Val Carter - The Times Top 50 Employers for Women blog
Val Carter is a leading light in the facilities management industry. Her impressive CV highlights the wealth of experience gained in her 30-year-long career to date. Yet joining Sodexo in 2016 as a global account director has proved that there’s always a new challenge around the corner…
I’ve been in the catering and hospitality industry all my life, from the moment I left polytechnic with a HND in Hotel and Catering Management. The early part of my career was spent in restaurants, hotels and bars, and throughout the 1990s I honed my skills in a diverse range of operational roles including as an operations director for Compass.
For 16 years I was with Aramark, gradually moving away from initial operational roles into director roles in communications, client relationships and corporate responsibility, which is an area I adored working in.
Having worked for competitors, I knew a lot about Sodexo and what they stood for. What particularly appealed to me was the culture. It’s a very people focused environment, with strong values and ethics. The flexible working policy is excellent and the company’s diversity and inclusion networks are impressive.
A good work-life balance is something I’ve always tried to achieve for myself, and my teams. In the past I have worked in all-female teams and have introduced a ’40-hours over four days’ working pattern. I’m a great believer that people shouldn’t have to sacrifice important life events for work so I’ll always say to my team ‘make sure you don’t miss your child’s sports day or play.’
When I was offered the role at Sodexo as global account director for a major pharmaceutical contract I researched the client’s ethics too. What I found is that Sodexo and the client’s people values marry really well. Within Sodexo we have a 46% female/54% male representation in managerial roles across the contract.
Adjusting to this global role has really stretched me professionally. When it comes to operational experience in the UK I feel like I can confidently say I’ve ‘been there and got the t-shirt’. Now, there are new challenges every day and that’s the exciting thing.
I’m responsible for 1,100 Sodexo people providing soft and hard FM services for customers at sites in Asia, North America, UK & Ireland and Spain. Adapting to the different cultures and ways of working is challenging. In Asia for instance, the culture is to please and hierarchy is far more important than in Europe. Diversity plays a big role in labour recruitment law in the US. Being aware of these cultural and legislative needs is key.
It’s fascinating to work in new territories and have those new career experiences, which I’m happy to share with other people who might be moving into new regions themselves.
My career and life balance is a success. I’ve lived in France with my husband for eight years now, my job is based in the UK and my work requires regular visits to sites in North America and Asia. Travel is part of my everyday life and with good communications, particularly Sodexo’s webinars, you don’t feel out of touch with the business.
I’ve never met anyone with an ego in Sodexo, nor heard a colleague say anything negative about the company. Without a doubt, this is a very hard-working industry but I’m never nervous about having difficult conversations. I have that complete confidence, knowing I have colleagues around me at all times willing to share their individual areas of expertise.
At Sodexo we are committed to the importance of promoting equal opportunities, valuing diversity and creating an inclusive working environment for all our employees. Find out more about a career with us.