ICEDRSpecialReport-TakingCharge_000

Taking Charge
“If you’re not on the edge,
then you’re taking up too much room. It’s like skiing.
I started skiing very late and I remember
my instructor telling me:
‘See the hill. You have to lean in.’
And I thought, ‘I’m going to kill myself leaning in!’
Skiing is very much like your career.
You have to lean into it,
embrace it, take it head on
and not be afraid to try new things.”
me, the opportunity to go and work
somewhere like West Africa was too
good a personal experience to pass up
on. It turned out to be a really good
experience. The team I had there was
great. I am not afraid of challenges.
I am willing to take risks. Trying
something new has worked for me in
business and in my life choices. Going
to Guinea was one of those big risks
where a lot of people told me that I was
making a big mistake but it was one of
the most enjoyable experiences I’ve had.”
OWN
Adele Gulfo, Regional President, Latin America, Emerging Markets Business Unit, Pfizer
Sandra de Castro
National
Australia Bank
Sandra de Castro, Chief Marketing
Officer at National Australia Bank
agrees: “It is important to “Give it a
Go!” You never know until you try and
don’t die wondering. No one knows
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all the answers so jump in. Don’t
apply the handbrake – there is always
a way.” Many women mentioned that
risk-taking is a two way street: they
had to be willing to take a risk, and
the company had to be prepared to
take a risk on them. Take the case of
Corinne Chant, a Marketing Director
at Danone. Corinne was Marketing
Manager of Activia, a brand of yogurt
owned by Danone. Typically, the next
step on the career ladder would be a
promotion to Marketing Director in
one of Danone’s smaller markets, such
as Greece or Portugal. But, Corinne
had roots in London: her husband’s
career was there and she would soon
give birth to her first child. She told
her manager at Danone that she was
ready to be a Marketing Director
“It is important to
Give it a Go!”
in the United Kingdom. The move
would skip a traditional step on the
career ladder, but she wanted, and was
ready, to make the leap. The leaders at
Danone took a risk on Corinne and she
is thriving in her new role. In global
corporations, international mobility is
often a prerequisite for promotions into
the senior ranks. In some organizations,
changing such current thinking and
practices may not work or could require
significant culture change. Yet, Corinne’s
story demonstrates that when leaders
keep an open mind towards traditional
career paths and place bets on the right
people, international mobility might not
have to be the only route to success.
The experiences and insights of our
top female executives clearly demonstrate
the importance of owning
your choices, taking personal responsibility
and being proactive. In essence,
success requires you to OWN your
career. Their advice is clear: own the
trade-offs you are prepared to make,
and own your opinions, your network,
and your career choices. The lesson
is that you should step up and take
control of determining the work and
personal life that you find fulfilling.
In the next section, we move onto
the final part of our roadmap: to repay
your success, encourage others, and
leave a legacy.
Sandra de Castro, Chief Marketing Officer, National Australia Bank