A Day in the Life of an Executive at Mars Snacking

Morning Routine

My day starts promptly at 5:30 a.m. with a nourishing breakfast of cereal, a banana, and a steaming cup of tea. I begin by checking my emails, which are often flooded with messages from our Asia-Pacific and European markets. Additionally, I carve out some time to carefully plan and consider how to address my team regarding upcoming personnel changes. The right tone is crucial, so I always make sure to prepare thoroughly.

Commute to Work

After contemplating a second cup of tea, I bid farewell to my still-sleepy family and make my way to work. I prefer to walk whenever possible, especially on days when I know I won't have time for a run. Today, during my refreshing walk of two miles, I utilized the time to connect with Larry, the president of our China Region, and his CMO. We reviewed the business performance and discussed the progress of our newly launched chewing gum brand, Respawn.

Arriving at Mars Snacking

As I approach the reception area, I'm greeted by the sight of our impressive new $50 million chocolate Pilot Plant. This state-of-the-art facility will be operational in a few months and will serve as the birthplace of the next generation of snacking innovations. My first order of business is to satisfy my craving for a second cup of tea. Fortunately, our newly opened M&M's Café on site makes it a quick and convenient task.

Quarterly Top 100 Leadership Meeting

This morning marks our highly anticipated quarterly Top 100 leadership meeting. It brings together our most senior associates from across the globe to collaborate and co-create. Our focus today is digitization, encompassing both our immediate needs and future strategies. As custodians of Mars Snacking, we are committed to thinking in terms of generations rather than just financial quarters. Consequently, we set long-term plans in motion, ensuring our impact extends far beyond my tenure.

Energized and Engaged

The session concludes, leaving me feeling invigorated and inspired. I shared valuable insights about the future of AI, which sparked meaningful discussions. Before diving into the rest of my day, I take a few moments to debrief with my leadership team, ensuring we are aligned and ready to tackle the tasks at hand.

Navigating the Inbox

Managing my inbox is a daily challenge—over 200 emails flood my inbox each day. While I scan for urgent matters, I believe in the power of personal connection. Whenever possible, I opt for one-on-one phone calls, finding them more empowering and engaging.

Reverse Mentorship and Lunch

I strongly believe in the value of reverse mentorship, and I use my lunch break as an opportunity to connect with my reverse mentor. This unique relationship provides me with fresh perspectives and insights. Today, I engage in a one-on-one conversation with Tiana, our bars Portfolio VP, to discuss the upcoming rollout of Snickers Protein. Tiana's perspective on an important emerging market and her suggestions for improvement always leave me with much to reflect upon.

Embracing Festivities

Today calls for a special treat, so I make my way to the M&M's color wall. I indulge in a cup of my favorite M&M's, as Halloween is a significant season for our business. At the office, we take this celebration seriously. In fact, we are currently hosting our annual 'Boo-Bash' event, where associates bring their families for an afternoon of games and trick-or-treating. For this occasion, I decided to dress up as Thor. Witnessing everyone enjoy themselves at the 'Boo-Bash' is truly a highlight of my year.

R&D and Climate Ambitions

The remainder of my day is spent checking in with our team of gum scientists. We discuss additional investments in our innovative work on chewing gum, particularly the infusion of active ingredients like B vitamins. This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize the category. As the research and development session concludes, I shift my focus to a meeting with one of our top dairy suppliers. Together, we explore our shared climate ambitions and discuss ways we can collaborate to make a positive impact.

Family Time and Sports

Upon arriving home, I quickly head back out with my family for soccer night with our twin boys. We all cheer on the players, and the match ends in a well-earned score draw. Sports play a significant role in our household, so after enjoying a family dinner of spaghetti Bolognese and negotiating homework deadlines with the kids, we settle in to watch the Bulls game on TV. Like any passionate sports fan, I am still hopeful that this could be the year of victory.

Wrapping Up the Day

With the dishwasher loaded and the house in order, I take a few moments to catch up on the news before calling it a night at 10:30 p.m. It has been a fulfilling day, filled with meaningful connections, strategic planning, and family time. If you're an executive and would like to share a day in your life, please email Aria Yang at ayang@businessinsider.com.

Read the original article on Business Insider.

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By: insider@insider.com (Robin Madell)
Title: A Day in the Life of an Executive at Mars Snacking
Sourced From: www.businessinsider.com/mars-snacking-candy-company-president-headquarters-2023-12
Published Date: Wed, 13 Dec 2023 10:27:01 +0000