CEO, Corrugated Packaging, Mondi plc
Insight from an industry leader - Vivien McMenamin, Mondi CEO shares five lessons she's learnt
She Is Forestry SA were honoured to have Vivien McMenamin, Mondi CEO and business leader, as our Keynote Speaker at this year's She Is Forestry SA webinar.
Transcript (2 segments)
N
Nelly0:00
Thank you. So good morning ladies on this very exciting day where we are celebrating women. As Katie said, my name is Nelly. I've got the small task of introducing our keynote speaker. I believe it really is a privilege for all of us to be receiving an address from a true leader and visionary. The CEO of Mondi South Africa has successfully spearheaded numerous initiatives that have had a profound impact not only within the forest sector but also impacted many ordinary men and women in our communities and small businesses alike. Under his studious leadership, we've led the establishment of Mondi Zimeli, which I am so very honored to lead today. Living with courage, they've crafted Mondi's innovative approach to land reform, developing a model which today is a benchmark for many. This has and continues to revolutionize the way we approach challenges, push boundaries, and inspire change. With an MSc in Economics from the University of London and an advanced high-performance leadership certificate from IMD Switzerland, this amazing woman has always stood for the change she wants to see. Even prior to joining Mondi, she worked in government in the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, serving Nelson Mandela as a member of the presidential task force on local economic development, as well as serving on the president's economic advisory panel. Ladies, there is no better person to inspire us, to give us valuable insights on the critical role we as women play in our sector and in empowering one another. So under our theme 'Our Time to Shine,' please join me in giving a warm welcome to the extraordinary Vivien McMenamin. Over to you.
V
Vivien Mcmenamin2:32
Good morning. That was intimidating. So good morning to everybody. Great to be able to share this webinar opportunity with all of you. I thought carefully about what I would talk about today given the wide range of attendees, from students to CEOs. I'll talk about five things that have made a difference in my career. I spent 10 years in politics, 10 years in government, and over 20 years in corporate, including a long stint as forestry director. So forestry is really in my heart. First, know yourself. Before you lead others, you need to be able to lead yourself. Understand your core values and your strengths and weaknesses. For example, I've always carried a deep belief in non-racialism and in the empowerment of all, especially women. Second, develop a vision for yourself. I've always had a vision for what I wanted to achieve, evolving over time, and set clear annual goals personally and professionally. Third, build a network. I used to think actively networking was manipulative, but it's about treasuring relationships and keeping them alive. Actively seek out mentors. Most of my mentors have been men, and they helped me at crossroads, like when I was moving from government to private sector. I chose Mondi because its sustainability principles aligned with my values. Fourth, learn from feedback. A coach once pointed out that I never mentioned anyone else in my journey. That caused a fundamental shift. Embrace assessments and coaching. That niggle in your 360 feedback is probably the most important part. Finally, don't be scared of hard work. Consolidate yourself in a role, learn, and look for opportunities. For example, Nelly took on heading a campaign on women in our organization without asking for a pay rise. She is learning and benefiting us. So look for those projects and opportunities to grow. Thank you all for listening. I wish you well with the rest of the seminar.