped you in your role?

Curiosity.
I love learning from different people, perspectives and experiences. It's helped me build strong relationships, challenge my thinking and identify opportunities that others might miss.

Tell us about one of the biggest challenges to date in you career and one key learning you took from it?

Learning to say no.
Early in my career, I wanted to get involved in everything. During an internship at Amazon, I started connecting with teams around the world and taking on work outside my immediate responsibilities because I was eager to learn. While it was a fantastic experience, it quickly taught me an important lesson: focus matters. Enthusiasm is valuable, but being clear on your priorities is what ultimately drives the greatest impact.

Who has influenced or inspired you along the way and what impact have they had on you?

I've been inspired by many people throughout my career because I believe everyone has a story worth learning from. That said, my biggest influence is my mum. She's always been my greatest supporter and strongest advocate. Her belief in me gave me the confidence to embrace challenges, back myself and pursue opportunities outside my comfort zone.

Our ongoing campaign is called Fuelled by Ambition where we celebrate ambitions both big & small. When you think about ambition, what does it look like for you at this stage of your life and career?

For me, ambition is all about momentum. 
I love setting goals, but I believe success comes from the small, consistent actions that move you forward each day. Those 1% improvements might seem insignificant in the moment, but over time they create meaningful progress.

Looking ahead, what would you love to see change, improve or grow in the meat/food industry?

I'd love to see even greater collaboration across the value chain.
Having experienced both farming and retail, I've developed an appreciation for how broad and interconnected the food industry is. The more we understand each other's perspectives, the better the outcomes for farmers, processors, retailers and customers.

Quickfire questions:

What’s your favourite cuisine?

A Sunday lamb roast followed by chocolate self-saucing pudding is hard to beat.

Favourite pastime or hobby?

Playing social sport and catching up with friends. The competitive side of me quickly takes over, which means work is completely out of my mind.

If you had to pick your soundtrack song to get you through the working day, what would it be?

I don’t really listen to music during work as inevitably start singing along, but if I have an average day, Mumford and Sons or Imagine Dragons always boost my mood.

Favourite holiday destination?

I'm about to head to Peru and Mexico, so they're currently at the top of my list. That said, I also have a soft spot for Hamilton Island. I previously lived and worked up there and, despite the less-than-luxurious accommodation, it was one of the best experiences of my life.