Leading in Operations: Chantelle Burdett on Confidence, Performance and Team-Driven Success

What does it really take to lead one of the UK’s largest pork sites before the age of 35? According to Chantelle Burdett, Head of Operations at Sofina, it’s not about being the loudest in the room or having all the answers. It’s about staying grounded, building the right team around you, and having the confidence to back your decisions – even when the pressure is on.

In our latest Meat Business Women masterclass, Chantelle opened up about her journey from a self-described “cocky teenager” to becoming the youngest site lead in the business. With such honesty and plenty of practical advice, she walked us through the lessons she’s learned about leading under pressure, building a high-performing site, and growing your own confidence.

Confidence Isn’t Something You’re Born With – You Build It

Chantelle was the first to admit that confidence wasn’t something she always had. “At the start of my career, I wasn’t confident at all. I was just a cocky teenager who thought they knew it all,” she said. But what changed things for her was having people around her who believed in her ideas and encouraged her to step up.

Taking on a major leadership role at 32 was a turning point. “I had to be seen as confident – not just for myself, but so my team and stakeholders could trust I was a safe pair of hands.” That visibility, she explained, was critical to being taken seriously.

Her message was clear: confidence isn’t a fixed trait – it’s something you develop over time, especially when you’re willing to put yourself in uncomfortable situations, ask questions, and learn as you go. Her advice? Stay honest, trust your judgement, and remember that you deserve your seat at the table.

Great Performance Starts with a Great Team

When Chantelle took over the Hull site, it was clear that change was needed. Performance was slipping, and the culture needed rebuilding. One of the first things she was empowered to do was reshape the leadership team – and she didn’t take that responsibility lightly.

“It took time to get the right people in place,” she shared. “But once we did, everything changed. We had the same KPIs, the same goals, and we were all pulling in the same direction.” It was about creating momentum through shared accountability, daily goals, and relentless focus on what mattered most.

What Chantelle proved is that site performance doesn’t improve in isolation – it thrives when you have a united team who are clear on what success looks like and who feel empowered to deliver it. Her transformation of the Hull site shows what’s possible when you put people and trust at the heart of your strategy.

Motivation Is Built on Realism, Routine and Respect

One of the biggest challenges in operations is keeping the team motivated day in, day out – especially in a high-pressure environment. Chantelle’s solution? Keep things real, achievable and consistent.

“If one of us fails, we all fail. But if we win, we win together,” she said. That collective mindset is reinforced by setting realistic goals, giving people ownership of their own areas, and celebrating small wins along the way. “If we can be 1% better every day, we’ll get where we need to go.”

Chantelle also talked about how central continuous improvement (CI) is to her leadership style. “I don’t think there’s been a day I haven’t mentioned CI. It’s almost an addiction,” she laughed. By embedding CI into every corner of the business – and making it part of everyday conversations – she’s built a culture where progress is constant and everyone plays a part.

Success in Operations Is About More Than Numbers

While performance and process matter, Chantelle reminded us that the best operators aren’t just technically skilled – they’re great communicators, motivators, and team builders. She stressed the importance of taking time to develop the softer skills that help people feel heard, valued and inspired.

It’s also about resilience – bouncing back from setbacks, staying calm under pressure, and keeping perspective when things get tough. “There are days when everything goes wrong,” she said. “But that’s when you’ve got to keep your head, lean on your team, and stay focused on what you can control.”

Watch the masterclas back in full here