Prominent business leader Michèle Boudria, President and Chief Executive Officer of McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada, has been selected as the 2023 Goodman School of Business Distinguished Leader.

Each year, Brock’s Goodman School of Business recognizes a prominent Canadian business leader and connects the recipient with Goodman students and the Brock community.

Boudria will share insights on leadership during a fireside conversation with Goodman Dean Barry Wright at 2 p.m. in the Goodman School of Business Atrium on Wednesday, Oct. 18. As space is limited, people who wish to attend are asked to register online.

“We are proud to honour Michèle as our 2023 Distinguished Leader,” said Wright. “As a people-first leader with a global business perspective and a desire to drive positive change, our students will gain invaluable insights meeting her and listening firsthand to her leadership journey.”

Boudria started her career as a restaurant crew member in 1984 at a restaurant in Aylmer, Quebec. She grew with the company in regional, national and international leadership roles, including Managing Director of McDonald’s Netherlands, and became McDonald’s Canada’s first woman President and CEO last year.

Responsible for the business operations at more than 1,400 McDonald’s Canada locations, she is focused on driving business results and creating a bigger impact by delivering on the company’s purpose of feeding and fostering communities.

Boudria is passionate about community as well as diversity, equity and inclusion, and sits on the boards for Catalyst Canada and Ronald McDonald House Charities. She is the former Chair of the Canadian McDonald’s Women’s Leadership Network and a former Vice-Chair for the United States Women’s Leadership Network.

Prior to the fireside chat, Boudria will meet with Goodman student leaders at a local McDonald’s restaurant.

Goodman’s Distinguished Leader Award is part of the D.G. Willmot Leaders Series hosted at Goodman each year.

Past recipients of the Distinguished Leader award include Margaret Kenequanash, CEO of Wataynikaneyap Power; Bonnie Lysyk, 13th Auditor General of Ontario; Michael Lee Chin, Founder and Chairman of Portland Holdings; Julia Deans, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Canada; Deepak Chopra, retired President and CEO of Canada Post; and Ned Goodman of Dundee Corporation.