What do rally champions do when they’re not racing cars? “I like to drive business!” says Zuzanna Ciurzynska, National Account Manager in Ireland. “Sometimes that means changing down a gear to get ahead. I took a step down my career ladder to join sales. It’s the engine of a business so it teaches you everything you need to know as a future leader.”

“For me, fostering positive change begins with how we communicate," says Production Manager Anna Zehetner-Tüttö "With each other, of course, but also with ourselves. Get that right and we pave the way for crafting sustainable solutions that go beyond mere hardware and software.” Get the full story and a valuable tip to reflect over the holidays!

“The first team I managed was all men, mostly older and more experienced than me,” says Tolulope Agosun, Regional Sales Director at Nigeria. “Gaining their respect and helping them grow taught me how to balance the tensions within myself - self-drive and collaboration, strength and softness, empathy and tough love.”

“Trust is one of the most valuable assets we have, as individuals and as a company,” says Data Protection Leader Elena Kornelaki. “Especially in our digital age.” Thanks to the support of her manager, Elena applied for a stretch role in data privacy she didn’t think she’d get. “But I did! And I’ve learned more than I ever imagined.” Get the full story.

The best “Me” time I take is outdoors. I recently started running and discovered how my body could do it, but the barrier was in my mind” says Raluca Spataru, Supply Chain Capabilities Manager in Romania. “When we are in discomfort, we’re afraid to move. But it’s pushing through, with attention to our inner process, that helps us grow”.

Time and money, work and play, male and female… the world is full of dynamic forces, sometimes in harmony, sometimes in opposition. Sailing has taught Group International Key Account Manager Francesca Barone how to harness the sensitivity and pragmatism that power her. Find out how she builds profitable partnerships at the highest levels with some of our biggest customers... even when the wind is blowing in the wrong direction.

“What about Costa at home? Beans, capsules, ground coffee…how do we market them?” When Anna Simeonova became Coffee Brand Manager, she suggested a new strategy to drive growth…only to discover she was pregnant with her second child! “Determination, time management and lateral thinking have been essential ingredients for success,” she says, “At home and at work.”

"When we assume we know nothing, we ask different questions, we listen more", says Sarah Hebert-Lilley, Commercial Finance Manager Hungary. "It’s how I make sure everyone gets heard. Once we have input from everyone, we can use our collective experience to solve a problem, together." Find out how Sarah learned to #EmbraceEquity from her parents and how she lives it in her work.

“My journey to become a mother hasn’t been an easy one”, says Jenni Ardill, People and Culture Manager, Ireland. “But it’s taught me things along the way that have made me a better person and a better professional.” Watch Jenni’s touching and inspiring story now.

“I love mangoes, especially when it’s cold and dark,” says Business Developer Martyna Vincevičiūtė. “They give me extra sunshine. There are sunshine people too. Find them and they’ll give you positive energy when the going gets tough.”

“When you hear about your Mom doing amazing things at work, like jumping out of helicopters into freezing lakes, it sets a high benchmark and it gives you strength to reach up,” says Martina Jovanovska, North Macedonia’s Business Developer of the Year.

Looking carefully at a tough challenge, breaking it down, seeing where the shadows are, comparing possible solutions… Find out how Area Sales Manager Zsuzsanna Baumann used skills she learned as a child to inspire her team and hit double-digit growth in sales this year.

“When you’ve got reliable data, good teammates and big smiles, you can get through the storms,” says Sales Capability Lead Andriana Janićijević. “You get wet and blown around, but it gives you lots of new energy, new perspectives and stronger relationships. That’s a lot of power!”

“Some people start out on a moped. Not me!” says Rūta Jakubelskaite, On Trade Account Leader in Lithuania. “My first bike was a big powerful machine. I like to learn fast. I chose CCH for the same reason.”

“International goes local, local goes international…as we grow, adding amazing new drinks to our portfolio,” says Business Developer Lucia Faccini, “So do the opportunities to stretch your thinking, build your network and come up with new ideas, wherever you’re from.”

Moving cross-functionally offers a wider business perspective and is a crucial enabler for growth. Watch the video with Olga Brankovic, Key Account Manager, to learn why changing functions can be a good move in your career.

“What’s the most important thing to take on holiday?” says Key Account Manager, Anna Mitsikuleva. “Trust in your team! That way you can relax and recharge, knowing they’ll take care of business. My team got proactive too, solving problems on their own and coming up with new ideas"

How do you build relationships and teams with those who are different to you? Originally from Syria, Sales Team Leader Rasha Alzrir’s love of new experiences led her to study and work in many places, teaching her to listen along the way. Now in Rome, she’s learning how to lead.

“Some people are brilliant, and they tell you all about it!” smiles On Trade Channel Leader, Ololade Babalola. “Others shine brighter because they achieve AND stay humble. My grandma was like that, and I try to be too. I want to pass this gift on to my daughter.”

Looking after a baby brother fed Aleksandra Tolic’s curiosity about human nature and taught her how to lead by helping others grow. Years later, those same skills helped her move from Marketing to Sales, as a Team Leader. After just a year, she got promoted to Regional Manager.

How do we take what we learn from others and make it our own? For Natalia Kissonergi, Business Developer Coca- Cola HBC in Greece, it all started with reflecting on her mom’s leadership style, then doing something different. It’s working: last year she built stronger relationships with her team and customers to boost sales revenue.

“Most people in Commercial stick to a single function: Sales, Marketing or Commercial Excellence,” says Silvia Molinaro, Out of Home Sales Director, Italy. “But move between them, early in your career, or as a leader, and you can add so much more value. That’s why even after nearly 20 years, I’m STILL moving around. More experience, more skills, more fun!”

How does travel change the way you think and feel? After two years at The Coca-Cola Company, Nathalie Jintranun wanted a change. She set off to Asia to travel. “The world is round” she smiles, “But if you keep going, you’ll find yourself in the same place sometime.” 13 years after setting out, Nathalie came back to Business Development role at Coca-Cola HBC.

“As the first woman on the team, I was nervous,” says Alexa Iacob, Business Developer at Coca-Cola HBC. “But previously, I was a manager in a restaurant for years so I have valuable customer insights. And as a digital native, I can coach my teammates on unfamiliar applications and tools. And I have a lot of positive energy. When I saw how much I can contribute, I broke through the limits I set myself and found my confidence."

“We’re a sales driven business. I wanted to see if I could succeed in sales and have fun too,” says Business Developer Anja Balac, who joined us as an intern, got a role in HR and then moved to Sales function. “At first, I thought I had to play it hard. But thanks to the team and my friends, I’m learning how to trust more. You can be soft and win too.”

‘When you have a big why, you can always find a better how!!,’ says Quality, Safety and Environment Manager, Anna Gronostajska, ‘I love my son and I love nature. Together they give me the inspiration and purpose I need to do my best work. As I grow as a leader, I find that the more personal you make your purpose, the more powerful your secret ingredient becomes.’

“As a child, I competed for my country in rhythmic gymnastics,” says Head of eRetail Eva Chocholouskova. “Back then, it was all about perfection. Now my kids are teaching me how to jump into uncertainty and complexity – at home and at work."

Work vs family? Women vs Men? We win, you lose? “That’s no way to think,” says Mariam Oginni. In her view, if we think creatively, we’ll always find that when two sides work together, there is plenty for everybody to enjoy.

‘It’s a surprisingly human issue’, says Ruchika Sachdeva, who leads Big Data, Analytics and AI at Coca-Cola HBC. ‘Perfectionism is our enemy. It’s born out of fear and it stops us making the mistakes we need to succeed.’

"My second dog arrived in time to remind me that showing vulnerability gains trust," says Julia Zagumennova looking back at a challenging move from a regional role at Coca-Cola HBC to become Global Revenue Growth Director at The Coca-Cola Company. "It’s been a great development opportunity all round”.

Louise Sullivan, Group World Without Waste Director, shares how she challenged herself to develop new skills, such as influencing without authority and adapting to a completely new way of working. Watch her top tips for evolving your leadership style.

“Tune into your team’s heart, mind and body. Find the flexibility and insight you need to turn tough situations into opportunities” says Natascha Mauthner , our Field Sales Director in Austria, in this new episode of Women of CCHBC.

“I can’t say I was born with confidence, yet I managed to obtain it by embracing new challenges and getting into the unknown” says Amela Cengic, Commercial Excellence Manager in Adria. Dive into the unknown and find treasures you didn’t know you had.