Cintia Nunes is the General Manager and Director of The Mills Fabrica in Hong Kong. The Mills Fabrica is the go-to platform for sustainability, impact, and innovation in “techstyle,” a term that refers to the convergence of technology and lifestyle. The company also has a presence in the agrifood technology sector through Fabrica’s investment portfolio, incubation programs, interactive spaces, and accountability for environmental and social impact. Prior to joining Fabrica, Cintia worked in strategy, insights, and markets.
She worked in marketing for a multinational FMCG company, where she focused on evaluating consumer behavior insights and formulating business strategies for over 10 brands. She then pivoted to a Series A apparel startup, helping drive brand awareness, customer acquisition, retail and customer experience. She then joined her social impact platform and helped reorient her business model, connecting the platform with Hong Kong’s prominent ecosystem builders through advocacy, resource bridging, and strategic partnerships. I made it one. With a strong passion for driving social impact and systemic change, she is a strong advocate of cross-sector collaboration. In an exclusive interview with her Inside Retail, she shared some insight into how her career has unfolded so far and what she thinks about topics and issues surrounding her leadership skills. Inside Retail: Tell us about your career journey. How did you get into this industry? What are some of the different roles you have had along the way? Cynthia Nunez: Throughout the course of my career, I have strived to make a positive social and environmental impact. I have had diverse experiences that have shaped my perspective and passion for giving. My career began in the FMCG industry, where I gained valuable insight into business operations and strategy. However, a defining moment came in 2014 when I had the opportunity to visit Bangladesh. I was deeply inspired by witnessing the transformative power of social business to change lives. A few years later, I sought a new direction and joined several companies that addressed environmental and social impact issues across industries. I wanted to expand the impact of my work by collaborating with more stakeholders and innovators to create systemic change. Then an opportunity arose at The Mills Fabrica, where I was able to take on a role that invests in and supports innovation in the textile, apparel and produce industries. As the innovation arm of Nan Fung Group, a Hong Kong conglomerate comprised of a VC fund, startup incubator, and brick-and-mortar stores across Hong Kong and London, we are committed to providing capital and resources that make a meaningful impact at scale for entrepreneurs and innovators around the world. have resources. , to help you build your ideas and bring them to the masses. I am grateful that my role allows me to work across a range of business models to drive systemic change and create environmental and social impact across stakeholder groups and sectors. IR: What challenges have you faced in your career so far, and how did you address them? CN: The common thread is that you can’t have it all – environmental, social and economic impacts. I have a belief. One of the reasons I was immediately drawn to The Mills Fabrica is because we value “for profit” and “for purpose” in equal measure. It was very important to me to communicate that my work not only generates profit, but also creates meaningful impact. I strive to demonstrate the potential for both economic success and environmental and social impact, and to dispel the notion that these goals are mutually exclusive. Most importantly, environmental and social impact should be part of the product itself, not a consequence or by-product of our business decisions. This is an ongoing effort to balance the pursuit of profit and impact, and through my work at Mills Fabrica, I have been dedicated to proving that it is indeed achievable. Yes, it’s difficult and these challenges will always exist, but being part of a larger mission and working towards a big picture vision will give you the motivation and drive to overcome these challenges. given to me. Our strong belief in our vision and ability to see the big picture allows us to build solutions without getting distracted by obstacles along the way. IR: What do you like about your job? CN: What I really like about my job at The Mills Fabrica is that we actually drive positive social change for the planet and that It’s an opportunity to see the transformative impact it can have. As mentioned earlier, startups in the sustainability field often face resource limitations, especially when scaling up to make a big impact on the world. The Mills Fabrica provides financial resources, as well as valuable support and guidance, to help these companies build sustainable and impactful business models. For the first five years of my career in the sustainability field, I have had a textbook mindset and have always sought to advocate and prove that integrating profit and purpose is possible. However, at this stage of the industry, there is a global need for this model. And today, The Mills Fabrica is a leader in demonstrating how profit and purpose come together to drive meaningful change. It is extremely rewarding to be able to contribute to our mission of integrating economic interests and making a positive impact on the environment and society. That’s really the beauty of my job. It is also a constant reminder of the power we have to shape a better future, where profit and purpose coexist harmoniously for the benefit of all. IR: What are some important leadership lessons you’ve learned throughout your career? CN: Be an empathetic leader and stay true to your values. As I have met many leaders in my career, I have realized the importance of learning from different styles of leadership. Often, when people think of leadership, they simply think of being strong and authoritative. But we need to change our perception of traditional leadership. In the world we live in today, especially in my field, we want to bring out the best in people and encourage collective collaboration, so open conversations, collaboration, and win-win solutions. Empathetic, human-centered leaders who prioritize finding solutions are increasingly important. success. As I look back on my journey, I realize that the energy I project and the values ​​I stand for attract certain people and opportunities that have propelled my career and led me to The Mills Fabrica. I also noticed. We also believe that being empathetic and staying true to our customers’ values ​​can lead us to create a better, more sustainable future. IR: Do you have any “work hacks” for getting things done? CN: A clear and organized workspace is important to me. I try not to have more than three digits of unread emails in my inbox. And you don’t have to write down important things. Write down ideas and tasks so you don’t forget anything. IR: What is your approach to work-life balance? CN: I’m a new mom, so work-life balance is especially important right now. I’m very disciplined when it comes to setting time and boundaries for family and work. When I’m with my daughter, my priority is to spend quality time with her without distractions. This will further improve your work productivity. I have become more strategic about how to make the most of my time and am able to work in a more decisive and focused manner. More importantly, spending time with my family has further fueled my motivation and passion for my role at The Mills Fabrica. I want to teach my baby that becoming a mother does not mean giving up on personal aspirations. I believe it is important for women to have choices and options to pursue their professional and other personal goals if they wish. I not only want my daughter to see my work and be proud of it, but also to work harder to create a better, more sustainable world for her daughter’s future. She also has special benefits!
