IWD: Talking Resilience, Collaboration and Coaching with our VP Human Resources & HSES - IAC Europe/RSA, China & India.

March 8th is International Women’s Day (IWD), a day to honor the achievements of women around the globe. In recognition of the day, we sat down with our own Karen Mancini, VP of Human Resources & Health, Safety, and Environmental Services - IAC Europe / RSA, China & India, to gain insights into her leadership style and experiences as a leader within the automotive industry.

Describe your leadership style? I have a collaborative approach to leadership, striving to engage the team in the overall decision-making process. I am very much action orientated when it comes to problem solving and continuously look for ways to make improvements within my area of responsibility.

How can women develop their leadership skills? One’s gender doesn’t determine their ability to lead. As I think about factors that support a women’s ability to lead, the first word that comes to mind is believing in oneself. Women tend to think that they “can’t” do certain things, whereas men, generally, will just jump right in. Good leaders take time to listen, lean-in to constructive feedback, and create a team culture of growth and development. Developing oneself is also critical to impacting others in a positive way. I have a postgraduate degree in personal and business coaching, so I believe working with a coach is a great way to understand your strengths and weaknesses, while growing in confidence. Coaching truly helps people move forward in both their personal and professional lives.?

What advice would you give the next generation of female leaders? The number one piece of advice I would give to the next generation is to believe YOU CAN!? Doubt steals your joy and keeps you from moving forward. Resilience is very important. Don’t worry about things you cannot control. Manage the things you can control and let go of everything else.?Also remind yourself of your successes, instead of reminding yourself of ways that you may have failed. This builds the muscle of resilience in your character. Also, find a mentor and/or be a mentor to others. We can all learn from those around us, bringing others along as one team creates a culture to win.

In her spare time, Karen enjoys running, baking cookies with her granddaughter and relaxing over English afternoon tea.

Thank you, Karen, for sharing some words of wisdom on this International Women’s Day.