2022 - The Year of Appreciation

If I had to summarize 2022 in a single word, it would be “appreciation”. This year I was especially reminded that learning is a lifelong experience and the importance of fostering meaningful relationships that are based on trust and respect. I was inspired by all of you who have directly asked me to open up and be as candid here as I am when we are F2F. So here are some of my reminders and behind-the-scenes tips that helped me through 2022. At first glance, they may seem simple, but many of us take them for granted or don’t prioritize them.?

1. Gratitude and Generosity

We’ve all heard “people first” countless times and how relationships matter. Indeed, I believe that people matter, but what matters even more is the mindset we inspire in others. We all have the power to inspire others to be the best version of themselves and show them appreciation, especially when they least expect it.?

This year my husband and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary, and unfortunately, that weekend coincided with a professional fair I was attending in Las Vegas. I explained to my family that the celebrations would have to wait for a later date, but they weren’t happy with that answer, so my daughters surprised me and flew my husband to Las Vegas and planned an incredible day for us. That weekend was highly memorable, thanks to all the activities, but it was even more meaningful to me as it reminded me of the importance of showing gratitude and being generous to the people around us. I am incredibly grateful that my family took the time to invest in us and surprise me; it’s the greatest gift I can dream of.?

From a professional standpoint, 2022 has been a turning point for my marketing team at Puratos globally. On January 28, 2022, all our marketers worldwide revealed our new brand identity across all our assets! It was the result of one year of work: defining our company purpose, redefining our positioning and our visual identity, and working together as ONE team. It took a lot of professional brand-building expertise with some of the best creative agencies and partners to make it happen. However, more than anything else, it was thanks to our people. They went beyond their typical duties and made it happen in a synchronized and consistent manner across the world. As an old colleague (who became a friend) reminded me, this happened due to the TRUST our people have. In Puratos terms, we call it “the Magic”.

2. Intentional Optimism?

Creating teams of optimists allows us to deliver better results while being happier at work. Don’t mistake optimism for naivety or toxic positivity. Optimism allows us to keep our goals and dreams in play to turn these thoughts into behaviors. Research shows that optimism is usually an active state; optimists expect good things to happen based on their active participation and actions. Therefore, Optimism builds resilience. Resilience allows getting things done. People are proud to be part of a team that delivers and execute with excellence.

This year our team got impacted by a challenging health issue of one of our team members. In those moments, you can see the legacy you’ve built. When your people get things done well as ONE team with positive energy, without needing you to tell them what to do, that’s when you know you’ve made it, and you can focus on more complex issues or projects. When your teams see you as a resource, not just their boss or colleague, it opens a new world of possibilities. This, combined with optimism, turns resources into unstoppable energy. This is the feeling I have always had with my teams over the years. We are simply unstoppable for the better.

3. Stretching Boundaries - Curiosity and Creativity?

In the past year, many boundaries were stretched beyond imagination.

a. ?I visited inspiring local cultures of new frontiers like Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Japan, Taiwan, USA, Romania, Slovenia, France, Italy, and Turkey.

b. We discovered new ways to solve challenges and be creative with Artificial Intelligence (AI). We learned how to leverage further semantic AI to understand consumer expectations and understanding. We experimented with OpenAI (including Chat GPT and Dalle-e-2) to boost creativity and innovation. It’s unbelievable what we can do today. Worth trying them out yourself.?

c. Art remains one of the best sources of innovative disruption. Painting, fashion styling, and graphic design were my 2022 sources of personal and professional storytelling inspiration. A great example is the rebranding of our Belcolade chocolate Brand, a fantastic creative journey ahead!

Gratitude & generosity, intentional optimism, and creativity are all necessary reminders to help us in our overall goal of inclusion. This year, I invite all of you to partner with me to drive “inclusion of ALL, Equality for ALL” forward through meaningful actions and actively focusing on this goal. Our Bakery School foundation program is a fantastic example, where students have the opportunity to learn a profession in the bakery, patisserie and chocolate field. In 2022, there are almost 400 students worldwide with presence in 7 countries.

I am everyday reminded to appreciate and not take for granted all of the people around me, their hard work, their generosity and their creativity. Thank you all for an incredible 2022, and here’s to an extraordinary 2023.?