Belinda Lyone – Cos General Manager

COS is the largest 100% Australian owned and operated B2B supplier of office products, selling over 21,000 products a year and employing over 350 staff. At the helm of it all is Belinda, executive manager and daughter of founder Dominique Lyone.
For over 11 years, Belinda has been part of the success of the family business as the General Manager for Strategic Sourcing & Marketing. Read her career story in management and business here!

What did you study to become an Executive Manager?

I’ve completed two degrees, a Bachelor of Economics and a Master of Marketing, plus countless short courses and training programs.

What did you want to be when you were younger?

My first memory is I wanted to be a hotel manager or maybe a chef. I desperately wanted to work in a ski chalet so I could be on the mountain as much as possible. Then I realised that would mean I would be unemployed for nine months of the year and away from my family so I left that idea behind.

What was your first job?

My very first paid job was on the checkouts in a supermarket, my first office job was in a call centre for a rewards marketing company.

When did you first know you wanted to pursue this career path?

As a teen, I started to get really interested in the power of brands and the marketing behind them. Then in my first marketing job, I was managing an up and coming spirit brand, Jagermeister, but kept running out of stock, so that’s when I got really interested in procurement and logistics and the connection they have to marketing.

Explain a typical day at work

I spend a lot of the day in various meetings, one-on-ones with my direct team or cross-functional project meetings that I’m involved in. A lot of my personal work has to be squeezed in between all these.

Name the best and worst parts of your job

The best part of my job is I genuinely love it! I’m passionate about the role I play in the business and my team are excellent, motivated and great to work with. The worst part? At times it’s a lot of pressure, there is so much I want to achieve and just not enough time.

What’s the most important career tip someone has given you?

Back yourself and learn how to say no.

What do you wish someone had told you before starting in this career?

You will never be satisfied with what you have achieved, get over it and pick the next best thing to work on.

Where do people have to start to work as a manager?

We have supervisors and team-leaders across the business is most departments. Some of those leaders began in the team and received a promotion and others came from the outside. We like a mix.

Name a career highlight

Last year I was honoured to be named Family Business Australia Next Generation of the Year. I felt very blessed to be acknowledged by my family business peers.

What’s next for you?

For the next couple of years, I will continue in my current position and do my best to support the continuing growth of our business. After that, I will step into the position of Co-CEO with my talented sister Amie.

Tell us about life outside of COS…

I have two little ones – Jack  & Jamie, who bundles of energy that keep me on my toes. I love to cook and I don’t mind a glass of Sauvignon Blanc…and if I can get to snowboard a few days a year I’m pretty happy with my life.

Keen to work your way up and take on a leadership role in your organisation? Start with a Course in Management – enquire today!