International Women's Day with Veolia's Sally Griffiths-Parry

In celebration of this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD), we caught up with Sally Griffiths-Parry, Commercial and Growth Leader for Veolia’s for mobile water and integrated services. With a real passion for strategic implementation and working with people, Sally discusses what she loves about her role, why the sector is such a rewarding place to work, and what International Women’s Day and the Give to Gain theme means to her.

Tell us about your career journey so far and your current role:

I initially studied law but realised I was more interested in a career that involved shaping strategy from within, rather than advising from the outside.

I worked in the HVAC sector for many years, in a variety of roles across sales and process management, which was excellent all-round experience. I joined Veolia four years ago as a commercial manager, and I took on my current role in January. My new remit is to lead commercial strategy and growth, which involves overseeing the managers of various Veolia teams, supporting customer focused account management, contract performance and long-term value creation. I absolutely love my role and feel fortunate to work alongside a brilliant and knowledgeable team.

Every day is different, and Veolia has a customer base that spans many different sectors, which is really appealing in terms of the variety it affords. Ultimately, working with people and helping them to succeed is at the core of my role. I really thrive on turning complexity into clarity, ensuring wider strategies are actionable and applied at a local level, as well as doing my part to keep teams motivated and satisfied.

Tell us about a recent career highlight?

I recently had the honour of receiving the Eagle Award at Veolia’s Europe event, which recognises achievements in sales, service and technical expertise. I had worked on a complex contract renewal for one of our pharmaceutical customers, and with the support of the wider team, helped to deliver a multi-faceted solution that addressed their needs. The event itself was such a highlight in terms of meeting new colleagues, exchanging ideas and innovations, and then to receive the award – well, that was a very special and proud moment.

What does International Women’s Day and the theme ‘Give to Gain’ mean to you?

It’s such an important event – acting as a collective moment to reflect and celebrate on what has been achieved, but to also serve as an important call to action for the ongoing issues that still need to be addressed globally.

My own interpretation of the ‘Give to Gain’ theme is an ethos that’s all about the importance of a good network and investing in others, without looking for an immediate return. When you advocate for someone in a room that they are not in yet, you can create a massive opportunity for growth for that individual, and the organisation ultimately benefits from that too.

In our own sector, do you feel diversity progress is being made?

Progress is a collective endeavour, not an individual one, and I feel fortunate that I work alongside colleagues who share that belief. It feels very apt that, as we speak, I am in Milan to attend Ascend, a Women in Leadership course organised by Veolia, and I’ve just spent the day in a room with twenty or more female leaders - for probably the first time in my career. The organisation truly does work to create an environment that promotes and respects diversity.

Broadly speaking, since I began my career over ten years ago, I do feel that there are more women stepping into leadership roles in the water industry. While I do believe we are moving in the right direction, it still requires a conscious effort. It’s also important to acknowledge intersectionality - women will have different experiences of the workplace, depending upon ethnicity, gender identity, disability, background and sexuality. When you talk about diversity, you must consider and embrace the full spectrum of people, so we create environments where everyone feels valued, respected and able to bring their authentic selves to the workplace.

Is there a female colleague or mentor who has inspired you in your career so far?

I was hired into the HVAC industry by a female director, who in a largely male-dominated industry, was direct, ambitious and authentic. Watching how she conducted herself was a positive influence on me as an early-career professional. Looking back, I think that this experience has played a role in why I believe so strongly in representation at all levels – it can really impact the trajectory of someone’s career path and show them what is possible.

Would you encourage more women into the water industry, and if so, why?

Absolutely. The water industry, along with the wider environmental and engineering sectors, offers a tangible purpose. You are contributing to critical infrastructure, sustainability and public health every day. It’s a sector where you can make a real difference; it’s technically challenging, commercially dynamic and constantly evolving. For women looking for a broad and fulfilling career path, I would really encourage them to consider it. There is space for analytic thinkers, relationship builders, innovators, scientists, engineers and strategists. It’s the diversity of expertise, perspective and experience across that spectrum that ultimately drives performance and long term impact in this sector.

Finally, you’re hosting a dinner party, who would be on your dream female guest list?

I think Jacinda Ardern would be a great guest. She showed the world that under immense pressure, you can lead with empathy and integrity. Next would be the author Kim Scott, who wrote a book called Radical Candor, which is a fantastic read and all about creating cultures where honest feedback is given and never feared. Then I would probably mix it up a bit with a musician like Stevie Nicks or Janis Joplin – who both would undoubtedly have some great stories to tell.