Bio
Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, in 1985, I grew up in a working-class household where hard work, integrity, and community were core values. My mother worked for the Office of the Children’s Lawyer, and my father owned a meat processing business—both instilling in me the importance of dedication and perseverance.
In 2006, I graduated with Honors from the University of Western Ontario. My professional journey began at BMO Harris Private Wealth as a portfolio associate, where I quickly discovered my passion for people and sales. In 2008, inspired by my father’s legacy, I transitioned into the food processing and manufacturing industry. Over the years, I have had the privilege of working with family-run businesses, private equity firms, private corporations, and publicly traded companies.
A combination of executive coaching, leadership training, and mentorship programs has helped shape me into a team builder who leads with empathy while maintaining a results-driven mindset. Throughout my career, I have held Director roles in some of Canada’s largest CPG and manufacturing companies, leading high-performing sales and marketing teams. My focus has been on driving strategic partnerships rooted in shared value across both retail and foodservice channels in North America.
Relationship-building is at the heart of everything I do, both personally and professionally. I firmly believe that success comes from creating value through a functional, sustainable, and procurement-focused approach—ensuring winning outcomes for both suppliers and customers. That said, this has been a learning journey, and I acknowledge that it hasn’t always been easy.
Beyond my professional life, I was fortunate to meet my wife, Melissa, and together we have built a beautiful family. Our daughter is four years old, and our son, is two. Being a loving husband and father is my greatest joy. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, following sports, traveling, and watching shows with my wife.
Giving back has always been a fundamental value in my life. I have been fortunate to connect with and support several charitable organizations, including Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center, UJA, SickKids Foundation, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Autism Canada, We Care, and the Tim Hortons Camp Foundation. In our home, we refer to this as “Tzedakah,” and my wife and I are committed to teaching our children the importance of generosity and community from a young age.
Testimonials
I had the opportunity to work with Daniel Walderman, in his role as national accounts manager for Maple Leaf Foods. He guided the development and delivery of two programs, one on the Holocaust and the second on antisemitism, for his corporate community. Daniel was a pleasure to work with: a clear communicator, thorough, thoughtful, organized, and professional. He was sensitive to the topics and themes and strove to ensure preparation and support was in place for attendees to safely engage in the learning. Both programs were received positively by Daniel’s leadership team and the employees who attended the sessions – indicative of the care he put into these learning opportunities.
Melissa Mikel
| Senior Director of Education
(she/her)
FRIENDS OF SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST STUDIES
P: 416.864.9735 x 230
October 12, 2022
To the leadership of the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center For Holocaust Studies,
It is my pleasure to personally recommend Daniel Walderman to fill a position on your Board of Directors. Over a year-and-a-half, I've gotten to know Daniel well, and I believe he would be an active, engaged and successful member on your Board.
An ardent member of the Multicultural Advocacy Network (Multi-CAN) Employee Resource Group, Daniel has been a driving force in promoting the awareness of the rise in antisemitic acts and violence around the world. His advocacy and involvement led to multiple sessions within Maple Leaf Foods on faith-based hate and how news of it impacts team members' mental health and wellbeing at work. He bravely and candidly shared his story in a moving panel discussion featuring a number of team members and in a much-read internal feature story, titled Never Again: Daniel Walderman, National Accounts Lead with the Foodservice Sales team for North America, on combatting antisemitism and creating a better, more inclusive, and just world."
Daniel was also responsible for our partnership with you, FSWC, and together we offered two sessions on antisemitism specifically, reaching over 300 attendees. Daniel is a passionate advocate for the full and active participation of Jewish team members, and our diversity, equity and inclusion efforts generally.
I've no doubt Daniel would bring his enthusiasm, passion, professionalism, sincerity, and integrity to your Board.
Sincerely,
Janine Tamboli
Director, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Raise the Good in Food
Maple Leaf Foods Inc., 6995 Financial Drive, Mississauga (Ontario), Canada L5N0A1 Tel.: 905 285-5000 Fax: 905 285-6000
TEL: 416.998.2247 WWW.COACH.WEINSTEIN.TO
"Daniel demonstrates an admirable combination of openness to learning and feedback, a deep focus on building strong relationships, and an unwavering commitment to high personal standards. It's clear that he cares about both his work and the people he works with a real asset in any professional setting."
- Rachel Weinstein, MBA, PCC
Certified Executive Coach
Having had the privilege of working under Daniel's leadership, I can confidently say that he is one of the most dedicated leaders I have worked with.
His strong work ethic is evident in his ability to consistently meet deadlines, exceed expectations, and inspire those around him to perform at their best. He approaches challenges with a problem-solving mindset and remains composed under pressure, ensuring that both his team and the organization succeed.
Beyond his diligence and efficiency, Daniel is a true professional in every sense of the word. He communicates with clarity and respect, fosters a collaborative work environment, and maintains the highest standards of integrity. His leadership not only drives results but also cultivates a culture of trust and accountability.
I highly recommend Daniel for any professional opportunity. He is an asset to any organization, and I have no doubt that he will continue to excel in any role he takes on.
Jeanne L
As a Child Growing up on the Autistic Spectrum, fitting in was always difficult for me. I'm thankful that I had a brother who was always supportive and inclusive. Daniel always tried to find time to support me in whatever challenges I was going through. He lended an 'ear' and was often a source of calm in my most anxious moments. As someone on the spectrum who now works full time, lives independently, and has a passion for world travel, I can honestly say that I would not be where I am today without Daniel's mentorship, influence and guidance. In fact, it was Daniel who encouraged me to start my own travel blog "Murray in a Hurry" https://www.murrayhurry.com/ where my mission is to inspire others with the message that people with autism can exceed our limits, promote awareness, and be accepted. I'm now proud to say that I sit on the board of directors for the New Haven Learning Center where I continue to build a positive example for anyone on the spectrum.
Paul W.
Board Member - New Haven Learning Center