Mars

Teresa Fernandes is the Digital Transformation Director at Mars Wrigley, U.S. Her program management skills, leadership capability, and collaborative spirit have made her an adept leader in the retail industry. In her tenure at Mars, Fernandes has piloted countless complex business transformation projects upholding a positive, optimum work culture within the team.

Could you shed some light on the challenging projects you have come across?

Technological innovations have always been my area of expertise. However, deploying new technology is no easy task as it brings significant changes in the operational process of a business. The pace and level are two inherent factors that determine the success of the new process.

The ‘pace’ refers to external elements like deploying a new process, while the ‘level’ is associated with the human factor involved. A healthy coexistence of both is required for the smooth running of corporations/CPGs to achieve the maximum result. The challenge that we face is mostly associated with implementing multiple operations hand-in-hand. In an organization with numerous departments, new transformational projects/processes executed must bring people together.

How working together as a team helps in digital transformation projects?

People are the ones who define the future of digital transformation. Every member is an agent of change. While working as a team, there is a collective need to understand the responsibility to maintain the status quo. Every person in the group needs to be collaborative; helping each other is the only way to yield great results.

  People are the ones who define the future of digital transformation. Every member is an agent of change 

When we function as a group, gradual tensions might arise. But, leveling them with strong leadership and clear vision will help execute the project in a better way. Moreover, leadership is the critical factor that drives a project to success. A true leader is a person who binds and bonds the whole group.

Would you explain how has your project management skills helped you handle complex projects at mars?

To implement a transformation, one has to have an essential project management skill set. A well-disciplined project manager who follows definite methodologies will always be an asset to the firm. An organization is like an ocean, and it will have turbulent times. A skilled project manager can help an organization tide through its tumultuous period.

What will be your advice to peers?

Hiring plays a vital role in accelerating transformation. The leader and team members should be flexible to adapt to changes in methodologies at any point while working on a particular project. The ERP transformation programs are the most challenging. It incorporates agile hybrid techniques to increase companywide disruption and a quantum leap in improvement that can increase efficiency and profitability. So, identifying the right candidate who understands the modern bounds will benefit the organization.

We should go for projects that matter the most to our company rather than going after the golden buzzwords of technology and new processes circulating in the market. In order to achieve success, we should have a long-term goal and follow our own set of rules. Work at your own pace, and the success will be yours.