Meet Julie McGlade: An Up-and-Coming Leader in Mondelēz R&D

Tuesday, October 14, 2025

What initially attracted you to work in R&D?

I have an engineering degree with a business minor. I've always been really interested in bringing together both backgrounds, and R&D for a consumer-led company felt like the perfect blend of the two. Being able to create delicious products for brands I grew up eating and loving was an added bonus! It's incredibly rewarding to see the full life cycle, from ideation all the way to store shelf and consumers' homes. Collaborating with cross-functional teams allows me to continually learn and grow in a dynamic environment. The fast pace of the industry keeps the work exciting and challenging, as consumer preferences and technologies constantly evolve.

How has your experience at Mondelēz International shaped your perspective on what makes an effective leader?

Mondelēz is a very collaborative environment - strong teamwork, communication, and colleagues passionate about what they do. The most effective leaders with whom I've worked exhibit these same qualities while inspiring them in others. They're active listeners, always looking to learn while not being afraid to challenge the status quo. Leaders at Mondelēz also emphasize the importance of adaptability, especially in the face of rapidly changing market demands. They encourage a culture of continuous improvement and innovation, ensuring the team remains agile and forward-thinking.

As a people manager, what strategies do you employ to foster a collaborative and high-performing team environment within the R&D section you manage?

Communication is key! Especially in a function like R&D, where new technical challenges pop up every day, it's so important the team feels a sense of trust, partnership and community. I encourage them to regularly share project updates to learn from each other and support collaboration. I also work hard to ensure team members have a diverse set of projects to drive creativity and exposure to different aspects of the business. It's important to balance meeting critical business needs with ensuring personal growth and engagement. By fostering an inclusive culture, team members are more willing to bring their unique perspectives to the table.

In your role as a Section Manager, how do you encourage innovation and creativity within your team, and how do you support the development of new ideas and solutions?

It's important to foster an inclusive environment to ensure team members feel comfortable bringing forward new ideas. I try hard to communicate with "yes and" rather than "no" or "but". I encourage brainstorming sessions, share outs of industry trends, and tastings of new products. I love when the team is inspired by each other. We regularly invite one another to tastings early in the product development lifecycle to learn from each other. I also recognize it's important the team has strong foundational, technical skills to build upon for new ideation and strive to ensure each team member develops this through training, project work and exposure to senior technical experts in our organization. I learn just as much - probably more! - from my team than they do from me.

What aspects of the Mondelēz culture do you believe contribute most to the growth and development of its employees, particularly in leadership roles?

Mondelēz is a very collaborative environment. I've learned so much from my colleagues, who are always willing to share their experience, attend a brainstorming session, or explain a new aspect of the business over a coffee. Learning from their examples has made me a stronger leader. The company's focus on continuous improvement encourages employees to take initiative and develop new skills. Additionally, Mondelēz supports professional development through mentorship programs and leadership training. These resources foster a culture of empowerment and growth.

What skills do you find most important for success in your role?

Agility is key; the only constant is change in such a dynamic environment. Being able to pivot, adapt, and problem-solve is critical. Strong communication skills are also so important. Every project is a group effort, and it's crucial to build strong relationships to ensure everyone is on the same page, clear on next steps, and raising/aligning to risks as they appear. Lastly, curiosity - I love to learn from my team, my colleagues, my manager. As an R&D leader, I of course want to ensure I understand the technical aspects of the products and projects for which I'm responsible. But, I also want to understand the bigger picture and the perspective of other functions to be a stronger partner and a stronger leader.

What advice would you give to someone aspiring to become a people manager within R&D at Mondelēz, and what are some of the exciting opportunities they can look forward to in such a role?

My advice is to be curious - ask questions, prioritize active listening, understand the bigger picture on your projects in addition to the bit for which you're directly responsible - and to strive to develop strong communication skills. In my current role, I enjoy connecting technical knowledge with the larger business picture as well as engaging in cross-functional teams working on amazing brands. It is also incredibly rewarding to play a part in my team members’ growth, both personally and professionally.