FROM RESEARCH TO PRODUCT MANAGEMENT TO SUPPLY CHAIN

Friday, September 16, 2022

Tell us about your career journey at MDLZ

I joined MDLZ 12 years ago after getting a taste of the company during my Industrial placement. My career started in Research & Development (R&D) based in Reading working in ingredient research, and then moved to the R&D Bournville Hub. During this time, I worked on various projects (new product development, quality improvement, reformulation) on brands such as Cadbury & Milka.

I then transferred to our Uxbridge office as a Product Change Manager (PCM) within the Meals category. I wanted to understand other parts of the business and this area was totally new to me! This role gave me exposure to Supply Chain and that’s where I ultimately found my passion.

I moved into the Co-Pack Team in Bournville to understand a different side of the business. I became a people manager for the first time and my scope changed massively, I went from managing one person to a team of 5, and then taking on planning too! I knew I need to get customer experience, so I applied for a role in the Customer Collaboration Team. In this role I led the strategic supply management of our UK Grocer/eComm space and manage a team of fantastic individuals.

What do you like about working at MDLZ?

The brands and people are a massive reason to work for us. Being able to walk through supermarket aisles and see our brands really fills me with immense pride. The people truly are the heart of the business. I have made friends for life from starting out as colleagues and it really is a supportive environment. The other thing I love about MDLZ is its global presence and the access to opportunities to work at different sites, different countries or with colleagues across different regions.

Can you give us an example of how you stepped outside your comfort-zone in this role?

I didn’t know anything about the customer space before I started this role so this has definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone. I went from being a go-to in my area to feeling major imposter syndrome for quite some time, especially when speaking to customers in my first few months. But my tenacity to get things done and learning to be comfortable at not being in the detail/leading through my team has been a hugely rewarding (and steep) learning curve!

What is your biggest learning experience since working with us?

For me taking chances/risks with roles has been my biggest learning. Both my PCM and Co-Pack roles were originally secondments/ fixed term roles so I didn’t know where I would be at the end of them or if I would have a role BUT I didn’t let that stop me from applying as I knew the reward of supporting my development was far greater than the risk. So, my advice is always put yourself out there and be open to experiences that you wouldn’t conventionally choose (if you can).

How would you describe the work culture at Mondelēz International and within your function?

Being one team/ supporting one another is something you feel in the teams in Customer, Service & Logistics – we always try to check in on one another or lend a hand where we can. We come together weekly to mix both, the work and fun/play to build our people & culture connect! We also work really hard and stop at nothing to get products to our consumers; this has been acknowledged by leaders in other areas of the business too!

What is your favourite brand?

My favourite MDLZ product has to be Wispa Gold so I guess brand would then be Cadbury! 😊

What advice would you give someone that wants to join MDLZ in the Customer Service & Logistics function?

If you are up for a challenge, then CS&L is for you. It’s fast paced, dynamic and an area where you need to flex your problem solving/ decision making skills. You really feel the outputs of what you do, such as delivering the season across our Seasonal Demand and Customer Teams – this is what makes CS&L a great place to learn and grow within the business!