*Episode hosted by Stéphanie Moles-Rota*
In this episode, I am joined by Karen-Marie Katholm, Chief Integrated Supply Chain Officer and Member of the Executive Committee at AkzoNobel.
Karen-Marie shared with me her career journey, emphasizing some of the key inflection points that helped her become the leader she is today, including her transition from procurement to broader supply chain roles and the challenges she faced. She also shared some of the sustainability efforts within AkzoNobel, specifically on collaborating with suppliers and customers to achieve their target.
She stressed the importance of diversity, mentorship, and networking in her career progression and advised young professionals to seek new challenges and opportunities for growth and to have an end-to-end perspective.
Listen to the full discussion here:
Connect with the Guest:
Karen-Marie joined AkzoNobel in September 2021, having held a variety of global leadership roles across Sourcing, Supply Chain, and Operations. Before moving to AkzoNobel, she was Integrated Operations Leader for DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences – having joined Danisco A/S (later DuPont) in 2009. She led an organization of more than 6,000 employees, with a strong focus on safety, sustainability, operational excellence, and digitization.
Karen-Marie has over 20 years of experience working at various large and international food manufacturers, such as Orkla, United Biscuits, and Arla Foods. She has gained significant integration experience from various mergers and acquisitions throughout her career. Karen-Marie is also a non-executive member of the Boards of Directors of NTG Nordic Transport Group A/S and Chr. Augustinus Fabrikker. These positions were approved in accordance with the Rules of Procedure Board of Management Akzo Nobel N.V. and Executive Committee Akzo Nobel N.V.
Questions I Asked:
- What were some of the key inflection points in your career that made you who you are today?
- How do you encourage your colleagues and peers to have an open mind to go out of the industry to learn outside-the-box ideas?
- What type of leadership skills did you have to use to successfully lead your team?
- How do you collaborate with your vendors and suppliers to drive sustainability?
- What are some of the things you learned on the topic of being a female leader at a C-level?
- What would be your advice to your younger self?
Show Notes:
- [01:11] What were some of the key inflection points in your career that made you who you are today?
- [04:11] “When looking at my career, I’ve never really been shy of getting myself into new challenges over time, and that’s probably part of the DNA.”
- [05:30] In terms of practical case studies in your career, because you have been a senior professional for many years, what are some of the really important challenges you’ve overcome?
- [08:32] “Sometimes you really have to be open-minded. Go outside your own industry, your own context, get some best practices from the outside, bring it home, translate it, and put it into a meaningful context.”
- [08:44] Do you find the time to go out and get that inspiration? Do you share best practices with colleagues and peers to get those outside-the-box ideas?
- [10:14] One of the first points you mentioned is leading your peers, including some people who were hoping to get the same job. So what is it that made you successful? What type of leadership skills did you have to use to make that a success?
- [11:03] “Trying to be the natural leader of the team is critical. You should have confidence and respect while making sure that there is an open environment. As a leader, you should be open to collaboration and make sure that you have clear expectations. And remember, never jump into constantly providing all the answers.”
- [12:42] Can share with us, some things that are happening or you’re working on, probably together with others in the industry to make the world a better, more sustainable place?
- [16:10] “We have a dedicated sustainability department. I think that’s a requirement, a bit of a prerequisite because they keep us all straight. They make sure that we are executing in commercial with our customers, in procurement with the suppliers, and in integrated supply chain with our own manufacturing asset.”
- [17:19] “I also see more and more companies out there, no matter where you are in the value chain, they are beginning to lower their barriers in the realization that not a single company can manage this topic of sustainability.”
- [18:09] What are some of the things that you learned and that you think are worth sharing with our audience on the topic of being a female leader at a C-level?
- [22:17] What would be your advice to your younger self?
- [23:35] “Having that end-to-end perspective is very helpful. Again, don’t try to be an expert in all areas and then miserably fail, but at least understand how is it working in other areas.”
Quotes from the Episode:
About the Host:
What a great discussion I had with Karen-Marie Katholm. I am your host, Stéphanie Moles-Rota, Managing Director for Benelux and France at Alcott Global. As an executive search professional, I bring experience from start-ups and Fortune 500 companies. I am driven by a strong commitment to embodying my Talent philosophy and sharing my visionary leadership with clients, partners, and my extensive international network.
Alcott Global provides executive search solutions for key positions at all pillars of end-to-end value chains, from general management to overall supply chain operations, including executive and non-executive board roles.
On April 9-10, 2025, we are bringing together C-level executives from multinational companies to connect, collaborate, and innovate on a forum focused on business value creation.
Last September, we awarded the Top 30 Leaders in Supply Chain of 2024, recognizing their achievements in digitizing operations, decarbonization, and sustainability and creating a diverse and equitable environment for supply chain teams to thrive and excel.
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