On 19th November, K2 celebrated International Men’s Day. But as with International Women’s Day, for us, one day just wasn’t enough!
Keen to delve into the rich stories of as many of the business’ wonderful men as possible, we developed a campaign titled The Men of X Annos, which refers to the K2 men 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 characters, the careers and the defining experiences of K2’s longest standing male employees. Today, we introduce you to Ken McCully, our humble, grounded and very wise Head of Commercial.
What’s your name, your job title and how long have you worked at K2?
Ken McCully | Head of Commercial | 19 years and 6 months
What do you think is the value of celebrating days like International Men’s Day?
International Men’s Day provides an opportunity to highlight issues relating to men’s health (both mental and physical) and wellbeing. There are countless benefits to getting people talking about taboo subjects such as depression in men, both for the individual, who may then begin to feel less alone, and for society, which then has the understanding it needs to evolve in order to support men more effectively.
The theme of International Men’s Day 2024 is positive male role models:
Who do you consider to be a positive male role model and why?
I have several key role models. Firstly, my dad. I’ve always wanted to be like him – if I could be half the man that he was then I would be happy. He always supported his family in everything we did; he was never judgemental, and he always encouraged us to do the best that we could.
He gave me sound advice, a good grounding for my future life, and core values which have helped me navigate my 60 odd years to date. Those core values are honesty, integrity, and a commitment to treating others how you would like to be treated. In addition, loyalty, a commitment to working hard, and a promise to be yourself. Finally, respectfulness and confidence. The latter is something that I’ve always struggled with – an ongoing battle against feelings of not being good enough or clever enough. Happily, the supportive environment that K2 provides, one that is fuelled by its Q culture, goes a long way towards mitigating these feelings.
On to my other key role models. Seve Ballesteros, Sir Chris Hoy, Billy Monger and Alan Turing: they are/were all determined, humble, inspirational, passionate, and able to overcome adversity.
How do you strive to be a positive male role model?
By staying true to myself – not pretending to be something/someone I’m not. Also, by being respectful of others and having patience.
Men’s wellbeing is a subject that is spoken about a lot on International Men’s Day:
What does wellbeing mean to you?
Being happy in both my personal and my work life, and being in good health, both physically and mentally.
Do you think that society needs to do more to promote men’s wellbeing?
For sure. Men need to be open and honest about their wellbeing, and as a society, we need to talk more about issues that years ago men didn’t discuss as they were considered a sign of weakness. But showing emotion is nothing to be ashamed of; talking about health issues and things that worry us should be encouraged.
What impact does workplace culture have on wellbeing?
Workplace culture can have a massive impact on wellbeing. When I look back at my time in retail, where the be-one-of-the-lads-to-fit-in culture was completely different to what we have here at K2, it is completely clear to me why I’ve been here for 20 years. K2 has a great positive culture: open communication at all levels (which I have never experienced before), a genuine commitment from leadership to support employees to grow, and omnipresent respect. All of this has a huge effect on an individual’s wellbeing and sense of fulfilment.
What advice would you give to a young man who is just starting out in his career?
Be yourself. Stand by your core values and do the best you can. Whilst doing this, don’t be afraid to make mistakes – make them and then learn from them. Talk to someone if you have worries rather than bottling it up. Don’t be afraid to show emotion because it isn’t a weakness; it shows that you’re human and that you care.
What do you do on a regular basis to help you remain positive (professionally, personally or both)?
Drink! Joking aside, I spend time with family and friends. For me, there is nothing better than a good dog walk or a round of golf to put things back into perspective. The key is to get the work/life balance right – don’t take your laptop or work phone on holiday with you, rather enjoy the time off! Some people reading this, including my son, Stuart, will be rolling their eyes right about now, but do as I say, not as I do!
