It's all about you...

“Today is gonna be the day that they're gonna throw it back to you

And by now, you should've somehow realised what you gotta do”,

The opening lyrics to Oasis, Wonderwall, rang in my ears recently when I saw an email reminder of year end feedback conversations. Hopefully, the conversations are not a surprise and merely an honest reflection on a union between a progressive partnership. While the formal process may be one of completion deadlines however the underlying commitment should be used as a springboard for self-development and personal fulfilment.? Thus, promoting a growing sense of participation and personal accountability to unleash possibilities, creating an energising movement of self-development and self-expression. This is the face of CCEP today - open, progressive, inclusive and inspiring.?

Over the last few months I have had the greatest pleasure to travel widely across the CCEP network, I’ve witnessed business units determined to express their own creativity, identity and initiative in both new and exciting ways. Thriving on a sense of self-confidence and self-empowerment, one of the most enriching discoveries for me was to witness this local empowerment at work. What has become clear is that the best way our team can contribute to our integrated business model is by having a confident sense of themselves, playing to their strengths - taking full advantage of our vibrant resources across our business spectrum. Gone are the days of waiting for the tap on the shoulder or nod in the right direction, ownership and drive must come from within and it’s imperative that you seek every opportunity to create fulfilment in your career journey. Not all development needs to be certified, personally I believe the best learning is lived, therefore the role of the leader becomes the educator; promoting new concepts and preserving values; encouraging individuals to push themselves further and publicly supporting and showcasing local initiative projects.

During the week I joined an early morning Teams called with our colleagues in the Southern Hemisphere providing an opportunity to discuss an exciting journey that many of the team will now become part of. Many contributions outlined the meaning for those coming onboard and comments were listed, one gripped me in particular - “Dissent isn’t disloyalty”, loved this as it provided a confident sense of finding the best way of explaining ourselves to ourselves and to others.? Past history and our outlook in turn determine the kinds of stories we tell; and the stories we tell determine the kind of pathway we will take.? Here in CCEP we have the great fortune to become part of an exciting transformation creating our own pathway to the garden of opportunity – just like your own development wheel, it’s your job to plant it, seed it and nurture it. I wish you well in the years to come.

Don’t look back in anger – Act now.