Reflecting on 2022
Most important lessons learned in 2022 as CEO of PG Paper?
I have learned multiple lessons throughout my 20 years as CEO of PG Paper and, if anything, 2022 has reiterated many of these learning curves. This year for me has confirmed that, when we are faced with a problem, we should focus on finding a solution rather than worrying about the immediate problem at hand. This year has been very volatile in terms of commodity pricing, which has been difficult for many businesses. However, our team’s resilience in finding solutions to hurdles standing in our way helped us come out at the other end.
Any highlights from 2022?
From a professional point of view, my highlight of 2022 would be that despite the business world presenting us with many different challenges, our company remained stable and continued to strive to meet its goals set out at the beginning of 2022. From a personal perspective, I love exploring new countries and experiencing different cultures, so it was great to be able to visit new places such as South Africa and Greece.
Are there any areas you feel you have made significant improvement on since 2021?
Overcoming Covid-19 was a huge accomplishment from the collective team, and I now feel that the they feel more motivated and are ready to take on the world again. Everyone seems more positive and happier in comparison to 2021, which is very important for me to see in my team. In terms of my personal life, I’m very grateful that, despite challenges like the pandemic, the ongoing energy crisis and market price increases, my team and I remained strong in the face of adversity.
What goals have you achieved in 2022?
I was fortunate enough to receive various awards throughout the past year, which I am very grateful for. I was also delighted for members of my team, Fiona Dempster and Puneet Gupta, who also received rewards, and were recognised for their continued efforts. Hopefully, we will see more success for the PG Paper team in 2023.
Looking Ahead into 2023
What are your top predictions for 2023 within the paper industry?
For the past two years the paper industry has been very volatile and I predict we will see more stability in the coming year, with demand for packaging continuing to rise. I do believe the paper industry will continue to face challenges in 2023, with a recession looming which will be felt across various industries. Overall, I think we will see greater stability from a logistical point of view and prices will begin to stabilise as we move into the new year.
What organisational goals are set for PG Paper in 2023?
I would like to see continued growth throughout our team, as we pursue our goal of recruiting great people to help enhance our global team’s capabilities. It’s important we also continue to witness personal growth amongst individuals in our current team, as I aim to ensure my team are happy here at PG Paper. I’m hoping 2023 is another year of growth for PG Paper and, despite current market challenges and uncertainties, we hope we are able to hit our yearly targets.
What have you learned from 2022 that you will bring with you into 2023?
In the hardest of times, whether your facing challenges in your personal or professional life, if you surround yourself with the right people, you will be able to overcome anything. Looking back on 2022, I have realised that I may be a stronger person than I first thought, and I intend to continue personal and professional growth in 2023, pushing the boundaries of entrepreneurship.
What are you most looking forward to in 2023?
My eldest daughter will hopefully be accepted into her dream university this year, and I look forward to spending some quality time with her wherever she goes. Working out how we can identify new opportunities in untouched markets has always excited me and I look forward to seeking new business relationships in 2023. I am also working on the development of a new app in the sustainability space and I would love to see a successful launch of this app in the new year.