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 turn the spotlight onto Jose Pose, our compassionate, reliable and trustworthy Head of Partner Relationships.
What’s your name, job & how long have you been at K2?
I’m Jose Pose, Head of Partner Relationships and I have been at K2 for over 16 years
What’s the value of celebrating days like International Men’s Day?
I think it’s important to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions that every sector makes to life in general, as well as to recognise the challenges that they face.
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 had to really think about my answer to this one as it has evolved over time. In my younger years, my Dad was a major influence, teaching me about hard work and looking after your family. As I grew up and moved into the professional world, I realised that I needed to do more than just work hard; I needed to persevere. Sports stars are a really good example of perseverance, and I would name British athlete Derek Redmond as a positive male role model for me. During the 1992 Olympics, he tore his hamstring halfway through a track event, but rather than give up, he hobbled on and made it across the finish line.
How do you strive to be a positive male role model?
By channelling the positive male role models in my life. By trying to lead by example and by never asking anyone to do anything that I wouldn’t be willing to do myself. I would like to be thought of as someone who is compassionate, reliable and trustworthy, and so I strive to embody these values in everything that I do.
Men’s wellbeing is a subject that is spoken about a lot on International Men’s Day:
What does wellbeing mean to you?
It means being the best version of myself. Having a balanced lifestyle and being happy both at work and outside of it. Being able to stand in front of the mirror every day and like the person who you see looking back at you.
Do you think that society needs to do more to promote men’s wellbeing?
Society, yes. There’s this belief out there that men need to be very strong and able to deal with their problems on their own. Being vulnerable and asking for help is often seen as a weakness, and society – and some businesses – need to do more to alter this perspective.
What impact does workplace culture have on wellbeing?
It has a massive impact. Previously, I’ve worked at companies where the workplace culture hasn’t supported me to be the best version of myself. At K2, this just isn’t the case. Our leadership really believes that our people are our greatest asset: this belief flows down through the company and has a really positive effect on both wellbeing and performance.
What advice would you give to a young man who is just starting out in his career?
Don’t listen to the naysayers: trust in yourself and believe in your instincts. Don’t put any limits on yourself: say ‘Yes’ to things, because this will enable you to unlock your potential and show you that there’s nothing that you can’t achieve.
What do you do on a regular basis to help you remain positive (professionally, personally or both)?
This is something that I’ve had to work on over the years. I’ve realised that work/life balance is absolutely critical. You need to switch off and have some regular leisure interests – for me, golf and the gym. Getting some off-screen time is also important – I sleep a lot better now that I prioritise this.
