Women Leading The Way: An Interview with Nicole De Caires, Group Business Development Director at 香蕉视频
For the latest interview in our听Women Leading the Way series, we chatted with the Group Business Development Director at 香蕉视频, Nicole De Caires. Following years of experience in the education sector, Nicole joined the company in 2018 as Head of International Partnerships, before progressing on to her current role. We took the time to reflect on her experience as a leader during Covid-19, as well as on a more general level.
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From New Zealand to Taiwan and Germany, it has been that female world leaders have been more effective in tackling the coronavirus pandemic than their male counterparts. What do you think makes a good leader in the time of crisis?
I think there are听many听things that make a good leader, both through a听time of听crisis听and the general听business听as usual听
- The bigger picture: A听good leader should not only be able to clearly identify the problem but should have the ability to see听a听route听to the solution听
- Collaboration听鈥撎齛听leader chooses听their team for a reason, and in times听of crisis,听working听with听that听team to develop a plan of action听supports that thinking of a united front听听
- Communication 鈥� making sure that you take your team with you on that听journey, be it good or bad听
- Innovative and agile 鈥� having听the听capability听to think outside the box and听the ability to听execute an idea quickly and听efficiently听
What are some of the challenges you鈥檝e had, both personally and professionally this year?
I would have to say,听without a doubt, the work-life balance.听听
Being a successful working mom is not an easy thing to do on any听given听day. It brings with it an entire truckload of challenges of its own. Guilt that you are not spending enough time with your kids and worry that you are not seen to be spending enough time working.听听
During听the first听lockdown, these challenges were even more apparent, what with kids at home and听parents听working from听home. The need to juggle the time to support the family whilst remaining active in the workplace, driving results and听being present was,听and continues to be,听incredibly difficult. Work and life blurred听into one, the days became longer and the nights shorter.听听
However,听having said that,听these challenges听have brought听us closer as a family. They听help remind us听what鈥檚听important in life,听to enjoy the simple things,听to be present in the moment,听to听be kinder because you really don鈥檛 know what someone else is going through and to听laugh more. And I for one have learnt to be听super-efficient and the听world鈥檚听best multi-tasker!听
What鈥檚听one leadership lesson you鈥檝e learnt in your career?听
Surround yourself with the right people. It is impossible to be good at everything, everyone has their strengths听and听weaknesses. So, surround听yourself听with people that have the knowledge that听you听don鈥檛, that are听perhaps听better than you at certain things. Work听with them. Listen听to them.听Let them know how good they are, take them on that听journey,听let them be听part of the solution to听help deliver the best results,听and听you will听have a听team of people听that听are as passionate and engaged as you.听听
What has been your most significant career achievement so far?听
I am not sure that it is my most significant achievement, but it certainly formed the basis for the direction in which my career continues to move.听听
13 years ago, I began working at a University, unbeknownst to me that听education would become my听life.听5 years in, I discovered the wonders of the international office and that was where my journey really began. I met the most incredible people and worked in places I thought I would only ever read about 鈥� the likes of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Hong Kong, China,听Mauritius, and听Trinidad, to mention but a few 鈥� and through this work, I really fell in love with what I did and what I continue to do today.听听
International education showed me the world was open, that there are endless opportunities for those willing to work hard and that change is always possible.听As a result, I still work in international education, albeit in a different role, but I still love what I do, which听is听a fantastic achievement听in my books.听
Who has inspired you in your career, and why?听
The women in my life. Both then and now.听听
Early inspiration came from my mother, my听grandmother,听and my sister.听听
My mother was a single parent. She was hard working, passionate and driven in her field of work. She was relentless and refused to give up, no matter the challenges. She taught me to never accept defeat. That there was always a way to achieve your goal and that by working hard and always showing up, you were sure to succeed.听听
My grandmother was a phenomenal woman, she lived a full life. She travelled abroad, worked in a profession that was, at the time, earmarked only for men and she was my biggest supporter. No matter where in the world I听went, or what I was doing, she always pushed me to go for what I want听and taught me听that the sky was limit.听听
My sister. She is my best friend and role model.听To me she听鈥榟as it all鈥�. A successful career听she loves,听a听beautiful, happy听family, and a听very busy听life. She loves hard, be it her family, work, or friends. She is passionate, loud, and听simply听never stops. No matter what,听she听always听shows up.听She听has shown me that, with hard work; a great attitude;听the right听people听in听your听life and sheer determination, anything is possible.听听
At present, the women I call my friends and colleagues continue to have a huge impact on my career 鈥� in an industry that is traditionally led by men, these women continue to grow and challenge the educational status quo. Working with these women, who are from different walks of life, with different educational backgrounds and vastly different approaches to work, continues to inspire me. We may have different opinions and disagree at times, but I have an immense amount of respect for them and hope that in some way I can support their growth and career journey as much as they do mine.听听
What advice do you have for women aiming for leadership positions?
Times have changed. The world now recognises that women have as much to add to the workplace as men do. You hear in the news how women continue to 鈥榖reak the glass ceiling鈥�, how big听companies are appointing more female CEO鈥檚, etc.听听There is far more support out there as a woman in business. Books to read, networks to join and training schemes听to听sign up for.听听
However, having said that,听achieving those听leadership positions can听still be听incredibly difficult.听Even with the support, you will听come across several听obstacles听on your way up. Some of these because of the industry you are in, the colleagues you work with or quite possibly, because of听you.听Self-doubt, thoughts of 鈥業鈥檓 not qualified to do that job鈥�; 鈥業 don鈥檛 have enough relevant experience鈥�, etc.听听
Do not听let it stop you.听Do not allow these challenges to throw you off course. If you want that job, go for it.听My favourite mantra is 鈥榝ake it until you make it鈥�. Say yes to more opportunities. If you听don鈥檛听know how to do听it, learn on the job.听Work harder. Stay later. Be more visible, more vocal. Show those around you that, no matter the task, you are up for the challenge.听听