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Technology was once thought of as “a man’s world,” but the strong determined women of this generation have gained their well-deserved space in the field. At present, IT is continually evolving, influenced by numerous contemporary developments and advancements, and is led by both men and women.
Teresa Fernandes, one of the incredible business ladies with unwavering expertise in leading challenging digital transformation projects, is setting benchmarks in the tech domain. She is an accomplished chief information officer with a proven track record of orchestrating operational excellence and leading revolutionary digital initiatives for Mars Wrigley North America and KIND EMEA.
Teresa’s Journey: The Tale of Inspiration and Encouragement
Teresa is moving on her flourishing path today with the objective of promoting innovation and digital transformation in the FMCG sector while developing effective, long-lasting solutions to tackle changing consumer demands. While today, she’s achieved significant success in her career, she had her humble beginning during her first year of law school when she was hired as a temporary intern by a Fortune 500 IT company. She made the decision to pursue experience in the corporate sector in addition to her goal of becoming a lawyer, even though at the time it seemed counter-intuitive to her ambitions for a legal career.
Even though it was difficult to manage school and work eight hours a day, she quickly fell in love with her job, which made the experience more joyful. Teresa discovered the world of complicated project management and transformation when she was given the task of implementing enterprise resource planning (ERP) projects. That was what she needed to understand to find her own skills and passions.
She reached the decision to devote her life to technology after getting a taste of how it may upend the status quo. She changed majors to finish her bachelor’s degree in computer science and never looked back.
After working on a few technical ERP projects, Teresa was promoted to lead workstreams since her managers recognized her ability to make complex situations understandable. The ambitious businesswoman made the decision to leave the more technical aspects of her work and go into project management. She joined other Fortune 500 companies, and in each move, she would seek to change components of her roles that would bring her more knowledge and stretch her.
The multiple assignments and increased responsibilities made her a renowned name in the field of digital transformation. This led her to different opportunities across the world, having had the chance to live in four different countries (Brazil, the UK, Germany, and the USA).
She got a great opportunity to begin managing and directing others as her profession advanced. She always looks for opportunities in this area of enthusiasm in whatever role she accepts.
After some time, Teresa started leading all parts of digital for all functional areas rather than just complicated initiatives, and she eventually rose to the position of CIO at Mars Wrigley North America. She is currently the leader of the digital agenda for the largest region at a wonderful and motivating company that supports her ongoing personal growth. In her job, she has the opportunity to develop and encourage talents from all over the world who want to succeed in the field of digital technologies.
On being asked what inspired her to become a part of the digital industry, the inspirational leader said, “I joined digital because I saw how it can affect people’s lives. I was charmed by the world of possibilities that technology can unlock, and I wanted to be part of it. Another exciting aspect for me was the swiftness and scope of evolution in this area. As a learner, I understand how difficult it can be to keep up with the speed of change brought on by digital and how crucial it is to choose the right tech to invest in.”
The Primary Ingredients Behind Teresa’s Victorious Journey
Teresa’s every role in her career led her to where she is. She learned from experiences like her first-line management position that everyone had a job to play and that she didn’t need to be as technically knowledgeable as her team because she brought in the abilities that they were lacking.
It also ignited her passion for leading and developing talent, which she currently sees as one of her major achievements.
The breadth of knowledge she accumulated over the years allowed her to have end-to-end enterprise thinking, which she put into practice by supporting her business in making the right digital choices for sustainable growth.
She gained knowledge in a variety of functional and technical areas through each role (Supply, R&D, Finance, Quality, Sales and Marketing, Analytics), but she also had the opportunity to establish her reputation for delivering Digital Transformation with excellence. In other words, she was learning the value of establishing strong bonds with others and paying attention to their needs, hopes, and anxieties regardless of the position she was in.
The Gender Pay Gap: Teresa’s Perspective
I am fortunate to work for a company that is committed to equal pay for male and female employees across its global businesses. Unfortunately, the gap still exists, and closing it will take deliberate action from many, including government and business leadership.
I urge the female employees to ask for equal pay and to speak up for it, even though the leadership should take active steps to close those discrepancies. We can all make an effort to lessen and eventually eliminate the gender pay gap by adopting a multidimensional strategy that includes societal transformations, policy adjustments, and ongoing campaigning.
Diversity and Inclusion: The Key Focus of Mars
At Mars, diversity and inclusion are part of their DNA. The leading lady attributed that to the Five Principles, of which mutuality is one. At all levels, they promote acceptance of diversity, establishing a workplace climate where you can strive to be who you are and be wholly yourself.
“I am proud to be part of a diverse team and lead a diverse team myself. As a female leader, I also want to be an example that anyone can succeed despite what they are told and who currently dominates their field. Everyone has a place and a space, and it is the responsibility of every leader to uplift the people of their team”, according to Teresa Fernandes.
Defeating the Obstacles in the Way
The first challenge is the limited representation of underrepresented groups in STEM education, which results in a smaller pool of diverse talent available for recruitment.
Additionally, underrepresented personnel may be deterred from sticking around for the long run by perceived limited career possibilities or a lack of representation in senior positions. Because inclusion isn’t actively encouraged in many workplaces, some employees may feel excluded and unappreciated, which can affect retention.
There is an urgent need to encourage the youth to explore the options they have in the world of digital technologies. While, currently, the younger generation dominates the use of technology, many still hold the false belief that it is only for men. This is one of the many paradigms they need to break.
An Innovative Path Ahead
Teresa plans to drive digital innovation and transformation by leveraging technology to enhance customer and consumer experiences, optimize end-to-end operations, and drive sustainable growth.
On a personal level, she aims to continue learning and to coach and assist upcoming female business and technology leaders. She will continue to fight for diversity throughout the coming years, making sure that digital technologies are a place where talent and ideas may flourish regardless of one’s background or inclinations. She wants to break down barriers in the tech and FMCG industries and encourage more women to pursue leadership positions.
A Message from the CIO’s Desk to Empower Female Leadership
The secret to success is maintaining your commitment, learning new things constantly, and changing your tactics as necessary. In addition to helping individual women, encouraging women to hold leadership positions will help create an innovative and diverse business culture.
“To leave a legacy of empowerment, innovation, and positive change!” – Teresa Fernandes
