A tribute to my manager(s)

Congratulations to Kir, my direct report, who won the best manager out of the entire Asia pacific region in P&G for the category of Best Gillette P&G integration (AAI Awards of Excellence)

After all, we the Coles Myer team were the first team in the WORLD to integrate! Now that's something to be proud of!

I am incredibly blessed to have both her & Al as my managers. They have shown immense support to me both professionally and personally.

I am so encouraged by Kir. A very successful and competent woman. She's the only woman in Sales of Australia that is band III. She told me today that she was the first woman appointed National Sales Manager in Gillette (and that was only in 2001)! My goodness that so deserves a medal! I've learned soooo much from her in account management. Everything from negotiating, presenting, problem solving to personal development. She has really given me confidence in what I do by simply believing in me.

I've told her already that one day when I'm a manager overseeing subordinates, I will too use the qualities and skills learned from her.

As for Alastair, he's absolutely the best people's manager I've ever met! Such a busy person, yet always have time for his ppl when they need it. Even if it's just for a personal chit chat. What's more he's very protective & supportive of the team. I remember just an incident 2wks ago when we ran out of stock for the Olay Complete launch all because WWs had over ordered and took our shipment. I wrote Al an email to tell him of the news at 6pm on a Wed. The next morning at 9am, this issue had already been escalated all the way to the CEO! And boy, you should've seen his email after mine. He was pissed off! AND he supported me all the way stating in the email "Vicky had done all the right thing and what happened is absolutely appalling!" (and don't forget this was cc'd onto at least 20ppl from Australia, to Singapore to Thailand!)
Next thing you know, the supply planners had to do an emergency airfreight of the stock - a plane filled with Olay Complete flown into the country over the weekend! All this because my manager believed in me and supported me.

I am incredibly blessed!