Cydnie Kalkhourst
Global Director of Retail Experience & Education
Canada Goose
Cydnie has profoundly impacted the retail sector with her innovative and empowering educational initiatives. At the forefront of her achievements is the development of more than 60 training modules available in 10 languages, including the groundbreaking Canadian Warmth Training for Canada Goose. This initiative ensures global consistency in luxury service, highlighting Cydnie’s commitment to elevating retail education standards worldwide.
Her visionary Leadership and Coaching Academy has significantly advanced professional development across diverse linguistic and cultural landscapes. Central to Cydnie’s approach is the Souls Path project, an embodiment of her dedication to integrating environmental stewardship with retail education. This initiative invites employees to engage in sustainable practices, fostering a culture of ecological mindfulness and personal growth within the retail industry. Through Souls Path, Cydnie has not only contributed to environmental health but also enhanced the community spirit among Canada Goose employees, reinforcing the importance of sustainability in retail.
Cydnie’s contributions, particularly through the Souls Path initiative, have enriched retail education and fostered a more sustainable and united retail community. She was recognized with the prestigious Canada Goose Icon Award for Innovation in 2020, and by 2024, she had become the most decorated employee in terms of peer recognition and feedback.
“Through my years of dynamic commercial experience, one thing has remained abundantly clear to me: I love to help people facilitate transformational experiences – for themselves and their businesses. The greatest reward for me has been to cultivate relationships with people within any organization and helping them to hone their abilities, transforming their sense of well-being and self-confidence, watching the organization flourish from within.”
How do you explain your profession to people outside of the industry? What do you find most exciting and/or rewarding about this work?
What are the core requirements of your job and how do you measure success?
What is one notable professional achievement you've made over the past year that you are most proud of?
What professional challenge or failure has stuck with you, and how did you embrace it?
What trend or technology do you believe will have the most profound impact on your work (and the work of your peers) over the next year?
If you could say one thing to your younger self, what would it be?
