It’s no secret that exceptional work stems from the power of collaboration. So in addition to featuring notable young professionals and entrepreneurs every single day, we’ll be chatting to some of Canada’s best teams every Thursday to get an inside look at how they combine talents to stand out in their industry. Today we’re talking to Johnson & Johnson Canada’s consumer sales team…
WORK
Describe what you and your team focus on in less than 140 characters. Go.
We represent Johnson & Johnson (J&J) consumer sales. Our focus is understanding our retailers’ goals in order to execute programs that deliver joint value to our customers, consumers, and J&J.
What kick-ass projects/programs have you been working on recently?
We are always working on fast-paced projects – most recently, we executed a multi-segment program across our AVEENO brand that integrates our Jennifer Aniston sponsorship. We also work closely with our retail partners to ensure their in-store product, programs, and selection are as efficient as possible – working on this is always exciting.
What are some of the benefits of working on a team?
Learning from others. Teamwork allows you to learn and develop quicker, which is crucial in the fast-paced and competitive consumer products industry. In addition, our tight-knit group of women goes the extra mile to support each other through the ups and downs of career challenges and opportunities.
What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced? (tell a funny story here)
Negotiations with retailers. Canada is now, more than ever, a very consolidated marketplace, and it is important to understand what both the customer and the retailer want, where their long-term plan is taking them, and how we can best help them succeed.
Do you have any advice for other young professionals working within a team?
Appreciate the diversity of a team – everyone thinks differently, and there is never ONE right answer. It’s the outcome of a team decision that makes it strongest. Embrace disagreement with each other as intellectual development vs. confrontation, and continuously challenge each other.
Does your team have a designated leader?
We work across various customers, categories, and sales functions. Our structure promotes cross-functional collaboration, though ultimately we report up to a VP of Sales who is an inspiring, collaborative leader.
Within your organization are teams switched up every once in a while or do they maintain the same? What are some of the benefits and cons of that?
We generally tend to rotate individuals within the three-year mark; however, it all depends on their development plan, results, and progress, as well as the immediate needs of the organization. Driven by the structure of a company that is flatter than most, we develop individuals through many experiences across not just category/brand, but functions within Sales (such as Account Management, Sales Strategy, and Category Development), functions outside of Sales (such as Marketing, Finance, and Supply Chain), as well as functions outside of the J&J consumer sector (Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices).
The advantages of this method are that they choose to develop many general managers that have the skills and talent to move to senior leadership positions within the company. The possible downside is that it may take more time to move up to the next level than in some companies – if that is important to the individual.
What does the word collaboration mean to you?
Combine diversity of thought to develop a mutually agreed upon solution to an issue or challenge.
What has been you and your teams favorite project/campaign/ initiative to work on and why?
In addition to our busy jobs, we play active leadership roles on a J&J committee called the Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) – and yes, we’re inclusive of men! Our mission is to enable mentorship across the organization by harnessing the power of the expertise, wisdom and experiences of both internal and external leaders for the betterment of others and self. Activities include, but not limited to: cross-sector Coffee Connections with senior leaders for career/personal development; partnerships with various women’s leadership organizations (WXN, NEW) partnership with Dress for Success, which includes participating in 1:1 mentorship programs and multiple professional attire clothing drives.
PLAY
Where is your teams’ favourite place to wine/dine in your city and why?
Gatsby’s Tale – an awesome speakeasy at King and Bathurst (behind CHILL Ice Bar) with delicious cocktails, live music on weekends, and great bartenders. It’s also owned by one of our team member’s amazing and down to earth husband (shameless plug).
Do you and your team go out together? Where and why?
YES! All the time; we love Toronto! We bond the most out of the office when we can have fun together. Each quarter, we each host rotating themed dinner parties at our homes. In the last month, we have watched the Raptors playoffs at Cactus Club, went to a Blue Jays game as a team, attended the Grand Opening party of J&J’s own JLabs at the MARS Innovation Centre, and next week we are seeing Beyoncé together. We work hard and play hard!
What’s the best thing that has happened to you and your team recently?
We are always celebrating our life events together (work and play); in the last year we have celebrated weddings, promotions, awards, pregnancy and MBA graduation together as a team.
Are there any other teams within your company or any company that you know of that are killing it?
Yes – J&J is a team-based organization and structure. Our Marketing teams are always innovating and looking for unique ways to connect our brands with our customers. J&J is a fundamental training ground for young and bright millennials. In fact, two entrepreneurial teams that started out at J&J recently went out on their own to start a beer company and a consulting company.
And finally, what does success look like to you and your team? Work, play, or otherwise…
Each of us is a successful, driven individual, which is the foundation that brought us together as a team. Success for our team professionally has come as we have all pushed ourselves out of our comfort zones, challenged the status quo of the organization (in a positive way), and have gone above and beyond to reach our overall shared goals. We are a successful team together because we all have each other’s backs, we trust each other; when one fails we are there to pick her up, and we continually motivate each other. When you cultivate that relationship within the work environment, that blossoms into friendship outside the work environment. Success to us = support, self-confidence, and shared goals.