Human on the Inside with CAPI’s Emma Evans
Human on the Inside. We’re big believers in the power of human skills. But don’t just take our word for it - the evidence for excellence powered by human (‘soft’) skills is everywhere! In this engaging, ever-enlightening series, we speak with industry leaders, innovators and game-changers to learn a little about their personal career journeys, and how human-led strategies, philosophies and cultures are proving a force for good in their working worlds …
Maxme: Welcome Emma, and thanks for stepping into the #SuccessIsHuman Spotlight!
You’re the Group CEO of CAPI, Lucy Folk & Folk Capital. CAPI is award-winning, all-natural mineral water, sodas & mixers, bottled in Victoria; while Lucy Folk is an artisan lifestyle brand, inspired by travel, art, design & wellbeing. Folk Capital proudly invests in game-changing entrepreneurs and businesses. All are family-owned and proudly Australian.
In 1 sentence (ok, we’ll give you 3), what does this role entail?
Emma Evans: Within the role I really focus on strategy, people and looking ahead. I have an incredible team that allows me the space to think, vision, plan, and prepare for our next business phases. I often say it can feel like I live in the future but it's amazing to work on the business, not be in the business.
M: Whilst you joined with CAPI (initially as CFO & CEO), you kick-started your career at PwC, before stepping into your first CFO role with Map Coffee. With now more than a decade at CAPI, and 8 years as CEO at both CAPI & Folk Capital, you’ve clearly found your home - spreading your wings as a podcast host and learning to teach yoga.
How does all this work speak to your personal purpose and what drives you as an individual?
EE: I love learning and I will never stop. As I have moved through my career I have continued to learn and support where I have gaps or interests. From books to podcasts, courses or more formal professional development courses, I constantly lean in or seek out information.
There was a time for me to focus on technical aspects of learning, but more recently it’s more about topics and tools that support me to be the best version of myself.
I want to inspire others to be the best version of themselves, to know that through alignment to their values, so much is possible. This can take time like anything, but magic lies in that process. We don’t have to accept a set way of being or doing - it takes time to find your flow and intuition.
Sometimes it can feel scary being the leader that takes the first step or does things a different way, but over time I’ve learnt that there is no right or wrong, and what works now may change later on. I love to share all I learn and help others on their journey. Our businesses would not thrive without thriving people.
M: Tell us a little about your personal education pathway/s - what led you to where you are now? How closely do your formal qualifications match your current career?
EE: After university I studied to become a Chartered Accountant while working full time. Initially this was closely tied to my role at PwC, and then in a finance department.
After PwC, working in an SME I learnt so much more day to day under my managers and working for an entrepreneur. Real life issues we faced in business each and every day to tackle. As I moved into a leadership role it took some time for me to figure out the leader I wanted to be. I have no formal training here but during COVID, after many years of international work travel, I was able to come home and had time to commit. During this period I did my 200 hour yoga teacher training online, and around 100 hours of other short courses across meditation, breathwork and yoga philosophy. I just loved it and have been on a few retreats. I was able to sit with all my learnings and integrate them into business to really find the leadership style that felt right for me.
Compassion, empathy, deep listening, and respect that everyone is doing their best with the tools they have. We are human and we can forget that amongst business ambition, financial goals and being outcome focused.
My yoga teachings help me out so much. When I’m anxious or nervous for a pitch meeting, I know how to find my breath, calm, and gain focus. Seems simple yet often forgotten.
M: If you could share one piece of career advice to your 21 year old self it would be ...
EE: Slow down sometimes. Breathe, take that holiday and enjoy the process to each goal.
I learnt this by running myself into the ground, but this experience has shaped so much of who I am today as a leader, wife, sister, daughter and now mother.
I look back and don't even recognise the former Emma any more. Today she is far more aware, calm, present and in tune.
M: Maximising the potential of individuals, communities and businesses through the power of human skills is the reason Maxme exists. Can you tell us a little about the role and / or value of human skills in your workplace right now?
EE: To me people are everything. My number one priority is our team, and with a thriving team we have a thriving business.
I have invested a lot of time in our leadership team as they have such influence day to day with our other team members.
We make time for learning and our leadership team has taken turns at presenting different topics to the team so we can all learn from each other.
We focus on self compassion, being kind to ourselves and showing grace every day.
Yes we need to know how to work with Coles, we need to know how to make beverages, but we have resources for that, others to learn from, and we get there. What’s more important for us as a team is learning how to influence, how to manage conflict, how to work through advice, how to get a point across, how to show compassion to your team members, how to tackle challenges, the list goes on.
In a fast paced business, it’s critical to make this a priority and give permission for the time to invest in these skills beyond your never ending to do list and projects.
I see it as my role to constantly bring this to the top of our agenda, and check in on the evolving needs of the team. What we worked on in 2020 is not what we need in 2024 and sometimes we do need a refresher on a topic.
M: Self Awareness sets the critical foundation for all Maxme learning experiences. With that said … what’s your strongest trait / personal super power?
EE: I would have to say discipline, which I think comes from being a dancer in my youth.
It comes very naturally to me, and I see it as a super power rather than something to block my growth. I apply it in business, in my personal development, my approach to fitness and wellbeing.
M: And on the flip side, what’s one human / ‘soft’ skill you’ve had to really work on improving over the course of your career?
EE: I still to this day need to work on my networking in large rooms. I am much more comfortable 1:1 or in a small group. There are so many layers to this, but I’m very aware of it, and take small steps to put myself out there again and again.
So often my narrative is “What do I say, am I interesting to talk to,” and in the early days I just had such imposter syndrome in my role with the CEO title and within the beverage industry.
M: If you could share one piece of career advice with recent Uni graduates or candidates keen to work at CAPI, what would it be?
EE: Share with us who you are not just all your skills.
We want to know you, the person.
What excites you, what scares you, what drives you, what can we help you with and what do you want the world to know about you.
M: You’ve been granted approval to add one University graduate to your team, but have 100 applicants, all with outstanding academic results. How do you find your perfect candidate - what are you looking for?
EE: I’m looking for authenticity, an element of humility, a desire to learn and grow, to fail and to pick up and keep going.
M: In the words of John Dewey, “education is not preparation for life, education is life itself.”
What’s next on your #learning agenda?
EE: I am deep in parenting right now. I have a 1 year old and it's changed my life for the better.
However I want to raise an emotionally aware, equipped, self assured daughter and with this comes new ways of thinking, of being, reparenting myself and a HUGE amount of self compassion I am sometimes yet to land.
The process so far has been amazing, to find the sources that resonate with me most and it all helps me better understand myself and people in general.
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