Matt Vanderhelm

Background

About Matt Vanderhelm

Hi, I’m Matt VanderHelm, a seasoned category management and data analytics leader with 15+ years of experience spanning industry giants like Kenvue / J&J, Mars, and Pepsi. Throughout my career, I’ve combined my love for people management with a knack for solving complex problems through data-driven insights. Currently, I lead a team of seven category professionals at J&J, overseeing internal and external category management, proprietary tool development, and strategic vendor adviserships for Walmart Canada. Reporting directly to the VP Head of Sales, I take pride in driving innovation, building effective tools and dashboards, and empowering my team to deliver results that matter. How I Got Here: My journey began at Wilfrid Laurier University, where I honed my entrepreneurial skills by running my own business for three years. I was also involved in many students union organizations and teams, often in leadership positions. After graduation, I joined Pepsi, followed by Mars, where I worked with all major Canadian retailers like Walmart, Loblaws, Metro, and Sobeys. I thrived in roles that combined category insights, sales analytics, and dashboard creation, earning recognition for my ability to turn data into actionable strategies. I’ve also been deeply involved in leadership and corporate culture, serving as a lead for national sales meetings and as a member of Inclusion & Diversity councils at every company I have worked for. Outside of the corporate world, I pursued my culinary passion, competing on MasterChef Canada (Season 4) and later co-owning and managing a Toronto restaurant, Alchemy. These experiences sharpened my business acumen in operations, budgeting, and team dynamics. After returning to analytics, I led transformative projects like implementing Walmart’s national self-checkout units and managing the Walmart team to secure additional adviserships, fueling my passion for leadership. What Drives Me I’m motivated by the power of data & analytics to inform and transform. I love designing tools that help others work smarter and making data accessible and actionable. Just as importantly, I find joy in leading and mentoring teams, helping individuals grow professionally while driving collective success. If you share my enthusiasm for data, leadership, or creative problem-solving, let’s connect!