Véronique Bourez: Turning up the Sound of Women’s Voices!
Hilary Ellis, President EuropeanPWN-Paris, and Severine Jazdzewski, Corporate Partners Sub-Committee co-ordinator, recently presented EuropeanPWN to women managers at Coca Cola, EuropeanPWN sponsor. Veronique Bourez, Coca Cola Marketing Director for France, agreed to talk to Meggan Dissly, Public Affairs officer, about the partnership.
M.D.: As Director of Marketing for Coca Cola, what do you hope the corporate members of Coca Cola will get out of the partnership with EuropeanPWN?
V.B.: Coca Cola would like to give its women managers the opportunity to invest themselves in the network, engage with other professional women and benefit from their experiences. It will be stimulating for them and help them think about where they want to go next in their own careers. They will learn about best practices elsewhere and spread the knowledge. This will benefit both themselves and the Coca Cola Company.
M.D.: Is Coca Cola involved with other women’s networks?
V.B.: No, EuropeanPWN is the only one. We wanted this particular partnership because it exists at the European level and we believe it will have a positive impact on the development of our women managers. We are in the process of creating an internal women’s network as well to encourage staff to engage with each other on issues of common concern.
M.D.: You seem very involved in women's issues at Coca Cola. What is your role exactly?
V.B.: Indeed, I do double duty as Marketing Director and a member of a world-wide group of Coca Cola women executives known as the Women's Leadership Council. We reflect on strategies to promote women's development within the company and help them find their rightful place.
M.D.: You are confident, then, that your women managers who are corporate members of the network will take full advantage of what EuropeanPWN has to offer: networking, mentoring, debates, training ?
V.B.: The women who attended the presentation of EuropeanPWN were certainly enthusiastic. They were very much interested in the speaker's events, the clubs and the mentoring program . As Corporate partner, we might look at opportunities to participate in cross mentoring with EuropeanPWN and other companies
M.D.: How could we work together most effectively? Do you see some common areas of interest?
V.B.: I think there is an opportunity to leverage the different partners and organize cross-events with EuropeanPWN on specific themes, such as women and innovation, women and creativity. I believe that women have a contribution to make that is different from men's. We have a different take on things. I want women's voices to be heard!
M.D.: One senses that you put a lot of stake in women's networks. Have they ever helped you personally?
V.B.: Yes, enormously. I was a member of the EuropeanPWN board for two years. The network convinced me that it is possible to be a woman and be in a leadership position professionally. But it doesn't just happen. You have to go out and get it. As a member of EuropeanPWN I had the chance to meet and work with great professional women. They were an inspiration for me and so supportive. I learned that being happy in your professional life and in your personal life go together.
Véronique Bourez, Marketing Director, France Business Unit, Coca-Cola Company.
Véronique is a graduate of the Business and Management School ESSEC (M.B.A) in Paris, France. She has been Marketing Director since she joined The Coca-Cola Company in France in June 2005. Prior to that, Véronique spent 17 years with the Danone Group, in Marketing and Business Development. She was part of a ‘Growth Acceleration Project’ for Danone in 1997-1999. She was named Marketing Director for the Biscuit Business in France (LU) and then expanded her responsibilities as VP International Marketing for the Biscuit Division, leading the Marketing Strategy and Organization across more than 20 countries. She has also worked for Kronenbourg and Evian. Véronique served on the Board of EuropeanPWN-Paris 2003- 2005. The Coca-Cola Company joined this network in 2008 to become a key partner in Europe as part of the Global Women’s Initiative.
Véronique is French, 46 years old and married with 3 sons aged 11, 14 and 16 years old.
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