How I Got Here: Monica Pool, Chief Marketing Officer at KFC U.K. & Ireland
Monica Pool, Chief Marketing Officer at KFC U.K. & Ireland, shares her career journey in Yum! Brands' #HowIGotHere series. With a background in finance and economics, Monica's career spans from selling umbrella hats to leading marketing teams at KFC and Taco Bell. Her experiences growing up in apartheid South Africa and moving to London have shaped her leadership style, emphasizing connection, creativity, and inclusivity. Monica values work-life balance through meditation and finds joy in small moments. She credits Yum! culture for fostering heart-led leadership and allowing her to bring her authentic self to work. As CMO, Monica focuses on coaching her team and partnering with leadership to set brand ambitions and strategic choices for KFC's growth and relevance.
Monica Pool, Chief Marketing Officer di KFC U.K. & Ireland, condivide il suo percorso professionale nella serie #HowIGotHere di Yum! Brands. Con una formazione in finanza ed economia, la carriera di Monica spazia dalla vendita di cappelli ombrello alla guida dei team di marketing di KFC e Taco Bell. Le sue esperienze di crescita in Sud Africa durante l'apartheid e il trasferimento a Londra hanno influenzato il suo stile di leadership, sottolineando l'importanza della connessione, della creatività e dell'inclusività. Monica valorizza l'equilibrio tra vita lavorativa e personale attraverso la meditazione e trova gioia nei piccoli momenti. Lei attribuisce alla cultura Yum! il merito di promuovere una leadership guidata dal cuore, permettendole di portare il suo io autentico al lavoro. In qualità di CMO, Monica si concentra su la formazione del suo team e sulla collaborazione con la leadership per definire ambizioni di marca e scelte strategiche per la crescita e la rilevanza di KFC.
Monica Pool, Directora de Marketing de KFC U.K. & Ireland, comparte su trayectoria profesional en la serie #HowIGotHere de Yum! Brands. Con una formación en finanzas y economía, la carrera de Monica abarca desde la venta de sombreros paraguas hasta liderar equipos de marketing en KFC y Taco Bell. Sus experiencias creciendo en Sudáfrica durante el apartheid y su mudanza a Londres han moldeado su estilo de liderazgo, enfatizando la conexión, la creatividad y la inclusión. Monica valora el equilibrio entre la vida laboral y personal a través de la meditación y encuentra alegría en los pequeños momentos. Atribuye a la cultura de Yum! el impulso de una liderazgo basado en el corazón, lo que le permite mostrar su auténtico yo en el trabajo. Como CMO, Monica se enfoca en entrenar a su equipo y colaborar con la dirección para establecer ambiciones de marca y decisiones estratégicas para el crecimiento y la relevancia de KFC.
모니카 풀(Monica Pool), KFC U.K. & Ireland의 최고 마케팅 책임자(CMO)는 Yum! Brands의 #HowIGotHere 시리즈에서 자신의 경력을 공유합니다. 재무 및 경제학 쪽 배경을 가진 모니카는 우산 모자를 판매하는 것에서 KFC 및 타코벨(Taco Bell)의 마케팅 팀을 이끄는 경력까지 다양합니다. 아파르트헤이트 남아프리카에서의 성장 경험과 런던으로의 이주가 그녀의 리더십 스타일을 형성했으며, 연결, 창의성 및 포괄성을 강조합니다. 모니카는 명상을 통해 일과 삶의 균형을 소중히 여기며, 작은 순간에서 기쁨을 찾습니다. 그녀는 Yum! 문화가 마음을 나누는 리더십을 촉진하고 직장에서 자신의 진정한 모습을 보여줄 수 있도록 해준 것에 감사하고 있습니다. CMO로서 모니카는 팀 코칭과 리더십과의 협업에 중점을 두어 KFC의 성장과 관련성을 위한 브랜드 목표와 전략적 선택을 설정합니다.
Monica Pool, Directrice Marketing de KFC U.K. & Ireland, partage son parcours professionnel dans la série #HowIGotHere de Yum! Brands. Avec une formation en finance et en économie, la carrière de Monica va de la vente de chapeaux parapluie à la direction des équipes marketing chez KFC et Taco Bell. Ses expériences de croissance en Afrique du Sud durant l'apartheid et son déménagement à Londres ont façonné son style de leadership, mettant l'accent sur la connexion, la créativité et l'inclusivité. Monica accorde de l'importance à l'équilibre entre vie professionnelle et vie privée grâce à la méditation et trouve de la joie dans les petits moments. Elle attribue à la culture Yum! le mérite de favoriser un leadership centré sur le cœur et de lui permettre d'apporter son moi authentique au travail. En tant que CMO, Monica se concentre sur le coaching de son équipe et sur le partenariat avec le leadership pour définir les ambitions de marque et les choix stratégiques pour la croissance et la pertinence de KFC.
Monica Pool, Chief Marketing Officer von KFC U.K. & Ireland, teilt ihren Karriereweg in der Serie #HowIGotHere von Yum! Brands. Mit einem Hintergrund in Finanzen und Wirtschaft reicht Monicas Karriere von der Verkaufs von Regenschirmhüten bis zur Leitung von Marketingteams bei KFC und Taco Bell. Ihre Erfahrungen in apartheid Südafrika und ihr Umzug nach London haben ihren Führungsstil geprägt und betonen Verbindung, Kreativität und Inklusivität. Monica legt Wert auf Work-Life-Balance durch Meditation und findet Freude in kleinen Momenten. Sie schreibt der Yum! Kultur zu, dass sie eine von Herzen geleitete Führung fördert und es ihr ermöglicht, ihr authentisches Ich zur Arbeit zu bringen. Als CMO konzentriert sich Monica darauf, ihr Team zu coachen und mit der Führung zusammenzuarbeiten, um Markenambitionen und strategische Entscheidungen für das Wachstum und die Relevanz von KFC festzulegen.
- Monica Pool's diverse experience across KFC and Taco Bell markets may contribute to innovative marketing strategies
- Emphasis on heart-led leadership and authenticity aligns with modern corporate culture trends
- Focus on brand ambition and strategic choices for KFC's growth indicates a forward-thinking approach
- None.
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / August 22, 2024 / Yum! Brands
EDUCATION
Westville Girls' High
Durban, South Africa
(1992 - 1995)
University of KwaZulu-Natal
Durban, South Africa
Bachelor of Commerce in Finance and Economics
(1996 - 1998)
If we were to interview your teachers, what would they say about you?
Monica was always friendly and a good all-rounder, but could try a little harder at sports.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be an artist, but at the time, you couldn't study both art and accounting, so my dad made the choice for me - accounting! I think that's why I love marketing so much as it's a great combination of both creativity and commerciality.
WORK
First Job
Over a single weekend in high school, I was recruited to sell "umbrella hats," a bizarre and ridiculous contraption meant to protect you from the hot South African sun. I managed to sell out my entire stock by convincing beachgoers that they really needed one. That's when I realized I could sell anything!
The Hardy Boys Advertising Agency, Durban, South Africa
2003 - 2004: Account Director
Rainbow Farms (Pty), Durban, South Africa
2004 - 2008: Marketing Manager
KFC South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa
2009 - 2012: Marketing Manager, Advertising & Retail
KFC U.K. & Ireland, London, United Kingdom
2012 - 2015: Marketing Manager, New Business Concepts
KFC Central & Eastern Europe, London, United Kingdom
2015: Marketing Leader
2015: Marketing Director
KFC U.K. & Ireland, London, United Kingdom
2015 - 2019: Marketing Director
2019 - 2020: Director of People Transformation
Taco Bell U.K. & Europe, London, United Kingdom
2020 - 2023: Marketing Director
KFC U.K. & Ireland, London, United Kingdom
2023 - present: Chief Marketing Officer
Do you believe in work/life balance?
For me, the notion of balance is an inner job; it is about a feeling of balance within that helps me remain calm and centered no matter what is happening in my external world. I began a committed daily meditation practice about five years ago that has deepened my sense of self and strengthened that feeling of balance. It's an ongoing practice!
What moments, or who, in your life influenced the way you work?
Growing Up in Apartheid South Africa
As a mixed-race child in a period of institutionalized racial segregation in the country, this time shaped my desire to truly connect with people and know their stories. It also showed me the importance of creating environments where people feel they belong and matter.
Moving to London
This move in 2012 opened my eyes to the power of creativity: the city, the people, the art, music and design culture. There is a freedom of expression in London that continues to inspire me in our brand building efforts too.
Yum! Culture
I've been lucky to be inspired by many amazing leaders throughout my career at Yum!, such as Meg Farren, KFC U.K.'s General Manager, who leads with optimism, even during challenging times. David Timm, a former KFC CMO, showed me the power and impact of quiet people, which is important for introverts like myself. But, it is the Yum! culture in its entirety that has shaped how I lead, allowing me to bring my authentic self to work. We emphasize heart-led leadership, which fosters collaboration and empathy while encouraging courageous conversations in the right way.
What do people think you do versus what you actually do?
My 8-year-old nephew thinks I work at a KFC restaurant and get to eat popcorn chicken (his favorite) all day, but he's starting to understand that I also "make ads."
But actually, I get to lead a super talented marketing team, so my main job is to be a great coach for them. A big part of my role is partnering with our Leadership Team and franchisee partners to set our brand ambition and make sure we're making the best strategic choices to grow KFC in a way that keeps us relevant for the next generation.
What is the best piece of advice that you've been given?
You can use your own joy as a navigation system for your life.
What makes you happy?
Joy for me shows up in small moments across the day.
Laughing with my family.
Cat cuddles.
A walk along the river where I live.
Even cold river swims!
How do you do it?
With a little help from my friends.
View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Yum! Brands on 3blmedia.com.
Contact Info:
Spokesperson: Yum! Brands
Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/yum-brands
Email: info@3blmedia.com
SOURCE: Yum! Brands
View the original press release on accesswire.com
FAQ
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