This episode of "Oh For Food's Sake" welcomes Suzanne Coombes, the Technical Manager at Asda. Suzanne shares her insightful journey through the food industry, from her beginnings at Samworth Brothers to her role at one of the UK’s leading retailers. She discusses the complexities and joys of leadership, the emotional challenges of handling redundancies, and the importance of building a supportive work culture. This episode also touches on balancing personal well-being with professional life and the art of empathetic management within the high-demand food sector.
In this engaging episode, our guest, Suzanne Coombes, delves into her extensive experience within the food industry. Having started her career at Samworth Brothers, she found the complexity of operations thrilling. Her passion for the community and team spirit shines through as she compares a practical workplace to a well-conducted orchestra.
We then discuss her shift from operations to a qualitative technical role at Asda, interspersed with light-hearted banter on sausage factories. Suzanne opens up about her journey and how the significance of empathy became a cornerstone of her leadership style. She recounts making tough decisions during financial hardships, the tricky balance of work and personal life, especially during her mother's battle with cancer, and her philosophy on finding "just enough" joy and challenge in life.
Her current role at Asda is a source of fulfilment, wherein she proudly leads her team, emphasising open conversation, mutual support, and continuous development. Revealing both the highs and lows of her career, Suzanne exemplifies the importance of recognising when competition becomes detrimental to health.
Lastly, we discuss the nuances of self-realisation and the importance of discovering what truly matters in life, challenging the constant pursuit of happiness that social media often portrays.