Rebecca Lawtey
Finance Director, MCUK
A Career Shaped by Growth and New Challenges
Career Snapshot (within MCG)
What motivated my career moves
My career moves have been driven by a desire to keep learning, broaden my experience, and continue developing through new challenges. I’ve always looked for opportunities that help me grow and build on my strengths.
Early on, I focused on building strong technical foundations and progressing within a growing business, before moving into more commercially focused roles closer to decision-making and strategy.
Joining Nippon Gohsei, and later Mitsubishi Chemical UK, gave me the opportunity to further develop in a global manufacturing environment and take on more complex, international challenges. Each step has helped me grow by stepping outside my comfort zone.
How I prepared for my next roles
Preparation has come through both formal learning and hands-on experience. Completing my CIMA qualification gave me a strong technical foundation early in my career.
Since then, I have consistently taken on new challenges through different roles and transformation initiatives, always aiming to build a deeper understanding of the business—from post-Brexit customs to SAP S/4HANA implementation.
Learning from senior leaders, asking questions, and understanding how decisions are made has also helped strengthen my leadership approach and strategic thinking.
Support I received along the way
A key enabler in my career has been the trust placed in me by managers who gave me opportunities before I felt fully ready.
I’ve also benefited from strong teams where collaboration and openness made it easier to learn, adapt, and take on new responsibilities.
Much of this support came through day-to-day interactions and people believing in my potential.
Challenges I overcame
A recurring challenge has been stepping into roles with increasing responsibility and needing to establish myself quickly. Leading the SAP S/4HANA implementation alongside my core responsibilities was particularly demanding and required resilience, adaptability, and focus.
I’ve also experienced imposter syndrome at times, but I’ve learned to manage it by trusting my experience and focusing on the value I bring.
My advice to others
Don’t wait until you feel 100% ready—you probably never will.
Some of the most important steps in my career came from taking opportunities and learning as I went.
Be open to challenges outside your comfort zone, as that’s often where the most growth happens.
And finally, invest in strong relationships and treat people well—they make a real difference in your career journey.
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