The Mars R&D Award is our signature, global program recognizing outstanding contributions that have delivered business impact. With more than 500 nominations, we’re introducing you to our final 12 recipients across four award categories.
As much as Sarah adores her fellow Associates, she’s glad not to hear from them. It means the Quality and Food Safety (Q&FS) measures and protocols she’s helped secure are running smoothly. Sarah is our Global Petcare Q&FS Culture Champion, and we sat down with her to learn more about what her Line Manager calls her “unique and relentless” passion for R&D. Her excitement for her work is so contagious that her team wanted to award her for it!
Question: Tell us about your role.
Answer: I was the Q&FS Director for Asia when nominated, but I recently became the Global Petcare Q&FS Culture Champion at Mars. It’s a brand new role — I’m excited to engage the entire Petcare organization to help the Q&FS team deliver on our quality objectives.
Q: Tell us about your award-winning project.
A: My project was my previous role as a line manager for about an 18-month period. Our Australia Q&FS office was moving out of the Asian market, so we uplifted local Mars talent to fill those roles. They are very capable, and I made it my job to empower them and make them feel confident. It was integral to support, develop, challenge and grow this team to ensure the success of our Asia segment, and I was so glad to be part of getting them to a successful place.
Q: What do you love most about your work?
A: Being able to help the great, local Asian talent shine was everything. They’re extraordinarily capable and competent — helping them get where they were going and giving them confidence was very rewarding for me.
Q: What ignited your passion for R&D?
A: I have a genuine connection to why I work at Mars. We create A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS, and I genuinely believe they make a better world for us. When my kids are upset, they go find our dog or cat. Every day that I come to work, I’m making sure I feed them the best quality products that will help them have the longest life possible. So, I’m fundamentally very tied and committed to what we do as a business. I see a direct impact every day on what I do for work and the impact that has on my family’s lives. That really means something to me.
Q: Your award was in the “Secure Today” category. How are you working to build a better world for tomorrow?
A: My new role means focusing on Associates and ensuring they’re comfortable, equipped and supported.
I take so much pride in enabling R&D Associates, and the data shows that it matters. The annual engagement survey shows how valued my team feels, to what extent I recognized their achievements and how much they feel their work matters. This year, my Asia Quality Leadership Team was in the 98th percentile of all companies that participated in this survey, and that’s truly where we are in the bell curve every year. I’m proud that my people know how appreciated they are; it means the world to me.
Q: Why is this award so meaningful?
A: This award really isn’t just for me; it’s for the entire Asia team. Bigger than that, it’s an award for Asia Pacific. None of this would have been possible if my team hadn’t been ready to step out of their comfort zone. I really believe in surrounding myself with people who’re smarter than I, so being surrounded by these experts is so humbling. They’ve, in turn, given me the confidence to support them. Knowing this award really comes from them is deeply meaningful.
