Demant’s Post

Someone I met at a networking event recently asked me after I accepted her LinkedIn connection request: "Why is your working experience so diverse and seemingly unrelated?" This is a question I encounter often, given my varied career journey. While some may perceive this diversity as indecision, it has been an intentional choice I made. As my distinguished Toastmaster leader once said, "The biggest room in the world is the room for improvement." This guiding principle has shaped my career decisions, focusing on the skills and areas I want to develop. I recently shared this story during my Ice Breaker Speech at the Alcon Malaysia Toastmasters Club. Reflecting on my career transitions across different roles and industries, I have come to appreciate the immense value of transferable skills. Here are three key benefits that highlight why I have embraced this diverse approach: 1. My adaptability allows me to work in dynamic environments. 2. Cross-pollination of ideas from different backgrounds promotes creative and innovative thinking. 3. Navigating diverse roles has strengthened my resilience and problem-solving abilities. In short, my diverse background shows my commitment to growth and learning. Plus, it makes for some great conversation starters. I'm proud of my journey and excited to see where it takes me next! #continuouslearning #AlconEmployee

𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐞? In the fast-paced FMCG industry, if you're not leading people after 10 years, you're falling behind the leadership curve. With FMCG companies being vast entities, strategic management and team leadership are essential for any impactful roles within the organization. My journey to managing people L'Oréal began at Year 7 Here's how I did it: 𝐘𝟏 𝐒𝐞𝐢𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬: Started as an intern and quickly sought more responsibilities, establishing a reputation for diligence. 𝐘𝟐 𝐁𝐲𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬: Skipped junior positions, directly stepping into a full-time planning role alongside experienced individuals. 𝐘𝟑-𝟒 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: Fully committed, embracing changes, mastering systems, and positioning as a "High-Potential" employee. 𝐘𝟓-𝟔 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚: Gaining regional leadership exposure, building networks, and showcasing skills, pushed limits and built resilience. 𝐘𝟕 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞: At a career crossroads. When a colleague left, I seized the opportunity for my first managerial position, leading a team. This experience was a turning point where I recognized my true potential and the significance of developing talent and leadership skills to thrive for the next seven years of my career L'Oréal My 𝐅𝐌𝐂𝐆 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 is designed to help high-potential FMCG talent steer their careers in the right direction, providing the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in strategic management and team leadership positions. 🚨 Spoiler alert: it all starts with you. If you aspire to lead or if you're already there but facing challenges to make it all work, let's connect. Together, we can ensure you're taking the necessary steps to truly accelerate your FMCG career and stop wasting valuable time. 📩 DM me to find out more! Pic 2016 - Taking my team on a trip to visit out factory in Indonesia!

I am happy to share that I recently started an international broadening assignment as part of my #KeyAccountManagement traineeship in Procter & Gamble. My assignment took me to Hungary where I will be based for several months and continue my journey in #Sales. Furthermore, after an incredibly interesting #Drugs (store) channel assignment in the Czech Republic, I will now explore and contribute to further development of the Hungarian #eCommerce channel, thus not only learning the ins and outs of a new market but also gaining valuable experience in a completely different type of business. #FMCG

One thing I’ve become quite familiar with in my (relatively short) career is the onboarding process. Having experienced multiple job transitions, I've gathered a lot of practical insights, and I thought I'd share some quick bites for anyone going through it. It is a simple one, but it has been key to my smooth onboarding in such companies as Procter & Gamble, JTI, Mondelēz International, Mars and Ferrero. Now, I’m putting it into practice once again at STADA Eurasia, doing my best to hit the ground running. One key lesson? Don't be afraid to ask questions, especially regarding other people's roles and functions. I remember how intimidating it felt at first, but the only way to truly learn and grow is by asking questions. It's the fastest way to get up to speed and feel confident in your new environment. Stay curious, embrace the process, and remember — we’ve all been there! What advice would you give to a younger self that has just entered new role? #Onboarding #oneStada #Stada #GrowthMindset

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Speaking a language that you are not fluent in is a huge act of courage. It is a sign, not of clumsiness or stupidity, but of great intelligence. As someone whose first language is not English but who lives in an English-speaking country, I constantly strive to prove my competence and intelligence. Gloria from Modern Family's quote, "Do you know how smart I sound in Spanish?" resonates deeply with me. There have been countless times when I've proven people wrong, demonstrating that even with an accent, I can articulate and discuss important topics with clarity and insight. I am grateful to have found my spot at Roche, where I am part of a Global Team with people from over 20 nationalities. Working in such a diverse environment is truly a breath of fresh air, especially in the field of Marketing. Different points of view, backgrounds, and experiences are invaluable when creating new campaigns. The richness of perspectives leads to innovative and effective strategies. I can only hope more companies recognize the immense value of a multicultural, diverse team and see beyond accents, age, and skin color.

Be curious, follow the challenge and listen & learn is the advice our Novo Nordisk CEO recently gave graduates from 50 companies in Denmark (see post below). This is not only good advice for people just starting their careers but for people at every stage of life. For many of us, we have to make a conscious decision to do this . It may come natural for some to be curious whilst for others it might be to jump heads in to a new challenge. Also, sometimes we may think we are listening but we are not (talking from personal experience here). I learned this during a training on active listening (would recommend this to everyone) - what an eye/ear opener. When we actively listen we really make sure that we fully hear what the other person is saying, we are curious about what it is they are trying to convey, we put our own judgements and bias a side and we take the time to reflect on what is being said.

This is truly a golden piece of advice for success in life, both professionally and personally.

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