Drew Fernandez’s Post

For the first time since joining The Coca-Cola Company, I actually sold some Coke! From late noon to late night this Saturday, I joined a brilliant team from our bottling partners to run Chinese New Year promotions at a busy local hypermarket. This wasn't my usual rodeo, so, in the grand traditions of such LinkedIn posts, the following is what I experienced and learned. 1. There's a real "happiness dividend" Some of this is my privilege talking, because as a volunteer I had no sales target pressures and no one to impress. But downplaying the urge to push products and focusing instead on creating a relaxed and fun atmosphere, celebrating customer interest, and cheering on the small wins, led to substantially better engagement and outcomes. 2. Having a wide product range is important "I only drink the classic Coke." "Is this offer also on zero sugar?" "I don't drink fizzy, is there something else?" 3. Teamwork wins I did not know the people I was working with, I met them first on the shop floor and got straight to work. But we got the measure of the situation quickly, self-organized in ways that were effective, kept an eye out for folks that may need support, and got the job done. 4. Discomfort is a stimulus for growth I am not a salesman, and my career in risk and compliance program management has kept me a safe distance away from the front lines. But the front line is where our purpose is tested. It is where grand strategies from inside comfortable conference rooms walk out to and stand exposed to unforgiving scrutiny. Where one might hatch and grow into a majestic rooster, or get cracked and cooked into that breakfast omelette. This was an essential experience; I am glad that I fought my instinct and took the chance. May this lunar new year bring us all the opportunities, and the courage, to step out and be a little uncomfortable. Gong Xi Fa Cai ! #HappyLunarNewYear #SalesExperience #CustomerEngagement #Teamwork

Looking for value creation in Digital journey? This is one story of how we made it at HEINEKEN VIETNAM unlocking incremental growth with Product recommendation on B2B Sales! #HeinekenDTGlobalAward #2ndPrize #HeinekenVietNam #RTMTransformation #OneTeamOneDream

🌟 Psalt FMCG Insights Week 🌟 This first of many - what an amazing week and a huge feat in the FMCG industry. Our young Talent SHOWED UP and our member companies provided an impactful and unforgettable experience. Click the video below to see what I'm talking about! 👀

The Coca-Cola Company has 80,000 employees globally so this is a serious achievement. Out of all the things Coca-Cola does well, I want to highlight two. 1. Coke offers total visibility on internal opportunities through an online portal. An employee from India can easily see and apply for an opportunity in Europe. 2. Coke encourages all employees — from truck drivers to engineers — to take short assignments to build skills, anywhere in the company. The brand realized that smart individuals leave companies when there’s nothing left for them to learn. Their massive size works to their advantage by providing countless opportunities for employees to move into completely different fields. (Courtesy of MarTech)

AMBEV has 10 principles that guide its culture which every business could learn from. No. 7 especially struck me in our era of complexity. I think it is awesome how they counter-balance their South American network with Canada. 1. We dream big. 2. We are owners who think long-term. 3. We are powered by great people and build diverse teams through inclusion and collaboration. 4. We lead change and innovate for our consumers. 5. We grow when our customers grow. 6. We thrive when our communities thrive. 7. We believe in simplicity and scalable solutions. 8. We manage costs tightly and make choices to drive growth. 9. We create and share superior value. 10. We never take shortcuts.

As I conclude my rewarding two-year assignment at PepsiCo, I reflect on the remarkable journey that commenced amid the challenges of the COVID pandemic and a move to the Netherlands with my family. Despite uncertainties, our determination led to a successful settlement, laying the foundation for future endeavours. Following a brief career break, I realized a long-awaited dream of establishing my own company, InFinHorizons, in October 2021. Subsequently, RGP presented an engaging opportunity with PepsiCo to support the Tropicana Brands Group (TBG), a joint venture with PIA investments in the juice business. Little did I know that this engagement would extend to two years, making me an integral part of a dedicated and special team that consistently delivered golden standards. My sincere thanks to the PepsiCo Europe Central Finance Reporting team, project team and Europe TBG team for providing a rich and rewarding experience. Congratulations to everyone involved in establishing TBG and efforts to bring it to independence. I am delighted to share that my journey continues with TBG in January 2024. I want to highlight key attributes that contributed to my journey’s success, both personally and professionally—diversity, adaptability to change, nurturing strong relationships, and dynamic collaborative teamwork. Diversity: Having lived in diverse countries and collaborated with colleagues worldwide, fostering an understanding of various cultures, languages, foods, and lifestyles. Technological advancements in collaborative tools and social networking have facilitated continued virtual interactions, further enhancing this experience. Remember the person on the other side is also a person. Building Strong Relationships: Start by identifying your needs and the types of relationships to build. Authenticity is essential; build trust through genuineness and reliability, consistently following through on commitments. Be respectful, open-minded and willing to learn from others, considering new ideas and perspectives. Embracing Change: Recognize change as essential for growth, adapt, and actively drive change for success. Teamwork: Success is achieved through clear common goals and collaborative efforts, with team members trusting each other for collective accomplishments. Don't forget to celebrate successes and learn from mistakes.

Its a wrap! Our Q3 Corporate Affairs day 3 concluded with updates and discussions on our focus for the next few months, how we can optimise performance and influence delivery. True togetherness is a profound and uplifting experience that transcends mere collaboration or teamwork. When individuals come together with open hearts and minds, sharing a common purpose and genuine connection, the resulting synergy is nothing short of magical. In this state of true togetherness, creativity flourishes, communication flows effortlessly, and collective energy soars. As we unite in a spirit of trust, empathy, and mutual support, our individual strengths are amplified, and our shared humanity is celebrated. In this joyous space, we find inspiration, motivation, and a deep sense of belonging, leading to breakthroughs, growth, and unforgettable memories. By embracing true togetherness, we unlock the full potential of our teams, our organizations, and ourselves, leading to a more harmonious, productive, and fulfilling corporate culture. #JoyOfTrueTogetherness #TogetherWeThrive HEINEKEN Beverages

This past year has been one laced with growth. It's been one year since I joined Pernod Ricard and certainly, the first couple of months came with a potpourri of emotions: moving from settling into my new role to self-doubt, from pushing myself to eventually getting a hang of the demands of the role. Joining at a time when the organisation was going through a series of transformations, it appeared my teething phase lingered longer than I'd anticipated. Struggling to find my rhythm meant I occasionally doubted my abilities and contemplated throwing in the towel a couple of times. To get past this stage, two things worked for me. Firstly, in my subconscious, I was convinced that if I could endure, be consistent, push myself, and not give up, I'd come out stronger. Lastly, I had the support and cheering of those that mattered the most; my family and colleagues. Munirat Yahaya was that one person who kept believing in me. In fact, she opened my mind to cracking what I had thought impossible, and this was the beginning of me getting my groove back. I also enjoyed the immense support of my line manager - thank you, Bode Omosagba, for seeing the potential in me and for providing the required support all the way. I'm elated that the efforts I put into turning things around didn't go unnoticed as I clinched two awards at the FY23 company retreat and awards ceremony. Having won the CEO award and the "Deliver through collaboration" award, I'm motivated to continue to give my utmost best to contribute to the growth of the business. As I continue to put in the work, I'm excitedly looking forward to what the future holds. #workanniversary #resilience #appreciation

Our Culture is what makes us unique because this is what differentiates us from other companies, attracting talents, and giving purpose to everything we as Danoners do. But our culture goes much further: It is what enables us to implement our Renew Danone strategy. Needless to mention that our daily decisions and actions determine our business performance, impact on people, and the environment. Embracing our culture empowers us to achieve sustainable success and outperform the market. Ultimately, it is what encompasses our Vision, our Mission and Dual Project, the HOPE Values and new Danone Behaviors.  

In Danone, we have 5 Behaviors as our guiding principles. They are Put Danone First, Keep It Simple, Be Accountable, Walk The Talk, and Lead with People. Something that sounds easy and simple. Achieving things that appear easy can be unexpectedly difficult. Making complex things simple is not an easy task. Putting the company's interests first, rather than personal agendas, is a challenging job. Following stated principles is not only hard but also requires courage and determination to achieve seemingly simple goals. If everyone adopts the culture as their guiding principle, corporate values will naturally become a part of daily life, not just words on slides or wallpaper. As a Danoner, we believe in it. As in Indonesia, the whole team has been on this journey for a while already and we are slowly harvesting what we sow some time ago.