By the age of ten, Annie aspired to run a business. Early on, she gained profound leadership experience by operating the student store in her high school. Annie’s outstanding work helped triple the profits. However, her path to success was challenging. Annie’s perseverance and resilience allowed her to overcome the obstacles she encountered on her journey. Her dream has come true as she is the Chief Executive Officer at Godiva Chocolatier. She also serves on the board of Tiffany & Co. and Yum! Brands. Every day, I remind myself of the insight she shared with me on the power of resilience and sharing your weaknesses with others.
When was a time you wanted to give up, and how did you persevere through the situation?
When I graduated from college, I decided to join PepsiCo’s management training program. Everyone in the program had to start from the ground up. My first task was to learn the selling system. At PepsiCo, you are provided with a truck and your role is to deliver shipments to a specific area. I was given the furthest route away from the distribution center. Every day, I would start my day at 2:30 in the morning. I would get home at around 6 or 7pm. One particular holiday, I slept for 2 hours as I was very slow as I was still learning how to do my role. There were no shortcuts. I remember driving home crying as I was physically and mentally exhausted. I almost decided to quit my job at PepsiCo. However, I realized that if I could make it through this training program, several opportunities would open up for me. I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it. This was a pivotal moment for me in my career. What helped me is to see beyond the tough points and to see the possibilities that would emerge if I could overcome the barriers.
What is your recipe for confidence?
Surround yourself with positive people who care about you. They should not be afraid to give you constructive feedback. They should be honest and candid with you. However, they should also be there to pick you up and cheer you on. But, you also need to learn how to pick yourself up and be there for yourself. It is necessary to find ways to internally give yourself strength.
When was a time you failed, and what did you learn from the experience?
Throughout life, I have failed many, many times. You cannot be afraid to fail. Throughout life, there will be ups and downs. If you fail, try not to make the same mistake twice. Early on, I learned very quickly that a title does not automatically gain the respect of others. When I was twenty-two, I had fifteen employees reporting to me. However, I was significantly younger than them, so it was challenging for them to see me as a leader. I had to develop a stronger relationship with each one of them and help bring everyone together. Respect is something that is earned. It is never given. I would not trade the early parts of my career for anything. I gained so much knowledge from that team. This experience molded me into the person I am today.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Because I had set very high goals for myself, I studied really hard and I yearned to know all of the answers. There was a piece of me that aimed to be a perfectionist. I constantly felt like it would be disrespectful to not know all of the answers to questions people may have. However, my mentor shared with me that when you appear to be perfect, no one offers to help you. If you are vulnerable and show your flaws, people will relate to you and offer their guidance and mentorship. People will want to be helpful to you. Therefore, try not to be perfect.
What advice would you give others who aspire to be leaders like you?
Always dream big and persevere to manifest your dreams into a reality. Take calculated risks. Make sure that you bring people together, despite their individual differences. Make sure that you give back to your society. We all have to give back to our community.
How do you define the word “success”?
Success is feeling contentment. Success is being able to positively impact those around you. I feel really fortunate to have a fabulous family that has been extraordinarily supportive. I have a great team that I surround myself with. I have no doubt that together we can accomplish spectacular things for the business and our community.
