Candid With Candidates

Ever wonder how someone goes from mopping café floors to leading at the executive level for two powerhouse brands?

In this episode of Candid with Candidates, Jenn Hahn sits down with Candace Pappas, SVP of Marketing at Blake’s Beverage Company and Blake Farms, for a no-fluff, straight-talking conversation about rising through the ranks, leading in two dynamic industries, and what happens when you stop waiting for permission.

Candace’s story is full of game-changing pivots—from starting as an AGM at Argo Tea to becoming its President & COO, leading the brand’s expansion across the U.S. and internationally. She shares how she navigated her "what’s next?" moment when she stepped away from Argo and  landed at Blake’s, and now leads a high-performing marketing team across agritainment, retail, hospitality and CPG.

If you're figuring out your next move or rethinking your leadership style, this episode is packed with takeaways.

What You’ll Learn:

• How “cans in hands” and “liquid to lips” became a brand-driving strategy
• What it really looks like to grow from the ground up inside an organization
• The story behind a cold LinkedIn message that led to a senior executive role
• Key mindset shifts for navigating acquisitions, pivots, and high-growth seasons
• How to lead with authenticity—and why it matters
• The power of curiosity in interviews, leadership, and career transitions

Whether you're leading a brand, building your own career, or just trying to figure out what’s next, Candace’s journey is a blueprint for what’s possible when you stay curious, bold, and honest about your value.

Guest Links:

Connect with Candace Pappas on LinkedIn

Learn more about Blake's Beverage Company 

Next Steps:
Enjoyed the episode? Please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone building their career in retail.

For more behind-the-scenes stories and career advice follow Jenn on LinkedIn

What does it really take to build a business inside a business?

In this episode of Candid with Candidates, Jenn Hahn sits down with Julian Semer,  Director of In-Store Media at Albertsons, to unpack how a finance background, entrepreneurial drive, and deep curiosity led him to one of the most innovative and fast-evolving areas in retail.

Julian shares how he went from building KPI models in finance to launching an in-store media business within a Fortune 100 company. He offers clear, strategic insights into what it takes to build from the ground up, communicate complexity across stakeholders, and lead with clarity in a high-pressure environment.

What You'll Learn:

• How Julian translated a finance career into a retail media leadership role
• How anyone can design KPIs that connect strategy to execution
• Why understanding your stakeholders' goals is essential to gaining buy-in
• How to stay grounded and lead through rapid growth and change
• Why curiosity and action—not credentials—often open the right doors
• What hiring managers might miss when they rely too heavily on resumes
• How designing for what good looks like has set Julian up to build incredible systems and teams

Whether you’re building a team, launching something new, or navigating a career pivot, this episode offers real-world insight you can use right away.

Guest Links:

 Connect with Julian Semer on LinkedIn

Explore Albertsons Companies: albertsonscompanies.com/ 

Next Steps:
Enjoyed the episode? Please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone building their career in retail.

For more behind-the-scenes stories and career advice follow Jenn on LinkedIn

What if the career you thought you’d never pursue turned out to be exactly where you were meant to lead?

In this episode of Candid with Candidates, Jenn Hahn sits down with Kendra Shaw, District Director of Operations at Sprouts Farmers Market, to explore the unexpected turns, defining moments, and leadership lessons that shaped her 20+ year career in retail.

Kendra shares her journey from a small town in Indiana to leading over 1,000 employees across a fast-growing region at Sprouts. Along the way, she reflects on nearly two decades with Aldi, hard-earned lessons in corporate versus field leadership, and how she rediscovered her voice by aligning with the right culture.

With clarity and candor, Kendra breaks down what it takes to lead through people, scale a values-driven team, and build a fulfilling career without losing yourself along the way.

What You'll Learn:

• Why being “expendable” is actually a leadership strength
  
  
• The often-overlooked impact of store managers on company performance
  
  
• What it takes to scale from 4 to 52 stores—and keep culture intact
  
  
• How to know when it’s time to move on from a company you love
  
  
• The leadership values that guide hiring and growth at Sprouts
  
  
• Why “doing it for yourself” isn’t selfish—it’s essential
  
  
• Two foundational pieces of advice for anyone advancing their career
  
  
  

This episode offers real-world insight for anyone navigating a career pivot, building a team, or leading through growth in a high-performance environment.

Guest Links:

Connect with Kendra Shaw: [email protected]  or at linkedin.com/in/kendrashaw/
Explore Sprouts  Farmers Market: sprouts.com

Next Steps:
Enjoyed the episode? Please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone building their career in retail.

For more behind-the-scenes stories and career advice follow Jenn on LinkedIn

What does it take to break into digital commerce and lead one of the fastest-moving segments in retail without a traditional background?

In this episode of Candid with Candidates, Jenn Hahn sits down with Brooke Chambers—Ecommerce Director, Kroger —to unpack her unconventional path into retail, and the lessons that have defined her leadership ever since.

What You’ll Learn:

• What it truly means to lead a digital marketplace for a national retailer
• How to roadmap your career by anchoring to your “why”
• The importance of self-reflection and career stamina
• Practical advice for candidates—especially internal ones—on how to prepare for interviews
• How to build influence across cross-functional teams
• What to look for when hiring beyond the resume
• Why vulnerability and preparation are critical to career growth

Whether you’re navigating a career shift, building a high-performing team, or interviewing for your next move, Brooke’s insights will leave you with practical takeaways and a renewed sense of direction.

Connect with Brooke:

• Connect with Brooke Chambers on LinkedIn
• Explore careers at Kroger: thekrogerco.com/careers 

For more behind-the-scenes stories and career advice follow Jenn Hahn on:

• Instagram: @candidwithcandidates
• LinkedIn: Jenn Hahn
• Website: www.candidwithcandidates.com
  
  
  
  

Next Steps:
Enjoyed the episode? Please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone building their career in retail.

For more behind-the-scenes stories and career advice follow Jenn on LinkedIn

What does it take to lead a high-performing team in the fast-paced world of CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods) while staying grounded, authentic, and purpose-driven?

In this powerful episode of Candid with Candidates, host Jenn Hahn sits down with Ashleigh Gage, Senior Director of Portfolio Development at Kellanova (formerly Kellogg Company), to unpack her remarkable 20+ year career journey in the manufacturing and consumer packaged goods space. 

From her start in Acosta’s leadership development program to navigating category management at Campbell’s and now leading cross-functional strategy at Kellanova, Ashleigh shares candid advice on leading remote teams with top results, building trust quickly in a new role or organization and staying open to advice and ideas from mentors. 

Whether you’re looking to build upon a career you've already started or make a transition, this episode is packed with honest wisdom and practical takeaways you won’t want to miss.

What you'll learn: 

• How to WIN in business through long-term trust in an industry where "people always come back together"
• Why turning your camera on is more than just etiquette, it’s leadership in a remote-first world
• How to manage career growth and motherhood with her very own 80/20 rule for her life
• Why your next opportunity may come from someone you impressed a decade ago
• How to show up to an interview without too much of the word "we" 
• Why she thinks sweeping the floor early in her career made all the difference

Connect with Ashleigh

• LinkedIn 
• Kellanova careers page

Next Steps:
Enjoyed the episode? Please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone building their career in retail.

For more behind-the-scenes stories and career advice follow Jenn on LinkedIn

What if your non-traditional background is the very thing that sets you apart?

In this episode of Candid with Candidates, host Jenn Hahn sits down with Gabe Disbrow, President & CEO of Leever’s Supermarkets, for an open and energizing conversation about leadership, ownership, and the power of showing up with purpose, especially when the path isn't linear.

From his start in the military to his entry level role at Target, his executive roles with ALDI, and now leading a 100% employee-owned grocery chain, Gabe shares the pivotal moments, missteps, and mindset shifts that shaped his approach to business and life. 

Whether you’re eyeing your next big move or learning to lead where you are, this episode is full of gold.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to stand out in interviews and promotional conversations

The leadership shift Gabe had to make after leaving the military

• All about self-reflection and identifying your own gaps
• What it really takes to move from specialist to generalist as a President & CEO
• How Gabe used an MBA to fill a skills gap, and why he doesn't always recommend you do the same
• Practical advice on being present as a parent while holding a big title with big responsibilities

Connect with Gabe:

• Connect with Gabe Disbrow on LinkedIn
• Leever’s Supermarkets

Next Steps:
Enjoyed the episode? Please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone building their career in retail.

For more behind-the-scenes stories and career advice follow Jenn on LinkedIn

In this very first episode of Candid with Candidates, Jenn Hahn sits down with Kathy Sweigert, Mid-Atlantic Division Vice President at The Giant Company, for an unfiltered conversation about where she started, navigating career pivots, and building a team in a culture of CARE. 

Kathy shares how she went from bagging groceries at 16 to overseeing 100+ stores across multiple banners in her DVP role today. 

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who’s ever wondered how to grow in their career without waiting for permission.

What You'll Learn: 

• How to lead with both care and accountability
• The power of curiosity and courage in career transitions (Kathy has worked in both HR and Store Operations) 
• The power of Business Resource Groups in her growth

Mentorship done right, from both sides

How to stand out in interviews with real, measurable leadership

The mission that keeps Kathy inspired after decades in the grocery industry

If you're a leader, a mentor, or someone trying to break through to the next level, this conversation is full of real-world insights that will stick with you.

Guest Links:

• Connect with Kathy Sweigert on LinkedIn
• Explore careers at The Giant Company: thegiantcompany.com/careers

Next Steps:
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Next Steps:
Enjoyed the episode? Please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone building their career in retail.

For more behind-the-scenes stories and career advice follow Jenn on LinkedIn

Conversations with top executives - who they are, how they made it, and their candid advice for you.

In this trailer episode, host Jenn Hahn, founder and CEO of J Recruiting Services, introduces Candid with Candidates, a podcast that shares unfiltered conversations with corporate leaders across retail, wholesale, and distribution.

This isn’t the polished version you hear on stage. It’s the honest advice you’d normally only get over coffee, insight into career shifts, leadership growth, and the lessons that shaped them along the way.

Each episode feels like you're receiving direct mentorship from executives who have built real careers inside companies, and are still doing the work.

Whether you’re just starting out, managing a team, or sitting in the corner office, Candid with Candidates gives you a front-row seat to the human side of corporate leadership.

New episodes drop every other Tuesday starting June 3rd.

Follow the show and get ready for a lineup you do not want to miss.

#LeadershipPodcast #CorporateCareers #CareerGrowth #RetailLeadership #CandidWithCandidates

Next Steps:
Enjoyed the episode? Please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone building their career in retail.

For more behind-the-scenes stories and career advice follow Jenn on LinkedIn