The Livery Newsletter and Gazette Issue 26 Winter 2016 | Page 18

Women in Tobacco
Liveryman Nicola (Nicky) Snook began her talk to a
packed room of Women In Tobacco members (WIT)
at BAT’s Globe House on Thursday 10th November
by confessing that she wished she could stand before
us and explain that it – her job for the past ten years
as Group Company Secretary at BAT, was all part of a
grand master plan.

The lunch was deliciously catered by Mark Grove
and his team at Cook & Butler and we cracked
along at a goodly pace. Our guests were admirably
introduced by Liveryman Fran Morrison and our
Principal Guest, Tim Wonnacott gave a generous and
very humorous reply to which I responded initially
by drenching poor Tim in a glass of water - he was
One developed at University when many of us are
very kind about
(sorry
Tim!).
I was
very pleased
looking into the horizon at five or ten year objectives
diplomacy
is not it
her
natural
state and
something
to
show
off
the
newly
found
Livery
Grant
of while
Arms
to achieve our desired career. “Some people are like
she had to make a concerted effort to develop
and Letters Patent
which have
beenIQmissing
for many
that…and if you are I take my hat off to you. The
recognizing
the difference
between
and emotional
years
our
Clerk
tenaciously
sought
them
out,
truth for me is that I sort of fell into it.” Silence,
intelligence. “Know when to stick to your guns and
followed by palatable relief as members absorbed that
the new
Master,
Allen, and
and
whenImmediate
to back off.Past
If you
have Chris
no authority
over his
a career journey is different from a career path and
IPM, Mark
Gower-Smith
a beautiful
someone,
you
can still be ahave
leaderfunded
and nudge
people rethe unexpected often leads to the intended. For Nicky
presentation
and behaviours.
they are now resplendent in frames
towards
the right
Snook that meant building up a significant network. “I carved with tobacco leaves (or close to); Sandra also
Take big issues one step at a time. And be pragmatic….
had worked in several other functions and knew people located a huge banner not seen since 1985 and Angus
A war is won over many battles.” Perhaps this reason
in Finance, Marketing, Corporate Affairs, some of the
Menzies,
to theis Master
andtonever
more
thanClerk
any other
why it isMariners
imperative
leave shy
Regions as well as Legal. It helps if you know how to get of a challenge saw to it that it was displayed on the
your ego at the door. Nicky urged us to be good at
things done. Having a big network of people that can
Quarterdeck.
our
jobs and ensure that we are valued; but, recognize
help is a useful start. Get to know what (and sometimes
that we don’t need to compete on other people’s terms.
who) is important to the business you’re in (and what’s Whilst all this was going on, apparently biblicalFinally, and most importantly, Nicky challenged us to
not).”
style downpours were being had all over London
look out and recognize the flex points in our lives…
- oblivious to all that drama we ended our lunch
Precisely what does a Company Secretary do? He or
the times and places where life’s path splits…….do you
and trooped
to thefork?
quarterdeck
where Coffee,
she looks after corporate governance making sure
take
the left orback
the right
Nicky acknowledged
Cigars,
and
Cognac
awaited
us
(I
did
mention
that
Directors are in the right place, at the right time, with
that she has faced many of these flexi points.
Perhaps
our Livery
enjoyed
on the High
C’s..)
andas
the right information, to make the right decisions,
none
other than
her dining
recent decision
to step
down
which
seemed
to
hit
the
mark
–
Liveryman
Jemma
(which they are authorised to make), and that any
Company Secretary effective 1st May 2017 and to
Freemanretire
had kindly
provided
theJuly
torpedo
decisions are minuted, reported and if necessary
officially
from BAT
on 14th
2017. cigars
Nicky
and had had
placed
souvenir
filed with the authorities. So why you may ask, would
conceded
thatthem
her plans
forin
taking
longtubes
walkswith
withour
her
Crest
emblazoned
on
it.
Several
of
us
also
sported
anyone set out to be a Company Secretary? Nicky’s
dogs and reading for pleasure may still have to wait,
frank reply “Well for one, a good Company Secretary
a limited
edition Livery
Smoking
hat - to
originally
as
sage Liverymen
have already
written
her with
knows everything that’s going on in a company…what
conceived
as
a
sort
of
shooting
hat,
it
serves
its
opportunities on how some of her soon to be available
deals are being discussed, how the full year’s financial
purpose
as a “team”
that
of the
twentyto
time
mayso
bewell
utilized.
Nicky’shat,
final
words
of advice
results are looking, how long the Chairman or the CEO WIT
members:
“Ifremained
you’re thinking
jumpingordered,
but one
by the of
close
of the JUMP!
day!
intend to hang around before they retire and who gets
Embrace
each
newMaster
challenge!”
Thank you
to the
Mariners for allowing us the
paid what…so it can be pretty interesting…if slightly
use
of are
theavenue,
to Freeman,
Tim for being
a perfect
Principal
If
you
Woman
Liveryman
or spouse
frustrating given you can’t talk to anyone about any of
Guest,
and
for
everyone
attending
and
giving
and wish to embrace a new challenge by joiningmy
it!!”
year such
special start.
Women
InaTobacco
or attending one of the meetings,
Credentials for becoming and surviving as a
please send your details to witforwomen@gmail.
Company Secretary of course includes integrity and
com. The next meeting will be held on 16th December
confidentiality; but, also resilience. Most of us know
at the Residence of Her Excellency Teresita Vicente
The Master
what it is like to work with challenging downright
Sotolongo, Ambassador for Cuba. Spaces are limited
difficult individuals whose mantra is: You are wrong!
and must be reserved in advance. Women In
What you must remember is that you can be flexible
Tobacco is a non-profit organization and there are no
and creative to a point but, you still have to stick to the membership fees.
right path. You cannot be argumentative, which means
Assistant Elise Rasmussen
you must learn how to be diplomatic. Nicky professes
Chairwoman of Woman In Tobacco
18
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