A willingness to be led is an important aspect of becoming an effective leader. I was fortunate to have been led by some of the best.
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Lessons on Being Connected
Tom Gunter, Former President of ConAgra Foods Canada and VP Sales of Molson Coors, sits down with John Wilson, CEO/Founder of CEO Global Network, to talk about the importance of being connected and how to build relationships.
Relationships are the most valuable aspect of our personal and business lives. Our own ‘personality cocktail’ drives a varied mix of situational behaviours. Genuine caring and empathy ultimately create a trusting and long-lasting relationship. Common sense stuff, but similar to a bank account, relationships require ‘deposits’ that must exceed potentially negative ‘withdrawals’ over time. Deposits’ include those simple acts of kindness and caring that build up your ‘interpersonal bank account’.
Early in my career, a senior VP mailed a positive, hand-written note…and then 25 years later (long retired) he sent a similar note when I had been promoted to a senior level role in another organization…WOW! Such a kind, powerful gesture that will never be forgotten…but ask yourself, how much effort did that really take?
Mutual respect built over the longer term (‘deposits’) will protect your relationship from overdraft, making forgiveness a natural outcome, keeping your ‘interpersonal bank account’ from ever being in overdraft. As the saying goes, ‘you get what you give’….being respectful and empathetic to others is what this is all about….or simply stated; be respectful, be thoughtful, be nice!
Food & Consumer Products of Canada (FCPC) has awarded Tom Gunter, Executive Vice President and General Manager (retired), Fiera Foods Company and Former President, ConAgra Foods Canada with its 2018 Award of Distinction. https://lnkd.in/f-N6eAx
The Food Industry Association of Canada presented Tom Gunter, former executive vice-president and general manager at Fiera Foods Company, with the 2018 Golden Pencil Award.
A 30-year veteran of the consumer packaged goods industry, Tom Gunter is president of ConAgra Foods Canada, which manufactures and markets such popular brands as Orville Redenbacher, VH Sauces, Chef Boyardee, Healthy Choice, Hunts Tomato products, Snack Pack puddings, and POGO. Tom joined ConAgra Foods Canada as vice-president, sales in 2004, and also worked as a sales consultant for ConAgra’s international division, with responsibility for
their India and Mexico markets. He was appointed president in 2008. Prior to his tenure with ConAgra Foods, he served as vice-president, customer development at Frito Lay Canada, and vice-president, sales at Molson. Tom serves on the board of directors of Food and Consumer Products of Canada and as a director for The Grocery Foundation.
Tom Gunter is currently Board Chair of The Grocery Foundation.
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Who has the time to network?
Likely the same question that comes up when trying to find time to exercise, eat right, pursue a hobby, or take a course. Surely you’ve made the ‘I’m too busy’ justification statement at one time or another. We all have our reasons for selecting the priorities of our lives, but unfortunately ‘networking’ is seldom one that people embrace, as it is usually reserved for those moments when you are ‘in transition’ (aka, unemployed)… such a shame.