Mannaic Mathelier: Driving Growth, Leading Through Change, and Inspiring Teams

Wednesday, December 10, 2025

What career moves or moments have had the biggest impact on your growth?

If I zoom out and look at the biggest impacts in my career, the first major moment was moving from France to Canada. I was in sales back then, part of the commercial organization, and I always had this dream of moving into marketing. I took that international move as an opportunity to completely shift my career path. It was a great decision, but it was incredibly challenging.

It truly was about starting almost from scratch — new country, new environment, new function — and it taught me resilience.

The second big shift was moving from Canada to Norway. This move is actually when I joined Mondelēz International. It was a similar story: a new culture, a new workplace, and I initially underestimated the impact of the language barrier. That was another huge learning moment. Things here are quite local, with strong local players, and understanding a heritage brand like Freia and how deeply rooted it is in the Norwegian culture was fascinating. It was all about finding my feet, adapting to a new environment, and doing all of that with a fresh perspective.

Within Mondelēz Norway, moving from marketing to category planning—especially the Integrated Business Planning side, which was entirely new to me—was another significant milestone. This happened just before COVID, so things were moving very fast. I had to learn a lot of new processes and systems, but what really mattered was the immense trust that senior stakeholders placed in me. That trust was everything. This chapter reinforced the importance of curiosity, continuous learning, and understanding the broader business scope. Having supportive stakeholders and a strong team behind me was critical, and it taught me how to navigate the organization to deliver results.

This journey of growth has now culminated in my recent transition to a Global position a few months ago, a move that is already proving exceptionally stimulating. Taking on the end-to-end growth agenda for our Licensed Cakes business, while navigating the intricacies of remote team collaboration, reinforces my belief in continuous learning and leveraging curiosity to achieve results.

You've been named 'Leader of the Year' at Mondelēz Norway twice. What is your definition of great leadership?

For me, great leadership is built on three pillars. The first one is trust. When there’s trust, people take ownership, and it brings out the best in them. It’s important for me to be trusted by my team and stakeholders — and to trust them in return.

The second is team spirit. I truly believe we win together — and sometimes we fail together. It’s about that feeling of being in it as one team, in both good and bad times. Everyone has a role to play, and when we support each other, we can move mountains.

The third piece of leadership that I think is very important is that element of kindness. While we operate with high expectations in a fast-paced, results-driven environment, it's essential to balance this with genuine care for the people we work with. I think that balance is really important.

What does it mean for you to work with such an iconic brand as Freia, and how do you balance its strong heritage with innovation?

It’s been an absolute privilege to work for a brand like Freia. Coming from France and Canada, I had no idea what Freia was before arriving in Norway. But once you work here in Mondelēz Norway, you quickly understand what Freia means — not just to employees, but to the country.

Freia is more than a brand; it’s part of Norway’s cultural identity. When you walk in Oslo and see the Freia clock, or when you enter our office and feel the history around you — the old buildings, the factory in the garden — it’s all part of this amazing legacy. I feel lucky to be part of it.

Balancing that heritage with innovation is about honoring what the brand stands for—quality, taste, and values — while staying consumer-centric. The needs of Norwegian consumers today are not the same as they were 20 years ago. So, we must stay forward-looking, making sure every new initiative or product we launch stays true to the brand’s foundations and values. It’s about being modern without losing our roots.

The consumer goods industry changes fast. How do you keep your team continuously learning and innovating?

The key to keeping the team learning and innovating is curiosity. When you’re curious, you naturally explore —you read, you look into trends, and you test new ideas. For example, we've been talking a lot about AI. It’s about seeing these new developments with a positive lens, not just as challenges.

Curiosity fuels innovation. For the team, this means encouraging them to challenge the status quo and advocate for what they believe in. In a market like Norway, with a strong local brand like Freia, this is especially important. We know our consumers, our market, and our customers, and we need to keep pushing for what’s right for our business.

Learning also means celebrating what works well, but just as importantly, taking a step back to reflect on what we could have done differently to achieve even better results. This continuous learning mindset is what’s keeping us move forward.

Flexibility and balance are key drivers in today’s great workplace. How do you create space for both performance and well-being?

Flexibility and balance come down to leadership and trust. People perform at their best when they feel trusted, supported, and respected as individuals, not just employees.

We all work hard, but it’s important to recognize that life happens. I want people to feel safe to speak up when they need support or need to step back for a moment. That makes us stronger as a team.

At the same time, caring for people also means being honest. Sometimes we have tough conversations when performance isn’t where it should be—because that’s how we grow together. It’s about trust, care, and accountability, all at once.

What advice would you give to someone starting their career at Mondelēz International — and what kind of people thrive here?

I’d say: think of your career as a journey, not a checklist.

A company like Mondelēz International can take you to many different places — sometimes unexpected ones — and that’s the beauty of it. Be open to new experiences, even when they stretch you outside your comfort zone, because those moments are the most rewarding.

People who thrive here are those who are curious, open, and resilient. Things are constantly changing, and that requires adaptability. If you’re eager to learn and embrace that change, you can build an amazing career here.

And finally, what is your favorite Mondelēz International product?

If we talk about chocolate, it’s definitely the Freia Milk Chocolate with Kvikk Lunsj. That combination of crisp wafer and a hint of salt is just fantastic. And since I’m French and a big biscuit lover, from that category, it has to be the LU Petit Écolier dark chocolate. It’s absolutely one of my favorites.

What’s one thing you’re most proud of working at Mondelēz International?

It’s the diversity. It’s very important at Mondelēz International and something I feel strongly about. I think we’ve made great progress, especially in the Nordics, when it comes to gender diversity. There are many women in leadership positions here, and that’s something we can be proud of.

Of course, diversity goes far beyond gender, and there’s always more we can do. But having that foundation gives me hope. It shows that it’s possible, and it sets an example for others to follow.