This
month Vivianne Child, director of alchemy at First Quench, which owns Thresher,
Victoria Wine, Wine Rack, Bottoms Up, Drinks Direct and the Enjoyment web site,
age 39
How
long have you been in this job?
One-and-a-half years.
How
long have you been with your company?
Ten years.
What
does your role involve?
Creating an environment for change.
What’s
the best thing about your job?
Meeting people who make me humble because of their achievements outside
work.
What’s
the worst thing about your job?
Meeting people who don’t enjoy working for First Quench.
What
is your current major project or strategic push?
Using our “Alchemy at Work” programme to focus on the commercial benefits
of goal setting and thrilling customer service.
Preferred
terminology?
Learning through play.
Favourite
buzzwords?
BOGOF (buy one get one free).
Most
loathed buzzwords?
“This will be a challenge”, meaning, “This is very difficult and I want YOU
to do it.”
Are
you good at self-development?
Yes.
What
self-development have you done in the last six months?
Pacific Institute course entitled Investment in Excellence – it’s superb.
Where
do you want to be in five years time?
Working for myself, having proved that alchemy has been a commercial
benefit to First Quench.
What
was the most useful course you ever attended?
A presentation skills course that taught me to be myself.
What
was the worst course you ever went on?
Usually anything to do with my PC. Someone could make a fortune running
interesting software training.
What
was your first job?
A shop manager. I got my first company car – a lime green Mini.
What
did you want to do for a living when you were at school?
Teach.
What
was the best career decision you ever made?
Moving to Whitbread – a large company with excellent training and
development opportunities. I would never have done an MBA if it wasn’t for
Whitbread.
What
was the worst career decision you ever made?
Staying in my first job too long because I liked my boss.
Which
of your qualifications do you most value and why?
The Wine & Spirits Education Trust’s Wine Diploma, because it was
difficult.
Evaluation
– holy grail or impossible dream?
Neither. It’s absolutely vital and great fun to prove that what I do has
benefits.
How
do you think your job will have changed in five years’ time?
My job will not exist in five years’ time.
What
do you think the core skills for your job will be in the future?
Flexibility, evaluation and relishing change.
What
advice would you give to someone starting out in training and development?
Do things differently. Training and development moves so fast that whatever
you do, you are probably right.
How
do you network?
Lunch.
If
you could have any job in the world, what would it be?
Personal coach to Prince Charles.
Do
you take your work home with you?
I say no. My husband would probably say yes.
What
is your motto?
Organisations don’t change. People change, and changed people change
organisations.
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Describe
your management style in three words or less.
Female, logical, fun.
How
would you like to be remembered by your colleagues?
Optimistic and always positive.
