It is something we dream of at Carlton & United Breweries, something we talk a lot about and, as an organisation, continually strive to achieve. We dream of a better world. One that is safer because all people drink responsibly. One that is cleaner, greener and sustainable.  One where we help to make communities we live in stronger for everyone.

As a company we have made a commitment to use our scale, resources and energy, as well as our ability to bring people together, to help achieve this dream of a better world.  But how exactly does the work of the women at CUB reflect this commitment to a better world? As a team, as managers, as employees in particular roles, how are we each contributing to improving our community on a local and global scale? We asked some of the talented women in the team at our Abbotsford Brewery to see how each of them was helping to create a better world.  

Joining CUB as part of our Graduate Program, Sarah Chambers was exposed to some of CUB’s organisation-wide initiatives around sustainability and community. Now, as Brewing Area Manager at Abbotsford, Sarah oversees a process that necessarily involves the creation of CO2,which contributes to global warming. Committed to minimising the effects of this necessary brewing by-product, Sarah says, ‘I am always looking for ways to create efficiencies that will help reduce and counteract the CO2 impact.’

Taking a different approach, Jessica Kelly, the People Specialist at Abbotsford Brewery, says that she is building a better world by focusing on the fact that people are genuinely our organisation’s greatest asset. She says, ‘An engaged, motivated team with a good work/life balance will be more productive, which of course benefits the business but also creates a happy workplace and happy people. Building a better world is about making sure people are content in their own lives and can come to work in a safe and supportive environment. A big part of our role in the People team is driving the initiatives that promote this.’

Laly Navarro, Packaging Team Leader at Abbotsford, agrees with Jessica and believes that her first step towards making a better world is to ensure that every one of her team members is happy, healthy and safe. ‘I want them to leave work each day feeling better than when they arrived. Making their workplace a happier place will make their world better.’ At a broader level, Laly and her team have also made a commitment to minimising waste in their line. ‘From bottles to labelling, we don’t want to waste materials and see them end up in landfill. We don’t want to throw away a single bottle or label. This is something we are dedicated to as a team and focus on to ensure we are always improving.’

As Packaging Specialist for CUB, Tuulia Ijas has a unique role in which she can contribute to building a better world across a variety of functions. ‘It’s extremely satisfying being in a role where I can help make big ideas happen. We have people come to us with great ideas to create efficiencies, be more sustainable and improve environmental friendliness, and we get to find ways to make these ideas happen. I work with a lot of different functions and am able to offer advice and suggestions on how we can do better.’

Our vision of a better world isn’t just something we dream about or talk about. It is something we are actively working towards and striving for every day, in every department, office and level of the organisation. As the efforts of the women at Abbotsford Brewery demonstrate, from People to Marketing to Supply, every one of us contributes in meaningful ways to help bring our dream of a better world closer to reality. How are you working to improve the world?

As a member of the AB InBev family, Carton & United Breweries offers unparalleled global career opportunities for the passionate and ambitious. In the last four months, four CUB staff members have been appointed to overseas roles – three in New York and one in Switzerland.

One of these talented team members is Amanda Tilley, who heads off to New York on her new career adventure.

What I’ve done

I have a 20-year career in FMCG in organisations such as Unilever and Diageo.  I joined CUB in 2015 in the role of General Manager Sales Transformation and in 2016 I was promoted to the role of Trade Marketing Director.

CUB live by the philosophy of meritocracy and I am proof that it works.

I am very proud that I will be finishing my time at CUB with a strong team in place who will support each other to deliver great shopper marketing and category plans to ensure we grow our great categories and continue to win with our Customers.

Achieving No.1 in Category Management, as voted by our Customers in the Advantage Group Survey, is a real honor.  I am confident that we have the team and disciplines in place to continue to exceed our customers’ expectations.

Where I’m going 

I am fulfilling a lifelong career dream and moving to New York City with AB InBev to join the US business as Vice President – Category Leadership.  New York is one of the world’s great cities. I know it sounds cliché but I want to wake up in the city that never sleeps and say, I know I can make it here. And having lived already in three great cities of Sydney, Melbourne and London I know I am ready to grab hold of the possibilities that come from personal change.

It is a newly created leadership role in the US business hence the first deliverable is to create an organization devoted to Category Management. This will include defining the service proposition for the team, which has 4 direct reports, 130 people in total, and then build new capability and a value proposition that the team will be famous for. The core purpose of the role will be to bring the key disciplines of building and leveraging shopper understanding to advise on strategies to grow the category. By putting the shopper’s needs at the heart of this thinking, and through building trusted partnerships with our key Customers, I aim to create a competitive differentiator that will see AB Inbev leading the US Liquor industry in Category Management.

What I’m excited about

I have always believed that you get what you focus on and I feel very proud of myself for staying focused on my career goals.

With every new challenge I of course want to make a difference. I first want to learn as much as I can and become a better category leader in the process.

I want to work with the business to further strengthen our category management organizational muscle and build a highly respected and talented team who play their part in building category growth plans than ensures we are the partner of choice with our key Customers.

As a strong female leader, I want to inspire other women in our organization that they too can turn their ‘can’t into cans’ and ‘dreams into plans’.

And I want to explore one of the best cities in the world with my husband and create new memories that forever remind me what a great decision it was that two and half years ago I joined CUB.

There is no bigger stage than the AB InBev in the US. I feel humbled to be given this opportunity and really inspired to have received a new challenge in a market that is unfamiliar.  I am excited to bring all our learnings from Australia to this new market and, of course, to learn from our US customers and partners.

Imagine a company where you are defined by your talent and your contribution to the organisation. A company that allows you to create your own career path, unconstrained by what you studied or what your previous experience has been. Imagine a company where extraordinary results are rewarded and celebrated company-wide. Does this sound too good to be true? Well, it isn’t!

Joining an organisation, like CUB, that functions and thrives as a meritocracy, means that such a dream need no longer be relegated to the imagination — we are making it a reality every day, for every employee. Just ask Jean-Phillipe Richer, our Senior Director – People Analytics, Innovation and Rewards. “Results don’t lie. It is very rewarding to work for an organisation that values strong achievements as an individual and as a team. I really feel I control my career path that way.”

We talk about meritocracy a lot at CUB; it is integral to our operations and our culture. So, what are the benefits for you, if you join our meritocracy?

• You will not be defined or limited by your particular course of study or your previous roles. Typically, your degree and training define where you can and can’t go in your career, but not at CUB!

• You will be measured by your talent and your achievements. This means if you work hard, think outside the box and deliver a positive impact for the company, not only will these contributions be recognised but you will be rewarded with new opportunities and challenges

• There is no such thing as a ‘typical’ career path. Just because you started in finance doesn’t mean you couldn’t end up in marketing. At CUB, the sky is the limit. Whether your ultimate goal is to be a VP or a head brewer, we will support your dreams.

• A meritocracy fosters innovation. An open exchange of ideas allows everyone to share their opinions, ultimately bringing the best and brightest ideas into fruition and keeping us at the cutting edge of the industry.

• CUB is proud of its culture of high achievement and success. When one succeeds, we all succeed, and a meritocracy encourages each of us to be better and to do better.

Leadership is encouraged at all levels of the organisation. People are inspired and passionate because they are given autonomy, opportunities and the chance to take control of their own career path. And it works! Chloe Appleton, our Value Creation and Transformation Director, has taken advantage of CUB’s meritocracy to grow her career: “It has given me the confidence to challenge the status quo and pave my own way. I’ve been able to shape each of my roles, which have taken me from being a hard-working and dedicated team member to a leader who motivates and inspires my own team to take charge of their careers.”

At Carlton & United Breweries, our people are encouraged to think creatively and to push the limits. The greater the results, the bigger the challenges and opportunities that are thrown their way. We know that our greatest strength is our people, and our commitment to meritocracy is fundamental to the successes of both our individual team members and our organisation as a whole.

We take great care in developing the recipes for our beers and ciders, choosing the best ingredients in the perfect amounts to create exceptional products that our customers love. It’s only logical, then, that if we take such care with our products, we must also take seriously the ingredients and recipe for creating the ultimate team.

The perfect combination of hops, water, grain and yeast – plus the occasional secret ingredient – creates beer.

So what are the secret ingredients for a successful team at Carlton United Breweries?

• Sharing a dream. Working towards the same vision energises and inspires everyone to pull together to achieve our common goal — Bringing people together for a better world.
• Acting as owners. When everyone is ready to roll up their sleeves and work beyond the bounds of their position description, we can deliver amazing results.
• Desire to be continually challenged. Never completely satisfied with our results, we challenge one another to do better and be better, always looking for the next opportunity or the latest innovation that could disrupt the industry.
• Leading by example. Leadership is not just a responsibility of the managers or executives at CUB. Leading by personal example is a value that is at the core of our culture, and everyone is encouraged to step up.
• Shared learning and knowledge. We all bring different skills and experiences to CUB, and sharing these with one another helps us build stronger teams.
• Diversity, in every way. The more opinions and perspectives that are shared, the greater the range of ideas we have to work with and the better the outcomes for all. Everyone at CUB has a voice and we want to hear each and every one of them.

“In the People team we encourage the team to come up with creative ideas and work with their colleagues to bring them to life. Our recent internal Careers Fest is a great example and a first for CUB. A small team came together with different perspectives and skills to create an energising and successful festival.” – Madelyn Ring, People Director Commercial

Like the recipes for our beers, our recipe for building a successful team is tried and tested. Working with people who have something new to teach you and who challenge you every day is inspiring, and is central to the success of the individuals who work at CUB, as well as of the organisation itself.

“We’re so much more powerful together; unlocking the combined thinking, experience and potential of the team means that the plans we develop are stronger, ultimately leading to better business results.” – Brian Phan, Brand Director – Commercial

There are a few final ingredients that include generous portions of integrity and hard work, plus a few handfuls of fun and laughter. And at the end of the day, we all come together to celebrate our wins with a cider or beer: it’s the perfect recipe for a successful team.

The team at CUB is made up of people from extremely diverse backgrounds and walks of life. Part of what makes us so unique as a company is that we don’t focus on what you studied or where you’ve been – we’re much more concerned with what you can do.

Joining CUB in 2014 as a Sales and Service Representative in our Contact Centre, Hayley Fazakerley left behind a career in forensic biology that she had studied for and worked towards for seven years.

‘I studied a very niche degree at university and worked in the scientific field within the government sector before changing my career direction completely. What I love about this is that I’ve been able to use the practical elements of my degree and merge them with on-the-job training at CUB to upskill and continue to grow in a totally new industry. I’ve always felt well supported here with training, learning and the provision of tools to help bridge any gaps. I owe a lot of my success in the company to this.

Before starting with CUB, my perception of the organisation was fairly shallow and surface level. I was keen to work with some big-hitting brands while having a good time. I was thinking it would be a light-hearted environment that would be a refreshing change from the career I had studied for.’

This superficial conception of the business has been dispelled over the four years Hayley has been part of the CUB family. ‘Something new will challenge me every day in the role I’m in. I guess that’s what happens when you are working in a fast-paced environment – you are exposed to more and regularly taken out of your comfort zone.

I often get asked, “How hard can it be to sell beer?!” and before I worked in the industry I was probably of the same opinion. However, I don’t think I’ve ever worked this hard in my life!’

Hayley’s hard work has seen her develop and progress within the organisation, in fact she has held five roles in four years. From her initial position in our Contact Centre Hayley then took a role as Venue Partner in The Beer Collective, from where she moved to Business Development Executive and then to Key Account Executive before stepping up to her current role of Key Account Manager.

Taking your career into your own hands and setting goals for yourself is key to advancing within CUB. Hayley actively networked with colleagues in roles that she was aiming for in order to learn how to bridge the gap between her current position and her future career goals.

‘My mantra has always been that if workloads increase it means I have more opportunities to meet new publicans, learn new skills and build relationships with different people within the business. The number of opportunities and rewards that are there for the taking is surprising. If you want to work, you will be rewarded. There is a huge network of passionate and hardworking colleagues (and customers) who I get to collaborate with daily. They’ve been there to support me but also to push me to do more, learn more and accomplish more than I thought I was capable of.’

So, what’s next for Hayley?

‘I’d love the opportunity to step up to lead a team and take part in the strategic planning and decision-making for a state.’

Hayley is excited about her future at CUB in a career she finds rewarding in ways that go far beyond the financial: ‘Money can’t buy experiences! Sometimes I have to pinch myself when I’m in a room full of sporting stars or walking on the MCG or enjoying a few chalices of Stella Artois at the Portsea Polo. I can’t wait to see what happens next.’

As a member of the AB InBev family, Carton & United Breweries offers unparalleled global career opportunities for the passionate and ambitious. In the last four months, four CUB staff members have been appointed to overseas roles – three in New York and one in Switzerland.

One of these talented team members is Daniel Spirdonoff, who heads off to Switzerland on his new career adventure.

Daniel Spirdonoff

What I’ve done
Over the last six years in CUB’s Legal team I’ve worked across the commercial functions of CUB, in Sales, Marketing, Sponsorships, Licensing, IP and Distribution. My role as Legal Director – Commercial, Asia Pacific South involved managing the legal risks associated with these areas, making sure we market and sell our products in a legally compliant manner and protecting our suite of world-class brands.

Where I’m going

I’m heading to Zug, Switzerland to be Legal Director – Global Procurement. In this new role I’ll be providing legal support for AB InBev’s Global Procurement team, with a primary focus on the procurement of indirect inputs (commercial services, travel, professional services, IT outsourcing etc).
I feel excited, proud and humbled that CUB has backed me to move half way around the world, entirely out of my comfort zone, to experience new challenges and opportunities, learn new skills and work with more amazing people.

What I’m excited about

Being part of the Global team is very exciting. I’ve worked at CUB for over six years and have a very good understanding of the Australian market and how we operate. My new role will provide the opportunity to gain a great understanding of how our global business operates.
I’m looking forward to interacting with AB InBev colleagues in all Zones around the world, and I’m also looking forward to working on global supply partnerships with some of the world’s leading companies, which will be a great experience!

I hope to bring a bit of ‘Aussie flair’ to Switzerland and to help the company to continually improve, evolve and deliver on results.

In 2002 Caroline Aspridis joined CUB as an Operations Graduate, fresh from a degree in Chemical Engineering and Arts at Melbourne University. Her subsequent career pathway has been anything but traditional, as she has made her mark on various areas of the business.

Looking back at her start at CUB, what advice would she give those joining the company now? “Ask lots of questions. It’s beneficial to both the employee and the employer if you ask plenty of questions, voice opinions and share ideas. Learn about the needs of your internal customers and find out what your team needs from you in order to deliver its objectives.”

From her first role she moved on to become Draught Operations Manager and then Commercialisation Project Manager in 2008. Never fearful of new challenges, Caroline next accepted her first management position with SABMiller as Manager – Trade Brewing and Supply Innovation. During this time she generated a lot of hype around the CUB brand by combining her brewing expertise and market insight to concoct a brew to appeal to a more female-centric market. “We targeted the taste to align with the characteristics we knew women liked from our consumer sensory work.”

With such a variety of roles, is there one that stands out as a favourite?

“I always think that my favourite role is the one that I’m currently in. However, from a career perspective, when I started working on NPD projects for Supply I was exposed to the commercial side of the business and it changed my career path. I enjoyed helping to link Supply/Logistics with the commercial objectives of our business, and was driven to learn more about the broader business as a result. It resulted in me striving to complete an MBA and helped me to understand what I wanted to get out of my career.”

A passion for the company and industry shines through in her work and her leadership approach, as she guides and inspires her team of connoisseurs to direct new product development.

“It’s a great place to work and the people make it what it is. We invest time, energy and money into our breweries to ensure they are set up for the future. And I truly appreciate all the opportunities that AB InBev, as an organisation that believes in the value of meritocracy, offers.”

Sixteen years and eight roles later, Caroline’s career has been nothing short of inspiring, and she continues to ensure the success of the company today, seeking out new ways to implement improvements and define an innovative path for the CUB of tomorrow.

“I love that we are constantly striving to be better than our previous best. I’m currently working on extending the CUB ways of working as my goal is to optimise and integrate how we do things with our global teams, so that we can have all the support and advantages of being part of a global business.”

With a long and successful career involving many challenges along the way and, no doubt, more yet to come, is there anything she wishes she’d done differently?

“I would have loved to have learnt earlier that it’s okay to voice opinions and share ideas with senior leaders. A turning point for me was about four years ago when I realised that, provided I was prepared and knew my numbers, my opinion could be shared freely and be just as valued as that from anyone of the C-suite. Feedback and ideas are valued from every level of the business. Learning this earlier would have given me more confidence in previous roles to come forward with ideas, to speak up and to get things done more effectively.”