Canada's Top 100 Employers (2026) Magazine - Flipbook - Page 48
52
( 2026 )
SPONSOR CONTENT
Mars Canada sweetens its next generation of talent
M
ars Canada
has always
thought in
generations,
investing in the
next wave of leaders while seizing
each day as an opportunity to
shape the future. Its three early
talent programs go beyond
traditional work experience,
offering students diverse
opportunities, personalized
development, mentorship and
a springboard for meaningful
careers.
“Mars is a private, family-owned
company and that structure
allows Mars to think differently
than many other consumer goods
companies,” says Erin Hancock,
global business transformation
lead. “We think in generations, as
opposed to quarters. That means
we make decisions other companies that are bound to shareholder
expectations often can’t.”
Hancock is a perfect example
of how Mars invests in young
talent. She joined the Bolton,
Ont.-based company 15 years ago
through its student recruitment
program on the pet care side of
the business. “I’ve had the chance
to grow across marketing, supply,
sales and now global and regional
transformation roles,” she says.
“So, all very different. That variety,
and the encouragement from
leaders to stretch myself, is why
I’ve stayed at Mars.
“I’ve always had the opportunity
to learn and grow, and my line
managers and leadership teams
have always encouraged me to
stretch myself.”
Mars offers three student
program launchpads: early talent,
internships and the summer student family program, all of which
provide around 40 students annually with real-world experience
and mentorship in a purpose-driven culture. The student programs
vary in duration, from the
family-focused, four-month
program for children of company
associates to co-op placements
for post-secondary students and
internship programs such as
the One Mars sales internship
program. Through this internship,
participants gain exposure across
all business segments (ranging
from Mars Snacking to Pet Care
and Food and Nutrition), building
connections and learning new
skills as they work on challenging
projects.
I’ve always had the
opportunity to learn
and grow, and my
line managers and
leadership teams have
always encouraged me
to stretch myself.
— Erin Hancock
Global Business
Transformation Lead
Interns and co-op students at Mars Canada volunteer together, learning about the importance of soil
regeneration and soil cycling.
“One of things that surprised
me when I was recruited out of
school was how quickly I was
immersed in all of the high-visibility, high-impact projects,” says
Bovey Huang, who heads the sales
internship program and is the
district sales manager, leading a
team of retail sales associates. “My
initial reaction was, ‘Wow, this is
a lot of responsibility.’ I felt a bit
of impostor syndrome. But very
quickly through that experience,
for which I’m forever grateful, I
realized I’m fully capable of doing
these things, and Mars gave me
the platform to find that out.”
Ellen Thompson, general
