Gayan Fernando, General Manager, Indonesia

Years with AD

Ambitious

Personality

Innovate

Goal

What attracted you to your chosen work? What skills did you develop early that are still useful today?
I’ve always been fascinated by great leaders who have been inspirational and made a positive impact on society. In my current role as General Manager of Indonesia, I’m privileged to have that kind of opportunity. When starting my career, some of the essential skills I learned were people skills, financial analytics of a business, and discipline.

What qualities are essential for someone in your role?
For a GM, it’s important to have empathy, a strong work ethic, an innovative mindset (always looking at what’s next for the business), and resilience to help deal with adversity.

How have you grown in your career at Avery Dennison?
Avery Dennison is a great place to work! This is especially true if you have an open mindset and are willing to push your limits and think outside of the box. Our company recognizes talent and supports employees’ growth journeys. I’ve worked hard, always wanting to do my best, and leaders at Avery Dennison have recognized and supported my work. As a result, I’ve held a number of positions in various functions including CS, GPD Sales, In-Plant Printing, Pricing & Costing and General Management .

I am honored to have worked with some great leaders and mentors over the years who have been very influential and taught me a lot . From that experience, I’ve picked up and shaped my own leadership style.

What's the biggest stretch opportunity you've taken on?
The biggest opportunity I’ve taken on was moving to Bangladesh as the Commercial Director at a young age. I made this move from an individual contributor to managing a team of 150 employees in Sales and CS. Also as my first overseas assignment, I had to work in a new environment with language and cultural differences, as well as much larger brands and factories. This was a big stretch assignment, and the turning point in my career.

What role has mentorship played in your career?
I’ve been blessed to have received mentorship from many great Avery Dennison leaders over the years. I try to reach out to as many leaders as possible, as I believe there is an opportunity to learn from others. These leaders have taught me a lot, from personal to professional aspects of life, decision making, how to take calculated risks, problem solving and much more. Getting advice and mentorship from others is one of the fastest ways to learn and acquire experience.

As you think about the next steps in your career, what are the most important actions you plan to take?
I’ve already set an objective of where I want to be in the next three years, which is important for everyone to think about. I’m also working on acquiring new skills, such as digital marketing combined with a continued focus on overall development. This quote from Albert Einstein says it all: “Wisdom is not a product of schooling, but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it.”

What do you enjoy most about your work?
As a GM of Indonesia, I am responsible for the well-being of my team which includes almost 500 employees and their families. This gives me the great privilege to help care for 2000 livelihoods, as most of our employees are the breadwinners for their extended family, given Indonesian culture. This is a significant and powerful reason why I love my job. The responsibility of serving as a force for good keeps me waking up in the morning motivated and energized.

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