Podcast

Women in STEM at Coca-Cola: Adriana Vindas and Mary McGrath

  • From: Samiksha Gupta
  • Published on:
  • Last updated on:

High-Flyers in STEM: #GreatnessHasNoGender
Season 4, Episode 5

In this episode of High-Flyers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math’s)  #GreatnessHasNoGender, Deirdre Finnerty sits down with Adriana Vindas, Senior Director of Operations, and Mary McGrath, Program Manager, Packaging Sustainability at Coca Cola, a global leader in beverages, known for its incredible products and commitment to innovation and sustainability. 

Adriana Vindas and Mary McGrath discussing operations, sustainability and women in STEM at Coca-Cola

Adriana and Mary share two inspiring stories of leadership and growth that, while very different in path, are deeply connected through purpose and curiosity. From Adriana’s early passion for science and her journey across operations and manufacturing, to Mary’s unconventional route from IT into packaging sustainability and her focus on people. Both women bring to life what it means to lead with authenticity and courage. 

Their conversation explores how curiosity drives progress, why inclusion and empathy are at the heart of great leadership, and how embracing difference helps teams and individuals thrive. Adriana reflects on how her scientific foundation continues to shape her problem-solving approach, while Mary speaks about the importance of adaptability, continuous learning, and trusting your own path. 

At Coca-Cola, Adriana and Mary lead by example, nurturing talent, amplifying voices, and shaping the next generation of STEM leaders. Their stories show how leadership is about inspiring purpose, empowering others, and making a positive impact every step of the way. We’re delighted to have these two incredible women share their stories and insights on our podcast. 

A huge thank you to our sponsor, Fenero, a multi-award-winning company specialising in financial success for contractors, freelancers, and solopreneurs. 

For more updates, follow HERO Recruitment on LinkedIn, reach out to hello@hero.ie, or explore exciting job opportunities in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math’s): Permanent Job Opportunities and Contracting Job Opportunities

Available now on YouTube, iTunes, and Spotify. 

Common questions

FAQs

FAQs

Adriana Vindas was Senior Director of Operations and Mary McGrath was Program Manager for Packaging Sustainability at Coca-Cola at the time of recording. They joined HERO’s High-Flyers in STEM podcast to discuss their career journeys, leadership development and experiences across operations, manufacturing and sustainability.

The episode explores career growth, curiosity, adaptability, inclusion and authentic leadership. Adriana discusses how her scientific background influenced her journey through manufacturing and operations, while Mary explains her move from IT into packaging sustainability.

A packaging-sustainability programme manager may coordinate initiatives involving packaging design, material reduction, recycled content, collection systems, suppliers and implementation across business functions. The precise responsibilities depend on the company and programme. Coca-Cola identifies packaging design and collection partnerships as central parts of its current packaging approach.

Curiosity encourages professionals to explore unfamiliar work, ask better questions and continue developing beyond their original discipline. In the episode, curiosity connects both guests’ different career journeys and their willingness to take on new challenges.

The Coca-Cola system has several distinct activities and legal entities connected with Ireland. These include The Coca-Cola Company’s operation in Ballina and Coca-Cola HBC’s manufacturing and distribution activities serving the island of Ireland.

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