Role Model
Cindy Demers
“Always stay true to your personal values, keep a positive altitude and focus on things that are important.”
| Business Unit: | Corporate Functions |
| Division: | Corporate Communications |
| Job title: | Vice President Corporate Communications |
Question 1
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was a child, my parents always encouraged me to reach for my dreams and told me that if I worked hard and did my very best I could be anything I wanted to be. It didn’t matter whether I was a man or a woman. I always dreamed of working in an exciting job, travelling and having new and challenging adventures. Looking back, I guess my dreams have come true! I have continued this with my own two daughters, always encouraging them to work hard and have confidence in themselves so that they can reach for their dreams as well.
Question 2
What has motivated you to take on a position of high responsibility within Henkel?
It is important to me to always look for ways to move the business forward and add value. No matter what position I have held in my career, this has always been a key motivator for me. If I am not adding value, why I am in the position? It is also important to me to lead and motivate a team to perform, support and engage in meeting the goals of the organization and demonstrate strong business results. Developing, working with and motivating a strong team helps multiply the results one can achieve in an organization, and that is why we are here – to perform and get results!
Question 3
What were the milestones in your career and are there people or circumstances that have favored your career?
One personal milestone came early in my career when I began working for Johnson & Johnson. As a sales representative and sales manager with J&J, I was transferred nine times in seven years. I would get off an airplane to live and work in a new city where I knew no one and needed to build a social and personal life as well as perform and be successful in my position. To this day, I always try to reach out to new people, find out their interests and introduce them to others that I think they would find interesting or helpful in their personal or business lives. I know how important it was for me, not just very early in my career, but throughout my life, to have people to turn to for information and advice. It was not easy to relocate so many times, but taking the risk and making these transfers helped build my confidence in my skills and abilities. I had to perform and…..
Question 4
What is your advice to women seeking to build careers?
My advice to others is to always believe in yourself and continue to develop and learn by seeking out new opportunities and accepting new challenges. Always stay true to your personal values, keep a positive altitude and focus on things that are important. People also talk about the importance of developing a network. Throughout my career I have realized that having a network is one thing and knowing how to use it is something entirely different. It is important to always have a goal and a purpose for networking. I have also realized that looking for ways to help other people is a great way to network, and I would encourage everyone to reach out and help others in both business and personal situations. Never minimize what you have to offer. Each individual should recognize that she has unique skills and talents that are valuable and important to share with others.