The_CEO_Magazine_ANZ_-_December_2016

EXECUTIVE INTERVIEW

school children to improve their reading

and learning. It’s not just writing a

cheque either, we actually do it — we all

individually donate our time, about 850

of our staff have willingly donated their

personal time to this project.”

Through their ongoing volunteer work,

the staff and executive team at

Luxottica know that charity begins at

home, by fostering a sense of goodwill

and generosity with their strategic

partnerships. “I can think of many times

where we have had to ring suppliers to

ask them, ‘Can you please do this

favour for us?’ Or they ring us and say

‘Hey, can you do this for us?’ We always

work flexibly with our partners because

it makes all the difference to the

relationship, and our overall success,”

says Anthea. “Tough times lurk for each

organisation and sector, and it really

helps you to get through them when

you can lean upon each other, and this

is critical to long-term growth.”

In her years of experience across

different roles, particularly during her

time in product development and

supply chain, Anthea says she learned

very quickly that everything must be a

win–win scenario for all partners if you

want to develop a sustainable business.

“Short-termism and pressuring

suppliers over a short-term gain

does not give you the long-term

sustainability that you need, so we

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