As I reflect on my 20-plus years in the consumer packaged goods industry and the leadership lessons I have learned, I realize how blessed I’ve been to have so many wonderful role models and mentors. I have worked with some of the most talented, committed people and continue to learn from them every day. I believe that in life anything can be accomplished with a positive attitude and hard work. My parents instilled a strong work ethic in me from the time I was young and taught me to never take anything for granted and to always strive for more. These principles have helped me to persevere and to figure out solutions in the most challenging situations.
Love what you do or make a change
I believe to be successful your work must make you happy. We all have our bad days and challenges, but at the end of the day, you have to enjoy what you do to be good at it. I love my career and my work and I feel blessed to have the opportunity to work for a wonderful company with smart, passionate people.
Focus on where you can make a difference
Unfortunately, there are only 24 hours in a day and only you can decide how to spend them. It is very important for me to prioritize daily, weekly and monthly the things that mean the most to me and to make sure I focus my energy on the right things.
Create your legacy
As you think about your career, ask yourself what impact you want to make, both in business and on the lives of people you touch, everyday. The idea that I am contributing and creating ideas that will be around long after I’m gone, or that have the potential to make a mark on the industry, is exciting to me. Leading the Women’s Interactive Network at Unilever is something that is very fulfilling to me and enables me to help women be the best that they can be. I also try to invest in the relationships I have with people and always take time to coach and build the team. Those coaching experiences, or watching someone I’ve mentored get a big promotion, are highlights for me and are some of my best moments.
