Meet Maria McCoy. Maria is a Partner Relationship Manager for K2 USA, and she has worked at K2 for 11 years.
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. So far we have introduced you to three of our X Annos women, one in the US, one in the UK and one in Singapore. Today, we head back to the States as we sit down with a woman who plays a key role in managing our global partner network, the brilliant Maria McCoy.
As a member of the X Annos community, what motivates you to keep working at K2?
The fact that K2 is a company which treats their employees extremely well. I always feel appreciated here.
What does gender inclusivity mean to you?
It means that the same opportunities are provided to all individuals regardless of their gender.
What advice would you give to women aspiring to leadership roles in the business world, based on your own experiences and insights?
It is important to embrace who you are and never try to be someone else. Your unique personality and experiences are valued and appreciated. Being a successful woman in business no longer means being a woman who needs to act like a man. You can be a mom, have compassion, and work with empathy – none of these things are weaknesses.
How has K2 supported your career growth over the last 10+ years?
K2 is a company in which no one is above a certain job or task, and we all wear many different hats. Because of this culture, I have been given exposure to so many examples of what it means to be a leader. This has given me a rich insight into so many different areas of the business, and has brought me into new spaces in a way that other companies probably wouldn’t have been able to.
Can you share a pivotal moment in your career journey, one which has shaped who you are today?
It’s got to be Barcelona and the amazing opportunity I was given to get up on stage and talk about the activities of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT). It was incredibly nerve-wracking, but something that I am so glad that I did.
How do you think that K2 is challenging the Status Quo in the global mobility industry?
It’s all about K2’s core values. K2 does not deliver services in a one size fits all way. Our teams lead with empathy, which creates a personalized experience for our assignees. I believe that this is the reason K2 is continuing to grow and acquire new clients.
What do you think the future would look like if we had more female leaders?
I don’t really know… Maybe that the greater the diversity, the more likely it is that decisions made will positively impact the majority.
