Meet the Team: Q&A with Mandalena, Business Development Manager
Behind every successful partnership is someone who understands the value of relationships, communication, and creating opportunities for growth. At Mighty, we're fortunate to have Mandalena as part of our team, bringing with her more than 20 years of experience across sales, customer service, business development, marketing, banking, logistics, and real estate.
Having built a diverse career across multiple industries, Mandalena has developed a unique ability to understand customer needs, identify commercial opportunities, and build meaningful partnerships that deliver long-term value. Her journey through leadership positions within Suonal before joining Mighty has equipped her with a wealth of experience that continues to support our growth today.
We sat down with Mandalena to learn more about her career journey, what motivates her, and her approach to building successful business relationships.
Q: Tell us a little about your role at Mighty.
Mandalena: As Business Development Manager at Mighty for international markets, I focus on building and nurturing strategic partnerships, identifying new growth opportunities, and helping expand our presence across key markets. My role involves managing the sales pipeline, leading commercial negotiations, and collaborating across teams to align business objectives with customer needs. My focus is on creating sustainable revenue streams and fostering customer loyalty that contribute to the company's profitability, market position, and overall business performance.
Q: You've had a diverse career spanning multiple industries. How has that shaped your approach to business development?
Mandalena: Working across different industries has given me a broad perspective on how businesses operate and what drives success in different markets. It has taught me to be adaptable, curious, and customer-focused. I believe the best business development strategies come from understanding people's needs, building trust, and finding solutions that create value for everyone involved.
Q: Before joining Mighty, you held several leadership roles within Suonal. What did that experience teach you?
Mandalena: My time at Suonal was instrumental in shaping my leadership approach and business perspective. Leading a workforce of more than 100 employees, including supervisors, admin, sales and customer service teams, and trainers, while overseeing a diverse portfolio of projects, provided invaluable experience in strategic leadership, operational excellence, and driving performance through people. These responsibilities strengthened my ability to navigate complex challenges, align teams around common objectives, and deliver sustainable results in a dynamic environment.
Equally important was the opportunity to build and maintain strong relationships across the business. These experiences reinforced my belief that long-term success is driven not only by operational performance but also by collaboration, trust, and stakeholder engagement.
Having worked within the Group prior to my transition to Mighty has given me a comprehensive understanding of our core business, operating model, and strategic priorities. This broader perspective enables me to see opportunities beyond individual business units, understand how the various parts of the Group contribute to overall success, and align decision-making with the Group's long-term vision and growth objectives.
Q: What do you enjoy most about working in business development?
Mandalena: What I enjoy most is the opportunity to talk all day and call it work. 🙂 Beyond that, what I find most rewarding is connecting with people and creating meaningful partnerships. Every conversation is a chance to learn something new, make a valuable connection, or discover new possibilities. I enjoy networking events because you never know which introduction, idea, or conversation might lead to something amazing. Watching an idea evolve into a successful collaboration is especially satisfying and keeps me excited about what I do.
Q: What attracted you to Mighty?
Mandalena: I was drawn to Mighty because of its innovative approach, ambitious vision, and focus on developing products that respond to evolving consumer needs. It operates in a dynamic market with a lot happening and strong long-term potential, particularly as shifting consumer trends, along with a growing focus on sustainability and ethical considerations, continue to reshape the landscape.
Having worked in sales and customer service within the wider group, as well as years of experience in international business development, the opportunity to contribute to that growth and expansion was exciting and felt like a natural next step for me.
It also felt like a fresh and fast-paced environment, which suited my working style well, particularly in terms of adaptability and taking ownership.
Added to that, I’d had the chance to taste lots of Mighty recipes when it first launched within the wider group, and I loved the products and believed in them. Any opportunity to attend a demo with one of our in-house chefs, I’m always in!
Q: What excites you most about working in the plant-based sector?
Mandalena: The plant-based sector is one of the most dynamic and fast-growing industries today. It's exciting to be part of a movement that is driving innovation while offering consumers more sustainable choices. I enjoy working in an environment where there is constant evolution and significant potential for positive impact.
Q: What do you believe makes a successful business partnership?
Mandalena: Successful partnerships are built on trust, transparency, and shared goals. Open communication and a genuine commitment to mutual success are essential. The strongest partnerships are those where both parties see each other as long-term collaborators rather than simply transactional relationships.
Q: What skills are most important in your role?
Mandalena: Strong communication, relationship-building, strategic thinking, and adaptability are all critical. It's also important to be a good listener, understand market trends, and stay focused on delivering value. Business development is about connecting opportunities with solutions in a way that benefits everyone involved.
Q: What motivates you professionally?
Mandalena: I’m driven by growth and high-impact work. I thrive on setting challenging goals, solving problems, and contributing to outcomes that move the business forward. Seeing measurable results from collaboration and effort is what makes the work especially rewarding for me.
Q: Looking back on your career so far, what are you most proud of?
Mandalena: I'm most proud of the relationships I've built throughout my career and the trust I've earned from colleagues, partners, and customers. Success is important, but creating lasting connections and helping businesses grow sustainably is what I value most.
Q: What advice would you give to someone looking to build a career in business development?
Mandalena: I believe in staying curious, being proactive, and continuously learning. Strong professional relationships are built through active listening and genuinely understanding people’s needs and perspectives.
I see growth as something that comes from stepping outside your comfort zone, embracing new experiences, and staying open to different viewpoints. In business development, success is about creating meaningful opportunities, and that starts with openness, adaptability, and consistent follow-through. Integrity is central to how I work; it guides decisions, builds trust, and shapes long-term relationships.
I am also a great believer of the value of personal branding and the impression you leave in every interaction. Small but important details like professionalism, confidence, and a firm handshake can shape how you are perceived and remembered.
Maintaining a positive mindset is key to staying solution-focused, resilient, and constructive, even when facing challenges.
Finally, I believe in treating everyone with respect, regardless of their role or title. This approach fosters trust, strengthens relationships, and builds lasting credibility in any professional setting.
Final Thoughts
Mandalena's career is a great example of how diverse experiences can create a strong foundation for leadership and business growth. From customer service and operations to sales leadership and strategic partnerships, each step of her journey has contributed to the well-rounded commercial perspective she brings to Mighty today.
Her passion for building relationships, embracing new challenges, and creating value for customers and partners makes her an integral part of the Mighty team. As we continue to grow, we're excited to have dedicated professionals like Mandalena helping us build meaningful partnerships and bring Mighty to more businesses and communities.
Thank you, Mandalena, for sharing your story with us.
