What was your first-ever job?
I was a waitress at my local pub.
Give us a quick run-down on your career to date? I began as store manager at Woolworths and moved to sales at Mars. I then joined Coca-Cola Enterprises in 1998 where I've held roles including regional sales manager, national account manager and marketing controller.
How did you get to where you are today? Hard work, great mentors and a large sprinkling of good luck.
Has your career followed a logical path? I suppose it has, from working in retail where I sold chocolate and soft drinks to consumers, to selling the confectionery and soft drinks to the retailers! My background on the retail side armed me with great knowledge of my customers' side of the business.
What is the best decision you have made in your career? To start it in retail. The grounding that this gave me was second to none.
What is the worst? To restrict my career to a geographical area for a period of time, as I feel this held my progression back.
What is the most important piece of information you have ever been told? "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you always got!"
If you could change one thing in the grocery industry what would it be? I don't really like people trying to sell me additional services when I am happily browsing in-store.
What is the most rewarding part of your job? Adding value to a customer, consumer or to my team.
What is the least rewarding part? People assuming it's easy because you work for a big brand.
Do you think you will always work in grocery? I think I will. I love the fast pace and the fact that things are always changing.
What do you like doing when you are not working? Socialising with my friends, preferably over a delicious meal and a good bottle of wine.
How many hours do you work every week? I work between 45 and 50 hours.
Are you good at managing work/life balance? I try not to work weekends and evenings.
Where do you hope to be in five years time? Being featured by The Grocer in The Big Interview!
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