Navigating men’s wellbeing - the power of balance, community, and empathy

Each November, the world celebrates ‘Movember’ to shine a light on men’s health, raising awareness of the physical and mental wellbeing challenges that too often go unspoken. Men can grow a moustache to support the cause, but that is just the start; the real impact comes from starting conversations and sharing stories that help break down stigma. Jean Philippe Bernard du Haut Cilly, Operations Director, Food reminisces: “I first heard about Movember about ten years ago in France. I thought it was a fantastic and even fun way to raise awareness about serious issues.

This year, we chose to honour this tradition by diving into the journeys of men from across our global community.

The lessons they've taught us are many, and while each of their individual stories stands as a pillar of openness and willingness to change the narrative around what it means to support men in a modern day, a few similarities stood out. 

First, it still seems that in certain cultures around the world, it's still quite difficult for men to discuss their feelings and what they struggle with.

Reflecting on his experience, Roman Adamchuk, Plant Cluster Lead Khotyn, tells us: “In Ukrainian culture, it’s not common for men to show vulnerability or even discuss challenges such as depression. Because of this cultural taboo, I see many men, also within my wider team, trying to remain strong, regardless of how much they may be struggling mentally. Personally, I wish it were more accepted to speak openly about emotions.”

They reference the impact of the younger generation on facilitating conversations around mental health, David Valdes, Operations Director BU Food and Seafood, points out: “At our plant, I see younger people showing resilience and staying motivated even when facing challenges”. 

The importance of balance and incorporating activities that bring you peace and joy is a sentiment shared across the board. From physical activities like weightlifting, Pilates, and dancing to reading articles and books, to spending time with loved ones, they emphasise the importance of having interests that fill and add colour to your daily life. Christophe Maquestiaux, VP Manufacturing Strategy & Supply Chain Excellence, shared with us: “To unwind, I take a walk. I also read widely, sometimes going down endless Wikipedia rabbit holes, keeping my mind curious and balanced.”

When it comes to practice, Luiz Baptistella, Plant Manager Roanoke plant, mentions the importance of taking a moment to breathe and reflect before acting: If I find myself in a stressful situation, I take a step back and think carefully before responding emotionally.

Equally important is embracing daily moments: “There is so much happening in the world right now, including constant change. I try not to carry the weight of things I can’t influence. What matters to me is being present in the moment. I want to be fully there for my daughter,” remarks Luiz Roveri, Senior Commercial Manager, Aerosol & Beverage in Brazil. 

From what they shared with us, it’s evident that community and having strong role models was key to their journeys: “I feel very fortunate to have a brother with high emotional intelligence and strong empathetic skills. He’s my sounding board,’ Bavin Balakrishnan, Group ESG PMO & Reporting Specialist reflects. Similarly, David mentions, “My mother has always been contemplative and calm, and I’ve always admired her ability to stay balanced when facing life’s challenges. That perspective has stayed with me.” 

Finally, they reflect on how their individual journeys have shaped them into being more empathic leaders who are more aware of their impact and the importance of holding space for their teams. Our leaders emphasise the responsibility of making sure your community can come to you with their troubles and their concerns.

As José ter Mors, Director, Global Organisational Health and Wellbeing, states: “Mental wellbeing isn’t just about surviving the tough days. It's about feeling supported, valued, and understood.”

Ultimately, Zoltan Vajda, Director Europe Indirect & Global Categories, reminds us: “We should encourage everyone to speak up if they feel overloaded or need a break. It’s important to know your manager has your back.”