Talking Heads - Collaboration keystone of business success

Ginny Radford

Director, human resources and communications, Fletcher Challenge Forests.

Chairwoman, World Association of Girl Guides and
Girl Scouts.


What makes your day?


Contributing to making things happen is important to me - but especially when it means others gain the confidence and credit for achieving. I really enjoy seeing others achieve more than they had anticipated, through their work and with my support - through being empowered.

How did you get to where you are today?


A combination of education and opportunity - including support for the fact that young women are able to choose and achieve whatever they are prepared to work for. Also, being prepared to take some risks and make a career change through studying and moving cities.

What is your management style?


Collaborative, generally. I like to seek input, to have discussion, and often that means decisions are agreed to. I very much like having others feel confident enough to take the initiative, to develop the ideas and then to implement them.

As a manager, I will follow up on things that are not working, but also try to follow up and comment when things are going well, and to get a balance.

What advice would you give to someone starting out in your field today?


Look to gain a general education and general experience, not specialising too soon. There are many different opportunities which don't fit neatly into any of the formal training patterns.

The ability to write effectively and to stand up and speak are skills that are valuable in all job situations.

Who was your most important mentor?


Probably a number of people, including several women in leadership roles, both within New Zealand and internationally. Also, a manager who employed me and allowed me to take responsibility and to lead projects which extended my learning.

What was your biggest career break?


Choosing to leave teaching and gain a business degree. It opened up a whole different world of experiences from those of the education field.

What's the biggest challenge for your organisation in the present economy?


To maintain our continuous improvement process, and to be able to recognise and reward people for their skills when the commercial environment is unforgiving. Individuals need to be recognised, even if with thanks. Longer-term, being competitive in a global marketplace will make or break our ability to stay in business.

Would you like to talk about your role in the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts?


Globally, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts touches and shapes the lives of almost 10 million girls and young women, in ways that are appropriate to their culture and their stage of life. The women involved in leadership in guiding, both nationally and internationally, are superb role models and exciting people to work with.

As chairwoman of the world board, I am entrusted with helping to lead this group of women, international advocates for girls and young women, and leaders of troops or packs in their own countries.

Your role in the Girl Guides, does that influence your management style?


Being part of guiding taught me much about myself and gave me skills that formed the basis of my personality. Teamwork, organisational skills and general life skills were there for me to experience.

Working with young people as a leader, you learn quickly about leadership and management - they do not suffer fools, and see through bravado.

This experience helped me both in teaching and later in the commercial world, in communicating with a wide range of people within and outside our organisation.

How do you relax?


Walking, eating out with friends, doing physical things like gardening and reading.

How important is it to keep a sense of humour in your job?


Very. If you can't laugh at yourself, you miss out on lots of fun. Laughing at yourself is disarming and opens up communication channels.

* Ginny Radford talked to Susan Jennison.