Drahomíra Mandikova: Create Meaningful Connections
On this very special episode Gratitude Through Hard Times, Host Chris Schembra and his guest, Drahomíra Mandikova, celebrate meaningful connection and its power to generate profitable solutions not just for shareholders but the world at large. Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Asahi Europe & International, “Drahus” (as she is known to friends) shares with us the unique North Star principles that drive one of the world’s largest alcoholic and non-alcoholic beer companies, with 19 breweries exporting to 90 markets globally. You will be intrigued to learn about the meaning, power and intentionality behind Asahi’s emphasis on four simple words: “Let’s have a beer.” It’s about bringing awareness and building community – person to person – as the foundation to individual wellness and a sustainable “human-environmental ecosystem.” For Drahus, the first step is the critical one: Pause. Reflect on the talent, passion and ultimate purpose you bring, as well as the legacy you wish to leave. Her values-driven vision has shaped Prague-based Asahi’s workplace culture and brought clarity to the company’s mission statement. “We have all these goals,” says Drahus, “but to really bring them to life and enjoy the good feeling, we need to be in the present, work together and create connections to step-by-step bring about those long-term dreams.” We are on the road together, folks, and it starts with gratitude!
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KEY TOPICS:
If you could thank someone who helped you through some of your darkest hours, who would that be and what were you going through? A mentor with an especially keen way of helping Drahus unhitch from unnecessary catastrophizing and impatience.
A Moment of Reflection: About the importance of taking a pause to come into the present, then step into the past through reflection.
2030 Legacy of Good: How Drahus and Asahi’s company culture have coalesced around a mission based on a multidimensional balance of past, present and future.
A Mentor’s Advice: About Inner Child work and how it can reintegrate intuition and help return us to the essence of who we are and wish to be.
Empathy is Everything: Why Drahus believes that the companies that actually care about the human-environmental ecosystem in which they function will bring profitable solutions to very real pain points. A win-win-win!
Embracing Failure: False starts and falling short are part of a holistic learning process.
Brand Purpose: About the Asahi brand’s commitment to fostering a sense of belonging and community for its tens of millions of consumers.
Remarkable Marketing: How Asahi has mounted campaigns that bring people together, helping them feel connected and seen on a personal, human level.
The Problem of Loneliness: About the creative ways Asahi’s multi-national team is trying to build bridges – old to young, left to right, across lifestyles and geographies.
Asahi’s Legacy Mission Includes Being Bold:
Speak directly and compassionately to tough issues, like mental health.
Moving 20% of the corporate portfolio into nonalcoholic beverages.
Beer as a vehicle for making meaningful connections.
Drahus’s Personal Purpose: Making business and environmental growth sustainable.
What She’s Up To:
Coordinating breweries across Europe to build sustainability into their production.
Creating a strategy to ensure Asahi becomes carbon neutral.
Midwifing a new economic model driven by profitable solutions for all stakeholders – not exclusively profit for shareholders.
Action Item: All purpose-filled journeys start with a pause to reflect and re-center on your personal talents, passion and the positive impact you wish to make.
Remember: When we are clear about ourselves and our purpose, the work comes into focus – and it becomes easier to shed obligations and distractions that do not serve!
Why Do We Do What We Do? From intentionality flows business success and ultimately a healthier, more sustainable world.
Parting Thought:
Focus on what you want to know say “no” to rather than what’s driving you to say “yes.”
Resist the shiny things that distract your ego but don’t serve your greater purpose or desire to create impact.
Meaningful connection is fueled by gratitude – and makes life much, much easier.
QUOTABLE
“We have all these goals … but to really bring them to life and enjoy the good feeling, we need to be in the present, work together and create connections to step-by-step bring about those long-term dreams.” (Drahus)
“You have to have a long-term dream so that you know where you’re going.” (Drahus)
“Be proud of the past so you can build the confidence and learning, but what is really important is how you bring everything to the present: Your ‘self,’ your actions, reflecting on the future and also on the past.” (Drahus)
“One of the biggest pain points I see in our world is the loneliness epidemic, the idea that there are a lot of people on this planet who are disconnected or do not feel seen.” (Chris)
“Belonging is not about blending in. It’s not about meeting people that believe in the same things that you believe in. Belonging is about showing up as you authentically are and being accepted.” (Chris)
“My purpose now is really to advocate for a new era for businesses to think about the new economy, where we are moving from maximizing profit for shareholders to bringing profitable solutions for all stakeholders.” (Drahus)
“Whether you’re an accountant, a lawyer or CEO of a software firm, you can find your purpose and it can be as simple as creating meaningful connections with others.” (Chris)
“Years from now – when we’ve long passed on – maybe someone will look back on our life and say, ‘They made others feel safe, seen and heard.’ And if that’s your purpose, it’s going to be a great legacy – and lead to some good profitable growth!” (Chris)
LINKS/FURTHER RESOURCES:
Click here to listen to episode 225, featuring Geoff McDonald’s insights into Mental health and well-being.
Listen to Johann Hari’s Ted talk, "Everything You Think You Know About Addiction is Wrong."
ABOUT OUR GUEST:
Drahomíra started her career working for the banking sector in Slovakia. In 2000, she joined Plzensky Prazdroj in Slovakia, and worked in a variety of Corporate Affairs roles, before becoming Corporate Affairs Director in the Czech Republic in 2010. She played a key role in the integration of the Czech and Slovak businesses and contributed to strengthening a positive reputation of Prazdroj as the most responsible company in the Czech Republic. She was also seconded to SABMiller in India to support them with their long-term CA strategy. Drahomíra became Corporate Affairs Director of Asahi Europe in 2017 and following this Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of the newly created Asahi Europe & International in 2021.
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ABOUT OUR HOST:
Chris Schembra is a philosopher, question asker and facilitator. He's a columnist at Rolling Stone magazine, USA Today calls him their "Gratitude Guru" and he's spent the last six years traveling around the world helping people connect in meaningful ways. As the offshoot of his #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling book, "Gratitude Through Hard Times: Finding Positive Benefits Through Our Darkest Hours,"he uses this podcast to blend ancient stoic philosophy and modern-day science to teach how the principles of gratitude can be used to help people get through their hard times.
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