In her opinion, the key to efficiency in the modern world is – which may seem paradoxical to some – not looking at business solely through the prism of profit. – In the long term, running a business cannot be viewed through the prism of fast running or sprinting. This is a marathon, and if so, anyone who wants to achieve results must create a team ready to be with us for years and willing to build common value with us – emphasizes the leader.
The best decisions are made when you understand the business as a whole
– In mentoring programs, I tell young women to consciously plan their careers. It is important that when entering a company or starting their own business, they consider where they would like to go, treating it as a journey and an opportunity to gather various types of experiences. My own path – from sales, through e-commerce, to marketing management, including work in Henkel’s foreign branches – showed me that the best decisions are made when you understand the business in its entirety, not just a part of it. That’s why I believe in it, declares Aleksandra Gawlas-Wilińska.
What are the benefits of multidisciplinarity? More than just a skill set. – It gives you agency, and agency builds self-confidence, which is necessary in the highest positions. At this stage, it is no longer about being the best specialist in one area. It’s about being able to listen, connect the dots and inspire others to work together. And this is what all the earlier stages of my journey taught me – says the leader.
And how to reconcile tough corporate requirements with employee well-being? – In my experience, well-being and performance are not mutually exclusive – on the contrary, they are mutually reinforcing. A team that feels safe and trusts the leader has the courage to propose new solutions and take responsibility for decisions. I do not believe in one “female leadership style”, although it is a fact that women perform statistically better in empathy tests. Empathy helps you build an environment where you can make mistakes, ask difficult questions, and talk openly about challenges. At Henkel, we operate on the basis of Lencioni’s trust model – and the so-called We have developed the golden rules of communication and meetings in the Henkel Consumer Brands department together with our teams. Because a strategy without an appropriate organizational culture simply does not work. For me, well-being also means a sense of meaning and influence, which is why the MIT employee volunteering program – Make an Impact on Tomorrow is so important, which gives teams a real opportunity to engage in social activities and strengthens the belief that our work can have a positive impact not only on business, but also on the environment – emphasizes Aleksandra Gawlas-Wilińska.
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