It reminds me of the question my husband, one of an identical twin, is often asked: what is it like to be an identical twin? Well, I don't know, it's who I am, I don't know what it's like to be someone else.

People often ask me how I ended up in a top position as a woman. It provides more job satisfaction, it ensures a better bond with your customers. A diverse population approaches topics from different angles and yields better results, more innovation. Inclusion and diversity are essential for the performance of an organization. Fortunately, today everyone is convinced that diversity and inclusion represent 'value'. I obviously find it a very important topic. There the differences between men and women and between people with different cultural backgrounds seemed to be much greater. The topic of diversity became more visible for me when I moved to London. New Zealand was the first country to give women the right to vote - that may say something. How could it be different in a country that is governed by its third female prime minister and where large companies are led by women. Diversity and inclusion were more a matter of course. ‘The remarkable thing is that it was never a theme when I lived in New Zealand. It's gratifying to find out where those talents lie.’Īnd when we talk about diversity and inclusion, what is your personal commitment or drive?

I am convinced that everyone has talents, discovered or undiscovered. In my HR role, I naturally also find it important to see what makes people happy, where they get their satisfaction from and what role they see for themselves within our organization. My goal is to give people a sense of purpose, and to make them realize that every day offers new chances and possibilities.

So I always hope that a meeting yields something - a teaching moment or inspiration. Every encounter, every interaction matters and can have an impact, especially in the position I hold. In concrete terms, this means that I try to enjoy every given moment and that in contacts with others I always try to get the best out of it for them.

At the same time, I want to help others to get the most out of their lives as well. ‘Actually, my personal purpose comes down to making the most of life. What is an important motivation for you personally as chief people officer?

We are who we are fraser