Boasting over 20 years of experience in sales and marketing, Angeliki Kazantzidi, Head of Marketing Northern Europe at Kenvue, has a background in B2C and B2B consumer marketing, shopper marketing, brand activation, customer development, and IT consulting.
Angeliki has spent more than half her career in various roles within Johnson & Johnson’s consumer healthcare division, continuing with the business when it was spun out to form Kenvue.
What is the biggest opportunity for women in your sector of the digital industry today?
Diverse perspectives are crucial for fostering innovation and driving business growth. Women in the UK’s digital industry are making a significant impact in their roles, challenging outdated practices and championing progressive strategies. There is a significant opportunity for women across the industry to step further into leadership positions to initiate positive changes.
What is the biggest challenge to you as a woman in the digital industry and how are you overcoming it?
For me as a people leader at Kenvue, I feel a responsibility to drive conscious inclusion. Some years ago, I attended a training session on driving active inclusion. It focused on accountability and leading inclusive change by fostering, attracting, retaining, and developing others. This helped me to create a framework that I remain committed to following every day by developing action plans and holding myself, then my direct reports, and teams accountable.
In the digital space, where innovation and agility are key, it’s crucial to be mindful of unconscious biases that can influence decisions and interactions. We need to talk about stereotypes to counteract them, accept feedback, be conscious of micro-aggressions, use inclusive language and coach team members and peers. I also try to lead inclusive change when it comes to attracting, developing, and advancing talent by avoiding culture-fit assumptions, advocating for quieter voices, and taking the time to mentor, coach and sponsor women. My continuous inspiration is the LEAD Network, the biggest non-profit organisation that drives gender diversity, focused on Consumer-Packaged Goods & Retail. Being a member & volunteer has honed my DE&I & leadership understanding and skills even further.
What three things could employer companies do to make the digital industry better for women?
Concrete measures that address both the professional and personal aspects of women’s lives are critical. We need to ensure:
Parental leave policies: At Kenvue, we want all colleagues to enjoy the new addition to their family and have enough time to adjust to new routines, which is why everyone is entitled to paid leave for a minimum of 12 weeks globally. We also offer enhanced maternity and adoption leave, as well as shared parental leave, here in the UK to support all parents through the first year of their child’s life. A key part of driving equality for me is to encourage men to utilise their parental leave to ensure that childcare responsibilities do not solely fall on women, especially if they are returning to work. Implementing a robust back-to-work process after maternity leave is also vital, which is why we have the Employee Parents Club here in Kenvue UK. This offers tailored support to help women transition smoothly back into their roles while juggling new responsibilities as parents, as well as training for line managers and a supportive buddy programme. As a proud mother of two kids, I do my best to set a positive example. I’ve taken two maternity leaves and always prioritise the needs of my family – but the transition back to work can be challenging. I’m grateful for everyone at Kenvue that supported me during these periods.
Flexible working for all: Our Flexible Ways of Working provide flexibility to adjust my hours around personal commitments, such as childcare and school schedules. If it works for my team and my manager, I can work from anywhere, whether that’s at home so I can go to my children’s school plays or even for a few weeks from my home country of Greece this summer! The Framework also provides Alternate Work Arrangements for those needing more flexibility on an ongoing basis, offering various work schedule options that work for both the individual and the team. This is crucial for maintaining a healthy work-life balance and supporting Kenvuers’ emotional and physical well-being, which in turn enhances motivation and productivity at work.
Support for women-specific issues: Eliminating workplace taboos, like those surrounding menopause, is crucial. We established the Kenvue Meno-PAUSE café across Northern Europe, a virtual and in-person support group that provides a safe space where employees impacted by the peri/menopause can freely discuss their experiences and access support services. According to a 2023 Simply health survey, 23% of working women have considered quitting due to the impact of menopause or menstrual symptoms at work. Initiatives like the Meno-PAUSE Café are vital for assisting colleagues during this challenging life stage.
What support structures and organisations are most important and effective to you as a woman in the digital industry?
Empowerment initiatives: One key aspect is providing avenues for enhancing confidence and assertiveness, such as programs focused on improving public speaking skills. They help build confidence, enabling women to advocate for themselves, whether it’s for a new role, a pay rise, or other professional opportunities.
We have a strong community through our Women at Kenvue Employee Resource Group (ERG), devoted to addressing challenges and exchanging learnings. Building and supporting ERGs like this is a vital empowerment initiative as they intentionally create space and equal gender opportunities.
Mentoring programmes: Both internal and cross-industry mentoring programs are invaluable. For instance, our Power for Partners Programme aims to empower women to lead confidently and drive industry-wide change. This programme draws on the expertise and knowledge of an industry-leading company in the tech and digital space.
What is the biggest misconception about women in the digital industry?
That women in the digital industry have overcome the challenges prevalent in other sectors, like balancing motherhood with career and achieving senior leadership positions. Despite notable progress, we still have a long way to go; many women continue to face significant barriers and inequalities. At Kenvue, we care fiercely and strive to be an inclusive workplace where everyone can bring their whole selves to work every day. We do this by reinforcing healthy behaviours, providing access to care and a safe workplace for every Kenvuer. We empower our team members with the knowledge and resources needed to unlock their full potential. inspiring and educating leaders across the business to remove barriers, real or imagined, and to live into our values. The industry must keep pushing for true equality and support for women at all stages of their careers.
