If you work hard and focus on your performance day to day, you will create your own opportunities. When they come about – take them.
1) Joining Smurfit Kappa (150 words max)
Opportunity to gain “real – hands on” experience in a large multi-national in the manufacturing sector.
Entrepreneurial spirit is encouraged and nurtured
General management experience – you are not pigeon holed into a specific discipline(this also suited the masters I had recently completed)
Worldwide opportunities. SKG gives you the ability to travel and learn from and understand best practices and ways of working throughout the world. These are vital skills in the modern global economy.
2) Working in Smurfit Kappa (150 words max)
Demanding
Challenging
Fun
Varied
Educational
3) Getting started (150 words max)
Introduction from CEO of SK Ireland John O Loughlin
Was briefed on my project for my initial 6 months
ERP implementation across all plants in Ireland (BVP)
Outline of what we were trying to achieve and what was expected of me.
4) Highlights at Smurfit Kappa (150 words max for each question)
Being appointed General Manager of Smurfit Kappa Peterborough.
Being endorsed and recommended by every manager and line manger I have had on the programme – particularly John O Loughlin (CEO SKI) ,Muirgheas Griffin (CEO SK Scotland) & Mike Fadden (Regional Director – SK March). These are the type of individuals you need to learn from.
5) Enjoying my work at Smurfit Kappa (150 words max)
Working with excellent people with a drive to succeed
Team environment
Entrepreneurial spirit is nurtured and encouraged
Driven
Belief – in yourself
Teamwork – It is all about the team.
Willingness and ability to learn (Realising you won’t be able to know everything!)
Focused
Entrepreneurial (This can be in a day to day role or from a strategic perspective)
Networking
Ability to work outside your comfort zone (Involve yourself in tasks which don’t always suit your skill set, You may even enjoy it!)
Enthusiasm & positivity – everything is possible!
Hard work!
Willingness to take calculated risks
Be a team player
Leadership (In everything you do – this does not just apply to leading a project team or plant)
Charisma
Motivation – Not just yourself but motivating those around you
Personable - Important to make an effort to empathise and relate to people at every level of the business.
Every day will be different
Be open to new challenges
Be enthusiastic
Have a willingness to learn
Treat everyone with respect(fellow employees, customers, suppliers)
Work hard
Be competitive (in a positive way)
Enjoy yourself doing it!
General Manager, UK
If you work hard and focus on your performance day to day, you will create your own opportunities. When they come about – take them.
Why did you join Smurfit Kappa?
It was an opportunity to gain real "hands on” experience in a large multi-national in the manufacturing sector. Your entrepreneurial spirit is encouraged and nurtured. It presented an opportunity to gain general management experience – however, you are not pigeon holed into a specific discipline. SKG gives you the ability to travel and learn from and understand best practices and ways of working throughout the world. These are vital skills in the modern global economy.
What has been the most rewarding experience at Smurfit Kappa?
Launching Smurfit Kappa’s first web business. On completion of the graduate programme being offered two roles within the group (Holland & UK) & being asked to stay on in Smurfit Kappa Dublin. Launching the International graduate network. This was a concept of mine that I believe will benefit ex and current graduates throughout the group.
What does one working week look like?
Every day is a new challenge - working with excellent people with a drive to succeed in a team environment where your entrepreneurial spirit is nurtured and encouraged.
What does the future hold?
My short term goal is to continue to learn and educate myself about every aspect of the SK and our customers business. My medium term goal is to be a regional director following on to be a country CEO. Long term…Work hard, fulfil my potential and enjoy myself.
