For Sarah Corey, her 32-year journey with Woolworths Group isn’t just a career – it’s been a purpose-filled adventure. Joining the company as a fresh-faced high-school graduate in 1992, Sarah has spent over three decades growing alongside Woolworths, contributing to some of the company’s most important initiatives. Today, as general manager of Enterprise Operations and Mini Woolies, Sarah’s impact is felt not only within the walls of Woolworths, but across schools and communities as well.
Meet the team: Sarah Corey
1:50 min read
“I know it's cliché, it's the people,” Sarah says as she reflects warmly on what has kept her at Woolworths Group. “It’s also the purpose of the organisation. We feed the nation, and it's that sense of belonging and pride to work for a brand and an organisation that people believe, trust and respect.”
From working as a data entry clerk to becoming head of IT for Enterprise Operations, Sarah embraced a variety of roles before assuming her current position in 2022, including helping the company prepare for Y2K, and ensuring a smooth transition to remote working for an entire workforce. “Whenever I got offered a training program or a secondment or a relief, I always grabbed the opportunity because I respected the fact that Woolworths wanted to invest in me. And so equally, I wanted to give them my all in return. There are so many diverse roles and opportunities, and I wanted to be a sponge and soak up as much as I could, to take in and learn as much as I possibly could.”
However, it’s the Mini Woolies program that holds a special place in Sarah’s heart. Launched as a collaboration between Woolworths Group, schools and post-school centres, the program builds miniature supermarkets within schools and centres that cater to children and young adults with disabilities. It’s a fully immersive experience – complete with functional registers, fresh produce baskets, shelves, uniforms and all the tools that make the experience authentic." We've had some really great success stories with participants getting part-time and full-time jobs, not only within Woolworths but across multiple organisations,” Sarah says proudly. “We have the means and the ability to set participants up with life skills and skills for the future, to help them with their chosen pathway.
Since its inception in 2018, Mini Woolies has grown to 81 sites, with the 100th set to open in May 2025, offering over 5600 young people the opportunity to develop real-world retail experience. “Mini Woolies is one of those pinch yourself moments – it's hard to believe that I can be in an organisation where I can develop, build and deliver a program that makes such a difference in our community,” Sarah shares. “And the pride of seeing these young people put on the uniform, the hat, the apron, the badge; it just brings a smile to your face.
Her leadership in this area has not only been a source of pride but also a reminder of Woolworths' commitment to making a tangible difference in the community. “When there's a bushfire or a drought or a flood, Woolworths is always there front and centre to help out the community. And this is another one of those instances, but this one we're driving purposefully without the need of a disaster,” she says.
For those just starting their career at Woolworths, Sarah’s advice is both simple and heartfelt: “I think what I learned very early on was to keep my head down, bum up. If you show initiative, respect, focus and dedication, you will really find a strong sense of belonging. For me, it's always remembering my core values and attributes, and that's treating everybody equally and remembering where you come from.”
As Sarah reflects on her career, the influence on her personal life is also notable, meeting her husband at work over 30 years ago, and now with her youngest daughter a category assistant at Woolworths Metro. It’s clear Woolworths has become an outlet for fostering connections, building communities and making a meaningful impact. With Mini Woolies continuing to grow and inspire young lives, Sarah’s legacy within the Woolworths Group is one built on passion, purpose and giving back.
