Dedication and the right support system can help you reach unimaginable heights
Anu Mathews, Chapter Head Digital Transformation and Customer Excellence at Bayer Middle East, shares her journey and how stepping into uncertainty with the right support helped her excel in her career.
My journey in digital transformation at Bayer began four years ago, with a firm belief that if I dream big, work hard, continue to reinvent myself, and learn from my setbacks while still enjoying the journey, I would be successful. The years since I joined have been the most fulfilling and rewarding of my career so far and, by sharing my story, I hope I can inspire my Bayer colleagues so they can carry the same belief.
Step confidently into the unknown
I started my career in advertising at the age of 19 in India as an Account Executive. While I was working, I also self-funded and completed my MBA at one of the top business schools in India — Loyola Institute of Business Administration. Within the next few years, I gained strong experience working with leading global agencies including Ogilvy, Publicis, and FCB managing key Fortune 500 accounts such as Vodafone.
Despite having over 10 years of advertising experience under my belt, nothing in my background indicated experience or knowledge about pharmaceuticals. Yet, four years ago, I made the decision to move to the other side of the table and work on the client side.
I felt apprehensive as I joined Bayer Middle East in July 2018 as Digital Activation Manager but was quickly put at ease, thanks to the supportive culture and work environment that awaited me at the company. Before long, it became apparent to me that this organization is filled with opportunities for those who are willing to go the extra mile.
I believe what has pushed me forward in my career with Bayer is my love for being resourceful, learning through observation, and adapting quickly to a dynamic work environment. I have long held these traits close as my strengths — and they have kept me eager to push myself and my work to new heights.
Mentorship is the true driver of growth
One of the first and most memorable opportunities that came my way was to co-lead the Bayer Pharma ME Cycle Meeting in Amman, Jordan themed ‘Transformers — Dawn of Digital.’ This took place within a short period after I had joined Bayer — proving to me that if you show initiative and dedication, leaders will always believe in and take a chance on you!
I am extremely grateful that Bayer also exposed me to some of the best mentors one could ever ask for — Quentin Descat, Head of MSO, ME (2019–21) who believed in my strengths and gave me endless opportunities to experiment and shine. Ozden Yigit, Head of HR, ME who would always give me transparent and constructive feedback on my areas of development along with all the support I needed and, finally, Henrik Wulff, CDH Bayer Pharma, ME who inspired me most importantly to always DREAM BIG!
This support system went a long way in helping me as I established a strong Digital roadmap for Bayer in the Middle East and played a key role in the seamless transition from F2F interactions to digital interactions with customers during the pandemic. This was done through digital engagement platform readiness, consent collection, internal trainings, and key digital lighthouse projects.
In May 2021, I was promoted to the position of Head of Marketing and Sales Operations (MSO), Middle East and became a part of Middle East Leadership team (MELT). Later in 2022, I took on the role of Chapter Head — Digital Transformation and Customer Excellence (DT&CE) and continue to be a part of the Middle East Leadership Team.
Today, DT&CE is one of the key strategic functions in the organization shaping the future of digital transformation, customer experience, and introducing agile ways of working, data analytics and insights.
As a young woman leader of a multi-talented team, and with the invaluable knowledge I gained from my mentors, I am extremely excited and proud to be on this journey and to continue to make a positive impact on the way we serve our customers.
Know when to rely on your support system
When you’re a working mother with seven-year-old twin girls, daily life can quickly overwhelm your ability to manage. In moments such as these, what makes the biggest difference, both professionally and personally, is to know when to ask for help from your support system — at home and at work.
I am very grateful to my husband who takes on an equal responsibility to raise our kids and manage our home. On the work front, Bayer’s flexible working arrangement has been a big blessing for working moms like me who give equal importance to their professional and personal commitments and want to deliver our absolute best in both aspects of life.
My daughters also motivate me greatly in life — they take great pride in me being a strong independent woman and have always been understanding of my work commitments even at such a young age. Regardless of how busy things get, the best part of my day is when I get to spend quality time with my children, giving them my undivided attention.
Give yourself (and your environment) the room to flourish
Being a gardening enthusiast, I have invested a lot of time and effort in understanding the tricks to make indoor plants thrive in Dubai’s weather conditions. Over the years, I’m proud to say that I have designed my house to be an indoor urban garden where watching my plants grow and thrive gives me true happiness.
I have always tried to remain connected to other passions in my life such as music, travelling, food and some occasional cooking. Much like the care that my plants need to grow, I’ve always felt that people need the right balance of self-care and attention to truly flourish.
“Dream big, work hard and believe that your destiny lies in your own hands”
