Former Managing Director of Officeworks Sarah Hunter was in a reflective mood on the eve of her appointment as the incoming CFO of Super Retail Group. Here are ten of her top insights for an interesting, successful and courageous career:
- Say “Yes” more than “No”. Apply a growth mindset and evaluate opportunities through a lens of what you can learn – what’s the worst thing that can happen?
- Be curious, ask good questions and listen. This will help you as a leader, a learner and everything in between.
- The key in “General Manager” is general. Learn from a broad range of industries, jobs and life experiences.
- People are everything – prioritise getting the right team around you.
- Mentors are valuable, sponsors are critical. Your most important sponsors are your peers.
- Seek outside-in thinking (as well as input from your team) when faced with a gnarly problem.
- Most people are seen, not everybody is heard. Prepare for influence by knowing your facts, thinking through potential questions and answers, understanding metrics relevant to a range of stakeholders – not just financial impact, and rehearsing important conversations.
- Say “I don’t know” when you don’t know. Commit to reverting quickly with the answer.
- Trust is the cornerstone of effective business partnering. Understand and have empathy for the business problems that others are seeking to solve, and respect and adapt to their preferred way of making decisions.
- Spend time in the business with customers. Understand through their lens what matters, and how you can adapt the business or evolve your offer to help solve their problems.