Natalia Rizzati

What do you enjoy most about your role?

Growing the company and bringing the Kingspan DNA to AllWeather, while not losing sight of who we are. Since our acquisition by Kingspan, I think we’ve done that very successfully. We’ve incorporated Kingspan’s global initiatives like Planet Passionate, and Kingspan’s values – like accountability and courage – while maintaining our own brand values, our local market expertise, and our ‘Customer First’ programme.  

As President of AWIP, I’ve overseen huge change as our team has grown and developed, and managing that change requires the implementation of new processes and structures. Each department has its own creativity and agility, and keeping that innovative spirit while guiding the company into its current size and market presence has been a real privilege. 

What makes you proud to work for Kingspan?

Everybody that I've ever met at Kingspan is so approachable, from senior management all the way to directors and colleagues. The team energy is unbelievable: I’m inspired every day by how much they care about the customer. And building that team has been amazingly fulfilling: identifying talent and potential, or finding and nurturing that person who could be a star five years from now. 

Out of all our projects, I think I’m most proud of OneDek, our new insulated roof deck system. Challenging the way that roofing is designed in North America has been challenging, but also exciting: we’re seeing the development of a completely new industry: watching, meeting, learning, creating partnerships, and witnessing Kingspan R&D in action. The whole experience of that product launch has been phenomenal. 

What professional qualities are helpful in AWIP?

The top traits I look for in people I hire are integrity, agility and energy. I’m looking for people with that Kingspan DNA, that innovative spirit, because it’s the people that make our company as successful as we are.

When someone comes into the business, I connect them into different departments, which helps to foster unity and avoid silos in the company. Whatever their role, I encourage people to walk down the manufacturing line and meet the people on the floor: I want people to understand who their colleagues are and how to network. If you have the ability to talk to people, then a lot of your problems in business become your opportunities. 

What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve received?

You can do it: don’t let anything hold you back. If there’s something you want to do, have the courage to go after it. There’s never going to be the perfect time, or the perfect business scenario, so don’t wait: take the step and jump in. 

How could someone get started in AWIP?

Everyone’s path is different, but I worked all through university in construction and real estate, so I had a lot of real-world experience when I started. I’d always been interested in the built environment, especially the manufacturing side. I started at AllWeather as a financial analyst when it was a much smaller company, so I gained exposure to lots of different parts of the business. I was given a lot of trust very early in my career: senior managers mentored me and I became more and more involved in the operational side of the business. I’m a big believer in mentorship: find someone you admire, and ask them for a meeting. 

The main lesson from all that early experience was that the voice of the customer really matters: that’s what keeps us laser-focused on business initiatives. That’s the main thing I’d say to anyone starting at AllWeather today. 

What does the future hold for Kingspan?

Decarbonising the built environment is the key thing. I wake up every day trying to think, how do you solve that? In OneDek, for example, we’re thinking about how to make assembly easier, meaning reduced materials on site, fewer trucks, and a less labour-intensive install, all leading to a reduction of embodied carbon. Our R&D focus across the Kingspan product portfolio has that core mission in mind. That’s the big challenge for the next several years.