November is Career Development Month; a time to consider not just the talent in the C&D team, but also how we nurture, develop and reward that talent to build careers that benefit our customers, our business and the individuals who work for us.

Ours is a complex business. It not only includes formulating and testing new products, procuring ingredients, manufacturing, health and safety, quality assurance, and delivering industry-leading support and market insight for our customers, but also a whole array of commercial and operational functions. We need talented and experienced personnel across all of those roles, along with leadership and management skills that will help us remain agile, secure business continuity and inspire everyone who works for us to be the best that they can be.

In the fast-paced pet food industry, it’s vital that we have people on our team who are equipped to think strategically, work collaboratively and respond decisively to the changing needs of our customers and our sector.

Our Emerging Leaders programme is just one of the initiatives we have developed to help us answer those challenges. A programme that spans all our sites across Europe, all departments, and a wide range of job roles and experience levels, it helps C&D Foods to shape our future leaders. As a result, the cohort for each programme is diverse, and the learning and behaviours each individual gains make a difference to how they perform in their current jobs, as well as preparing them to progress in their careers.

One of the colleagues who has completed our Emerging Leaders programme this year is Alberto Romero Gonzalez, a Key Account Managers in Spain. Alberto joined C&D Foods as a graduate trainee just six years ago, and has already proven himself to be a candidate for future leadership, as well as a trusted member of our commercial team.

“The leadership programme taught me a lot about how to adapt my management style to maximise the potential of every individual, so that I can support colleagues better in their role and add value for our customers,” Alberto explains. “I learned a lot about communication, which is such an important part of my remit, both in terms of working collaboratively with colleagues and understanding customers’ needs.

“By exploring different personality types and how to engage most effectively with each one, including studying non-verbal communication cues, such as body language, I feel better equipped to adapt my approach and get the most out of every interaction.”

Cassandra Moraine, our Head of Category Management for France, Italy and Spain has also completed the Emerging Leaders programme this year. Like Alberto, she joined C&D Foods just six years ago and has already been promoted twice as her career with us has developed.

“Participating in Emerging Leaders has been an incredibly rewarding experience,” Cassandra comments. “The programme equipped me with practical tools and insights that immediately impacted my day-to-day role.

“Thanks to the techniques we covered, I was able to confidently onboard two new team members, providing them with a smoother integration process and helping them feel supported from day one.”

A mix of best practice knowledge and practical tips for navigating the challenges of working in a leadership role, our Emerging Leaders programme also gave Alberto, Cassandra and the other colleagues completing the course some useful techniques for managing their time.

“It’s hard to pick just one thing that has made the biggest difference,” adds Alberto, “but the tips we gained on structuring meetings have really changed how I approach preparing for a meeting, making the time count, and following up afterwards. I really feel that the course has given me the skills, tools and confidence to succeed as my career develops.”

The experience of Alberto and Cassandra reflects the feedback we’ve had from all the members of the C&D Team who have completed the Emerging Leaders programme. We invest in our people, just as we invest in our manufacturing facilities, our R&D and our quality assurance processes, ensuring we can support our customers now and in the future.