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A Sweet Career

CEO Annie Young-Scrivner Values Authenticity and Amazing Chocolate

Bellevue resident and GODIVA Chief Executive Officer, Annie Young-Scrivner is a standout leader to follow on LinkedIn. Her posts feature passionate, personal, inclusive and always pertinent words of wisdom and encouragement. She is liberal with praise and appreciation, shares the successes of others  and speaks directly about current events and issues. In the days after the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, she posted an image of the judge, writing “She positively impacted so many. She inspired generations. She was an advocate for creating an equal world for all. She was Ruth Bader Ginsburg, mom, daughter, wife, professor, hero, Supreme Court Justice. She made our world brighter. I am deeply saddened by the loss of an amazing person. Let’s celebrate her greatness.” A flip through her feed finds a consistent theme of mentorship and collaborative leadership.

Bellevue Lifestyle visited the GODIVA boutique in Bellevue Square to meet the CEO for photos, and after a crazy good milkshake, we got to know more about this busy executive (spoiler alert, she has a sweet tooth):

Your career has spanned the spectrum of consumer products from everyday brands like Pepsi Co and Starbucks to your current board role for Yum! Brands Inc., proceeding on to luxury chocolate and your current position on Tiffany’s board of directors. Was this distinction a deliberate choice, or is there more crossover than contrast along the consumer product spectrum?

There is a lot of commonality across the spectrum. When consumers make a purchase, they want to get their money’s worth. Whether that’s through incredible taste, the cachet or prestige of a certain brand, or a special feeling a product or brand gives them. My experience, which spans food & beverage and different types of luxury across the globe, makes me very cognizant of consumers in different segments. A commonality across all brands is that you must be very purposeful in ensuring you don’t overstretch it and that any expansion is natural and authentic.

And as far as what’s in my personal GODIVA stash….

I always have a some of our GODIVA’s Gold Collection in my fridge. I’m in love with our new GODIVA Signature Mini Bars and husband is addicted to our chocolate covered pretzels. I’m not going to lie – I eat multiple GODIVA biscuits a day. For something healthy, there is nothing better than a fresh strawberry dipped in dark chocolate.

Your social media posts and media interviews highlight the value you place on workplace mentors. What is your advice to young people seeking to establish and nurture mentor relationships? 

 

The most impactful mentor/mentee relationships are authentic ones. It’s not something that you can force. Choose someone who you have a genuine connection with, who you can learn from – and that goes for both sides. These relationships should be mutually beneficial and they’re continuous. Even though I’m a seasoned leader, I am still a mentee who is always learning from her mentors. And remember that your mentors can be younger than you!

When you start a new executive role how do you approach learning about your brand and your customer? 

I always do a listening tour to better understand the people, business, the competition, and why things are the way they are. It’s important to foster a culture of active listening and having two-way dialogs. In terms of taking calculated risks, I always ensure they’re driven by principals and that I’m acting in the best interest of the business.    

You are living a bicoastal life. What do you miss about Seattle when you are in New York, and what do you miss about New York when you are in Seattle? 

 

What I love about NY is the diversity of food, people, cultures, and the energy. What I love about Seattle is the beautiful outdoor scenery and the water. Both places give me the sense of home and family because I consider my New York GODIVA Team an extension of my actual family, who lives in Seattle.

2020 has forced companies to adapt to new ways of connecting with their customers, what will GODIVA take and what would you rather leave behind from what you have experienced this year?

We have transformed our business to meet the new needs of consumers. This shift started before the pandemic, which pushed us to move with even more speed and agility. We’ve really leaned in on Digital, Consumer Packaged Goods and becoming a truly omnichannel business. We’ve also learned how to keep our culture and connections alive through technology, but I really miss seeing my chocolatiers (employees) in person. For me, the silver lining during such a tumultuous time has been the opportunity to spend so much time with my family in Seattle.  

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