On 7th March, K2 celebrated International Women’s Day. For us, however, one day just wasn’t enough!
On 7th March, K2 celebrated International Women’s Day. For us, however, one day just wasn’t enough! Keen to shine a spotlight on as many of the business’ wonderful women as possible, we developed a campaign titled The Women of X Annos, which refers to the K2 women who have been part of the K2 Family for ten years or more. This campaign features a series of written and video interviews through which we explore the personalities, the roles and the formative experiences of K2’s longest standing female employees. First up was the wonderfully effervescent Christine Burton; today we welcome the charismatic and inspiring Amanda Lillie to the hotseat…
What’s your name, your job title, and how long have you worked at K2?
My name is Amanda Lillie. I am Head of Client Services Operations Europe, and I have worked at K2 for just over 10.5 years.
As a member of the X Annos community, what motivates you to keep working at K2?
The people, the vision, the ethos of K2, and the joy of coming to work every day. Learning from the best in the business and being encouraged to do better every day – this speaks to the competitive side of me and so keeps me motivated.
What does gender inclusivity mean to you?
That whatever the opportunity or role, the right person gets it. For me, inclusivity does not stop at gender. A person’s social standing, education level, ethnicity and sexual orientation should never inhibit their progression. Hard work, dedication and a can-do attitude should get everyone wherever they want to go.
What advice would you give to women aspiring to leadership roles in the business world, based on your own experiences and insights?
Learn from everyone. Some people will inspire you so much that you want to become a version of them, and some will make it clear to you exactly what you don’t want to be. Learn from both. Being heard is important for growth, so don’t be afraid to ask questions and challenge convention. And most importantly of all, find a career/role you love.
How has K2 supported your career growth over the last 10+ years?
By believing in me and giving me the tools that I’ve needed along the way. Also, by showing me what great leadership looks like and inspiring me to give my best every day.
Can you share a pivotal moment in your career journey, one which has shaped who you are today?
There is no one moment but lots of ‘growth moments’ that have brought me to where I am today. Hindsight tells me that the harder ‘growth moments’, whilst painful at the time, were the ones that really shaped me.
How do you think that K2 is challenging the Status Quo in the global mobility industry?
K2 have challenged the Status Quo by putting our teams, our clients, and our clients’ assignees at the core of what we do. We set up our Relocation Managers to succeed. This starts with the onboarding of new clients and our Relocation Managers being part of this process, giving them time to learn about the client, their culture, and their assignees. Low caseloads allow our Relocation Managers to invest time in getting things right.
In addition, K2 has introduced the Kinetic Benefit, a long-term profit-share incentive scheme which gives each employee a stake in the business, encouraging us to take ownership of the roles that we carry out.
What do you think the future would look like if we had more female leaders?
I really can’t understand why the world does not have more fearless female leaders. In my view, a world with more female leaders would be kinder and a far more harmonious place. Until that day arrives there is nothing stopping anyone calling out things that are not right and taking a stand for things they believe in.
How can more companies foster a more inclusive and supportive environment for women?
By ensuring that the right people are in the right roles for the right reasons. As a woman I don’t want a role just because I’m female. I want the role because I have worked hard, shown my potential and am the right candidate. Companies and society needs to ensure that they foster an environment in which everyone is supported by calling out behaviours and traditions that disadvantage particular groups.
