Coca-Cola Amatil’s Alcohol & Coffee division is supporting Australia’s diversity and inclusion mentoring program, The 2019 Drinks Association Inclusive Leadership Program.
Serendis is managing the program that brings together mentors and mentees from different drinks companies.
“We’re serious about building an inclusive culture so we’re keen to support what works. Evidence from the United States and Europe shows that diverse organisations make better decisions, and mentoring is one of the most effective tools in creating the inclusive culture needed to realise diversity benefits,” CCA managing director for Alcohol & Coffee, Shane Richardson said.
“That’s why we’re supporting the 2019 Drinks Association Inclusive Leadership Program, which matches mentors and mentees from different drinks companies to maximise their opportunities to learn. Time and again we hear from mentors that the opportunity to experience situations or challenges from someone else’s perspective is an incredibly valuable lesson for their own leadership style.”
Richardson said that the industry-wide programs can bridge the gap between mentors and mentees who are coming from different job roles and companies.
“Not only do they provide a fantastic development and recognition opportunity for talented emerging leaders, for us mentoring programs are also an important leadership tool. By matching mentors and mentees across companies, we’ll see all the benefits from a traditional mentoring program, with the added advantage of wider cross-industry perspectives,” said Richardson on a diverse workplace.
The program will have the participants meet six to eight times for a one-to-one meeting. They will participate in interactive workshops and group discussions.
The 2019 Drinks Association Inclusive Leadership Program was created three years ago to help fast track female leaders but in 2019, the program has developed to include men.
Twelve drinks companies are involved in the program including CCA, Diageo, Lion Beer, Casella, Campari, Australian Liquor Marketers, Australian Vintage, Brown-Forman, Moet Hennessy, Pernod Ricard and Taylors Wines.
Amatil’s Richardson, marketing director Sally Byrne and general manager of public affairs, communications and sustainability, Nicki Drinkwater will mentor the mentees. CCA senior customer marketing manager Clare Adamiak and financial and operations controller Gareth Sprainger will attend as mentees.
“It’s a truly unique program to provide experiences to work with mentors in other companies. I’m getting practical experience on how to be a better and more inclusive leader, while creating and expanding my network across the industry. Amatil and others within the industry understand the need to support their future leaders, and it’s great that they’ve joined forces to create something as valuable as this,” said Adamiak.
