What We're Reading Now
Work Smarter by Listening to Stories
9 September 2025
Janie set out to learn more about one of her clients by listening to the Acquired podcast episode The Complete History & Strategy of Mars, Inc. and reading Lessons from Mars: How One Global Company Cracked the Code on High Performance Collaboration and Teamwork by Carlos Valdes-Dapena.
Tags: janie read, words
At Allison Partners, our “words on the wall” are more than just nice phrases. Each one reminds us of a story that has shaped who we are and that guides how we work. When we partner with clients, we know it’s important to learn their stories. Understanding what matters most to them—what’s on their wall—is what helps us build the kind of partnerships that go deeper than strategy alone.
One of the clients I am very fortunate to work with is Mars, Incorporated. You might think of Mars as the candy company that makes SNICKERS®, MILKY WAY®, M&M’S®, and many other iconic candy brands. Those are the brands I was most familiar with when I started working with them—and the ones that you might enjoy when you visit the Allison Partners office. You might not know that their candy and snacking brands are just part of the story; Mars Petcare is actually a larger part of the business, with 100,000 Associates (including more than 12,000 veterinarians) in over 130 countries.
To learn more, I listened to the Acquired podcast episode, The Complete History & Strategy of Mars, Inc. I also read Lessons from Mars: How One Global Company Cracked the Code on High Performance Collaboration and Teamwork by Carlos Valdes-Dapena.
In the podcast, Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal covered numerous aspects of the company, including stories about how they evolved from Frank Mars, Sr. making penny candy out of his home into the global business they are today. Throughout their conversation, they discussed some of the foundational concepts that have helped make Mars so successful, including their Five Principles, which Mars says, “form the foundation of how we do business today and every day.”
Learning more of this history not only helps me share interesting stories with my kids at the dinner table, but also of Mars’ commitment to the Five Principles and the different ways this shows up. It also helps me be better at supporting them and doing my job.
For example, understanding the Mutuality, Responsibility, and Efficiency Principles helps me not feel like I’m being a nag when I send reminders or follow-up with Associates who have missed assessment deadlines or need to reschedule a coaching call. The Quality Principle reminds me that it’s important to take my time and not move too quickly when slicing pages for workbooks, printing handouts, or assembling nametags. Reading Valdes-Dapena’s reflections about collaboration demonstrates why my management of breakout rooms during group calls is more than just assigning pairings and opening and closing rooms. These small group conversations are an opportunity for my participants to build their networks and collaborate with their peers.
Just as our “words on the wall” help visitors to our office learn more about Allison Partners, taking time to explore our clients’ stories helps us understand organizational dynamics and forge genuine relationships. At Allison Partners, understanding our clients’ stories isn’t just work—it’s how we create solutions that last and partnerships that thrive.
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