Craveable Brands celebrate the women in their business. Photo by Bianca De Marchi/The Photo Pitch
We’d like you to meet our Menu Insights & Development Manager, Erica Hutter. She is creative, logical, generous.
Erica’s extensive background in marketing and food manufacturing makes her the perfect person to head up our new product development for Oporto. “It’s my passion to create craveable food products that our consumers will love,” says Erica.
“I love what I do, it doesn’t feel like work,” says Erica. “I also enjoy the rush of achieving and the mental challenge. Especially faced with a business challenge.” “I find it extremely satisfying to find a feasible solution,” she says.
Growing up, Erica’s mum was her biggest inspiration. “I wish I was more like her,” she explains. But when it comes to her career, Erica’s mentors have been her biggest supporters. “I’m lucky to have a wide range of people that I’ve worked with throughout my career who have been there encouraging me.” From them, she has found the drive to reach her potential.
The first lesson Erica learned about leadership is that more than anything, it’s a mindset. “Leadership to me is setting a direction and a vision for a team. It’s also having the willingness to push boundaries, respectfully challenge the norm,” Erica says.
The qualities she believes a good boss possesses is the ability to listen, being present and paying attention to others. Empathy is also essential, she believes.
Erica acknowledges that for women in the workplace, leadership means having resilience. “We require the confidence to speak up” she says. But it’s worthwhile. “Diversity offers different perspectives, and experiences which are assets to any business,” she says.
Through influencing change, Erica has found the most satisfactions as a leader. “I enjoy sharing my knowledge and expertise.”