Michèle Boudria

Former President & CEO, McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada

Business Strategy Business Leaders CEOs Female Business Leaders

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Topics

Customer Experience Leadership

Types

Female Speakers Leaders

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About This Speaker

Michèle Boudria is the rare leader whose career story is, in itself, an inspirational case study in grit, continuous growth, and transformative operational excellence. Michèle began her 40-year journey with McDonald’s at age 16, working behind the counter at a restaurant in Aylmer, Quebec. Her curiosity and commitment to excellence fueled a remarkable ascent through progressively senior roles across Canada, the US, and Europe. This journey culminated in her retirement as the first woman President and CEO of McDonald’s Canada.

As CEO, Michèle oversaw more than 1,400 restaurants, responsible for driving billions in annual sales. Under her leadership, McDonald’s Canada achieved substantial business growth, built on her people-first leadership mindset. This philosophy focused on making franchisees profitable, relentlessly elevating the customer experience, and cultivating world-class supplier relationships.

Michèle Boudria is a recognized global authority in core business transformation and growth strategy. Her operational excellence is rooted in her deep understanding of the business, developed from the front line to the C-suite. From McCafé Officer to being appointed West Regional Vice President in 2018, Michèle quickly became a trusted and strong partner to the region’s Owner/Operators. Michèle was also the former Chair of the Canadian McDonald’s Women’s Leadership Network and Vice-Chair for the US Women’s Leadership Network, demonstrating her passion for DEI.

Today, Michèle Boudria is recognized for her operational expertise and proven track record of delivering outcomes. Her success is driven by championing three key areas: innovative pricing strategies, expanding digital channels to reach millions of Canadians, and leveraging data-driven insights to boost the success of the franchise network.

Speaking Topics: Michèle Boudria

The 40-Year Ascent: How to Build a Culture of Resilience and Business Longevity

Michèle Boudria shares the powerful playbook behind her four-decade career, revealing how she cultivated a thriving corporate culture and business longevity from the front-line to the C-suite. She unpacks her "people-first" leadership philosophy, detailing how prioritizing the success of independent franchisees and fostering high employee satisfaction drives sustainable performance and resilience. Attendees will learn practical strategies for building heart-led leadership that retains talent and ensures your organization is built to last.

Beyond the Horizon: The CEO's Guide to Driving Growth Through Change Management and Operational Excellence

In a time of increasing market saturation and in one of the most competitive McDonald’s markets in the world, Michèle shares the strategic initiatives that powered McDonald's Canada to systemwide sales growth. This talk focuses on her expertise in change management, specifically how she unified teams under a single strategic vision and led major organizational transformation. Attendees will gain insight into leveraging operational excellence (boosting guest satisfaction scores) and strategic innovation—from expanding digital channels to creating the vision for the McCafé brand—to unlock new growth in mature markets.