at our HQ in Milton Hill. In 2011, when my eldest daughter was three years old, I was promoted to my first leadership position as Technology Manager, responsible for a global customer account. Since then, along with having my second daughter, I have had many great opportunities at Infineum, taking on a number of different leadership roles across the organisation, from Fuels Global Portfolio Manager, Lubes Product Development Manager and then most recently one of my favourite roles as Regional Marketing Manager in EMEA.
During more than five years in that role, I had the great pleasure in developing our business and relationship with key customers and base stock manufacturers across the industry. I also led the re-design and structure of our new marketing organisation, as we drive forward on our customer centricity journey.
I was delighted to be promoted to Sales Director role in January of this year, where I am enjoying taking our business with key customers to the next level on our transformation journey.
Are you a lifer? If yes, how do you see your career panning out over the next 20/30/40 years? Probably! But who knows in this dynamic volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguit world! I had never particularly considered the lubricants industry in my early career and yet I have found myself in a unique and changing environment, where I have faced many challenges, as well as great opportunities to develop. We are facing a critical inflection point, with electrification gathering momentum, alternatives fuels and powertrains being developed, all the while sustainability becoming a critical aspect of everything we do. The opportunity to influence and shape the talent, business and industry have been extremely rewarding and I believe there is even more to be done through the next several decades.
How has the industry changed since you started? I was quite astonished by the complexity and rigour of what was required to approve an engine oil when I first joined this industry – in many ways this has only increased, and as lower viscosity and fuel economy has become a major driver the array of products needed in the market has vastly expanded. Now we also see sustainability elements taking this to the next level.
What do you like about the industry? And what would you change if you could? Our industry is quite small and unique, it has been great to develop relationships and networks across a huge variety of interfaces and learning from the wealth of experience. However as great as this is, bringing new perspectives and insight through a greater level of diversity is important to me. We need to encourage more diversity of thought in our industry by helping people with different backgrounds, ethnicity, as well as more women into STEM. This will be invaluable, particularly as we navigate new environmental and sustainability directives and electrification to come.
What challenges do you think the industry faces? In your role and as a whole? Clearly our industry is at a pivotal stage of transformation given the long-term trajectory of the ICE. However, I think this presents exciting challenges to navigate to continue to succeed while adapting to new more sustainable businesses and applications with our talent and chemistry.
How do you balance work life with home life? My husband and I have always taken a very balanced share of bringing up our two daughters and managing our respective careers, making sure to manage the compromises equitably. Infineum’s flexible working policy was pivotal in enabling me to spend more time with my children when they were young, but also more recently working from home to manage workload, travel and family life in the most effective way to deliver the best outcomes at home, and for the business.
Favourite quote?
“Though she be but little she is fierce” Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
www.infineum.com
The expanded version of this interview is available online at
lube-media.com/digital-excluisves
LUBE MAGAZINE NO.177 OCTOBER 2023
63
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