Her Network’s highly anticipated third annual Her Summit was a tremendous success, thoughtfully designed to inspire and empower forward-thinking women. The event offered a dynamic and immersive experience, filled with transformative insights and powerful messages aimed at fostering growth and empowerment.
In her opening remarks, Nkem Onwudiwe, founder of Her Network and convener of Her Summit, expressed her excitement about the event. She said,
“My passion for women has driven me to create a platform that empowers, connects, and inspires women from all backgrounds. I believe that everyone needs encouragement to pursue their goals, whether it comes from others or from within. By constantly applying yourself and committing to excellence, you can achieve great things.”
Representing BAT West and Central Africa, the Marketing Deployment Director Kikelomo Fisayo-Okusanya, delivered an impactful opening message. She shared
“Greatness is not a tool but a mindset, it is showing up even when the odds are against you. It is speaking up when your voice shakes, it is standing up even if it’s not the popular opinion. Dream boldly and act fearlessly, together we are unstoppable, let’s make history.”
Throughout the day, speakers shared their expertise, personal stories, and motivational insights, all aligned with the summit’s theme, ‘Equipped for Greatness,’ leaving attendees inspired and ready to take control of their personal and professional journeys. The event was hosted by renowned media personality Riyah Abdul.
The summit featured over 12 visionary and inspiring speakers from various sectors, spanning business, lifestyle, media, and security. Each session offered unique perspectives on a diverse range of topics, including diversity and inclusion, leadership, mentorship, unlocking creative potential, and pathways to success. From personal struggles to professional challenges, the event highlighted the resilience, determination, and grit that women possess.
Attendees were captivated by the powerful narratives of female leaders who shared their journeys of overcoming obstacles and making a positive impact on their communities. A recurring theme from the speakers centered around the critical importance of building self-confidence, expressing oneself assertively, and fostering self-awareness.
Her Summit 2024 received support from a variety of sponsors and partners, including British American Tobacco (BAT), Nestle Pure Life, BudPay, Olores, George Okoro Studios, Mira, Omon’s Couch, L’Avyanna Beauty, Misi, The Neya Kalu Foundation, Balloon Boutique, and Guardian Woman.
Photo credits: George Okoro Studios and Yemi Bakare Studios.
<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/a-costco-wholesale-storefront-in-montreal.jpg?id=61487803&width=2000&height=1500&coordinates=115%2C0%2C115%2C0"/><br/><br/><p>If you shop at <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/costco-canada">Costco Canada</a>, chances are you've seen some wild behaviour in the aisles. And if you work there? You've probably seen it all.</p><p>Costco is a wonderland of <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/costco-cheaper-montreal-grocery-stores">cheap bulk buys</a> and free samples, but not everyone shopping there makes the experience pleasant. From the cart-cloggers who treat the aisles like parking lots to the sample snatchers who think it's an all-you-can-eat buffet, some shopper habits drive employees up the (warehouse) walls.</p><p>To get the scoop, Narcity Canada previously spoke to two Costco workers — Sarah* and Kath* — who spilled the tea on the absolute <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/things-at-costco-making-other-shoppers-hate-you">worst Costco shopper habits</a> they've experienced.</p><p>Whether you're a seasoned Costco regular or <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/costco-montreal-smoked-meat-sandwich">just there for the snacks</a>, here's how <em>not</em> to be that shopper everyone secretly dreads bumping into.</p><h2>Raiders</h2><p>Trying to be helpful? That's great — but grabbing items off the deli racks isn't the way to do it.</p><p>"What you're doing wrong is you're touching the deli racks — you should be going through the counters," Sarah explained.</p><p>Those racks aren't there for customers. "We bring out racks of food from the deli, right? To stock the counters. And people are like, 'Oh, I'm just gonna grab it off the rack so I don't mess up your display,'" she said.</p><p>While that might seem considerate, it's actually not helpful — or safe.</p><p>"We could be taking out the product, we could be re-pricing the product," Sarah added. And, according to Kath, the racks are also where products with earlier expiry dates sometimes land.</p><p>So, unless you want to gamble on getting day-old deli, stick to the counter. You'll get fresher items, and the employees won't have to stop mid-task to deal with rack raiders.</p><h2>Cart blockers</h2><p>If you want to stay on the good side of Costco employees — and your fellow shoppers — don't be <em>this</em> person.</p><p>The cart blocker strolls into an aisle, parks their buggy in the dead center, and then wanders off to inspect something on the opposite shelf. Meanwhile, everyone else is stuck playing bumper cars.</p><p>"It just causes more traffic, and the flow stops in the store. Just the one cart," Sarah said.</p><p>Kath added that it's especially frustrating in high-traffic zones like the bakery, meat, deli, and produce sections — areas where space is already tight.</p><p>The fix? Incredibly simple: "Just push your carts off to the side." Problem solved.</p><h2>Plastic wrap rippers</h2><p>You've definitely seen this one: a shopper scaling the bottom of a shelf to reach the top-tier pallets, tearing through shrink wrap like it's Christmas morning.</p><p>But according to Sarah and Kath, this isn't just annoying — it's dangerous.<br/></p><p>"You don't have to rip the Saran to try and get that one box of whatever you need — it's on the floor," Sarah said.</p><p>And, if you can't find what you're looking for, the solution is simple: ask for help.</p><p>"They'll help you find where the product you want is on the floor," Kath added.</p><p>The stuff up top is usually just overflow, so if it's shrink-wrapped and stored high, odds are it's already available somewhere more accessible.</p><p>"It's bad. If you were to rip the saran and grab, it could cause a domino effect," Sarah warned.</p><p>Beyond crushed cookies and shattered jars, there's a very real chance of someone getting hurt. So next time you're tempted to DIY your own stockroom access? Maybe don't.</p><h2>Hoarders</h2><p>This type of Costco shopper sees "limit of two per customer" as a personal challenge — and they're apparently not above pulling a quick-change act to get around it.</p><p>Sarah recalled a wild period during the COVID-19 pandemic when some customers went to extreme lengths to stockpile cleaning supplies.</p><p>"There were people who had just bought a fresh pallet of Lysol wipes. These people literally went to their car, changed their wigs, came back in, and grabbed another two. They went out, changed their jacket, came back, grabbed another two!" she said.<br/></p><p>"Why do you need that many Lysol wipes?!" she added. "And the size of them, it's not just your standard 100 wipes, it's 250! It's just bizarre."</p><p>Kath and Sarah say Costco employees absolutely notice this kind of behaviour — and if you're caught trying to game the system, your membership could get flagged or even revoked entirely.</p><p>Even now, hoarding is still a problem — especially when viral trends spark a shopping frenzy. According to Sarah, the Costco Finds Canada Instagram page is often the trigger.</p><p>"They're usually buying up for their friends and their families. So [products] run out of stock, like immediately," she said.</p><h2>Serial returners</h2><p>According to the employees, Costco Canada's return policy is famously generous — but some shoppers treat it like a challenge to see just how far they can push it.</p><p>While there's a 90-day window for electronics, most other items don't actually have a time limit. And for some customers, that means anything goes.</p><p>"One customer returned a pillow after seven years because 'it didn't feel right,'" Sarah shared. "There was also someone who returned a fake plant because they were watering it, and they didn't know it was fake!"</p><p>And it gets worse: "They'll freeze their meat if they don't like it and they'll return it," she added.</p><p>According to Kath and Sarah, shoppers often assume there are zero consequences for this type of serial returning — but that's not exactly true.</p><p>"We get it, but we track you," Sarah said. "We understand, okay, maybe you didn't like these avocados this time, and maybe the next time. But after that, we're going to have a conversation. 'Maybe we're just not the right fit for your produce,' or something like that."</p><h2>Overflow shoppers</h2><p>Everyone has done it — popped into Costco for "just one thing," only to leave with an armful of snacks, socks, and a suspiciously large jar of olives.<br/>But according to Kath and Sarah, this last-minute haul habit often ends in chaos.</p><p>"People end up at the checkout with their arms overflowing, and things drop — it's a huge mess," Kath said. "If they make a mess, they should automatically find somebody that works there — doesn't matter who it is — in any department and let them know right away."</p><p>It's not just about courtesy either. Spilled items can become slipping or tripping hazards for other shoppers.</p><p>Sarah has a simple solution: "Go to the produce section, grab a box, and then continue shopping."<br/></p><p>Those cardboard boxes are free, easy to find, and a total win-win — you get to shop hands-free, and the employees don't have to play clean-up crew behind you.</p><p><span></span>Whether it's blocking aisles, hoarding hot items, or treating the store like your personal stockroom, a little awareness goes a long way. Shop smart, be courteous, and maybe even say thanks to the Costco employees next time — they've seen it all!</p><p><em>This story was adapted from the article “<a href="https://www.narcity.com/costco-shoppers-that-employees-hate">6 types of Costco shoppers that actually make life way harder for employees</a>" which was originally published on Narcity Canada by Lisa Belmonte and Helena Hanson.</em></p><p><em><em>*Names have been changed to maintain confidentiality. Narcity Media Group has verified their identity.</em></em></p><p><em>This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.</em></p>
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