Name: Knowledge Kanjanga
Job Title: Production Executive
Department: Production
Country: Zimbabwe
When did you join Nestlé?
I joined Nestlé on 1st November 2005.
What has been your best moment in Nestlé?
When we managed to get ISO 22000, OHSAS 18001 and ISO 14001 certification.
Nestlé has its employees at heart and their wellness comes first especially at an occupational health and safety level.
What do you like about the people you work with?
Everyone is driven by the NCE 3C’s, from the highest level to shop floor. Working as ONE TEAM, 100% ENGAGEMENT and striving for ZERO WASTE has been quite an inspiration for me to excel in everything I do.
How does it feel to work with a leading brand in Nutrition Health and Wellness?
I feel proud to be part of company that has an ambition to help people everywhere in the world lead fuller, happier lives by developing and delivering innovative, effective, scientifically proven nutrition products with nutritional benefits.
I am a celebrity and earn respect in my community for being part of Nestlé.
Also provide a brief comment about what you like about Nestlé:
- At Nestlé the sky is the limit in terms of growth. It’s not something that you can achieve alone, the company will take you all the way along with all the support you need, but you also need to prove yourself. In just five years only, I have been promoted four times, from a Microbiology Analyst (where I managed myself) to Production Executive (where I now manage more than 200 people at a time).
- Nestlé believe in a good balance between employee’s private life and professional life which is emphasized in “The Nestlé Human Resources Policy”.
Name: Chishala Nancy Chola
Job Title: Executive Secretary
Department: Management
Country: Zambia
When did you join Nestlé?
I joined Nestlé on the 13th of September 2010.
Best Moment
My best moment in Nestlé I would say was flying to Nairobi for the Management Assistants workshop a day after joining the company. Being in Nairobi with the other Assistants was the best induction ever. I had a chance to interact with employees from different countries in the region and It helped me settle in my new job well. Upon my return, it felt like I had been in the business for a long time.
Another moment I hold dear to me was the visit from EAR management in September 2010. This was when Nestlé Zambia was beginning its official sales and EAR management visited just to find out how prepared we were for the same. It was a wonderful experience to interact with EXCOM including the Head of Region – Mr. Pierre Trouilhat. For many of us who had just joined the company, this was a great beginning.
Recommendation
I would commend Nestlé on their commitment to train their employees. The competence of their employees is important to them. Nestlé also shows a genuine concern for the wellbeing of their employees.
Nestlé can also be commended for their well laid out procedures which make working life easier.
What do you like about the people you work with?
What I like about Nestlé Zambia is that we are a young, energetic & motivated team. The people are hard working and very dedicated to their work. They are all proud of being part of this new international company in the country and want to see it succeed especially that most of them are its first employees.
How does it feel to work with a leading brand in Nutrition Health and Wellness?
Working for a leading brand in Nutrition Health and Wellness makes me proud that I am part of a company that has been around for more than a century. It also gives me a sense of security as I know because of their experience; they will be around for many years to come. I am also motivated to live a healthier lifestyle as is the practice in Nestlé.
Also provide a brief comment about what you like about Nestlé:
- I feel there is a lot of opportunity for growth within the organization. Examples to prove this fact would be the number of young managers we have in the company. And many of them have been in the company for a while and you can see clearly how they have progressed through their hard work.
- The management puts a lot of emphasis on the reporting time and the time to leave the office. This ensures that no employee overstays at work and therefore having enough time to spend with his/her family.
Name: Victor Koech
Job Title: Chemistry Analyst
Department: Quality Assurance Department
Country: Kenya
When did you join Nestlé?
I joined Nestlé on 2 nd February, 2008.
What has been your best moment in Nestlé?
The day I was nominated to go for training on Food and Packaging Safety in CWAR (Accra). I thank Nestlé for offering such opportunities of career development to its employees.
What do you like about the people you work with?
They are good team players and are highly motivated by the Company's goals. This enhances efficiency of everyone and the company as a whole.
How does it feel to work with a leading brand in Nutrition Health and Wellness?
I feel proud and privileged. I'm a hero.
Also provide a brief comment about what you like about Nestlé:
- Each and every person has an equal chance to grow.
- It is well balanced and I appreciate spending enough time with my family.
Name: Patrick Michori
Job Title: Regional Fields Operations Manager
Department: Nutrition
Country: EAR
When did you join Nestlé?
I joined Nestlé Kenya in November 2005 as a medical delegate and have since grown to my current role.
Nestlé has offered me many exceptional moments. It is noteworthy that my position offers different experiences with every new day. Each day comes with meeting different people and a new route to travel in my pursuit of adding value to life. The most commendable thing about Nestlé is the superior quality of its products, which is a resounding testimony of every consumer I have had a chance to interact with.
Nestlé is awash with brilliant minds and diverse cultures. From my interactions with colleagues I am in a position to learn many things which in my view, is most commendable about the high capability of human resources at Nestlé.
Contributing to the Nutrition, Health and Wellness of the society is an honour. It is fulfilling to interact with healthcare providers with whom Nestlé partners to provide nutrition to delicate segments of the population.
- Nestlé offers excellent career prospects within and across functions, all one has to do is decide which path they would like to take! The company also has challenging and demanding roles and it is important that one plans meticulously so as to have time to excel both at home and at work.
Name: James Mbugua
Job Title: IT Coordinator
Department: GLOBE IS/IT
Country: Kenya
When did you join Nestlé?
1 st September, 2009.
What have been your best moment in Nestlé?
There are many great moments to be experienced when working in Nestlé. I have had the pleasure of working with colleagues both locally and from different Nestlé offices; interacting via online forums and exchanging insights and learnings which directly contribute to the general productivity, allowing professional use of tools which are hosted from different locations.
What do you like about the people you work with?
They are vibrant, organized and work as a team.
How does it feel to work with a leading brand in Nutrition Health and Wellness?
Nestlé is a global leader in the food industry. Being able to apply my skills to contribute to food provision to the world is a motivating opportunity and I am glad to be part of the team.
Also provide a brief comment about what you like about Nestlé:
- Exposure to training opportunities to align with best practices that allows effective management of the business.More interaction with the business in terms of delivery and contribution to other facets of the company. Sponsorship to professional bodies’ membership to learn from colleagues, and to learn from periodicals/journals subscriptions.
First name: Benson Njiru
Job Title: Factory Engineer
Department: Engineering
Country: Kenya
When did you join Nestlé?
1 st October, 2007.
What have been your best moment in Nestlé and what one thing would you recommend Nestlé for?
Helping to make Nestlé the world’s most compliant manufacturer, with safest workplace, where the healthiest employees delight consumers with food & beverages that taste great and are nutritious while also being the reference for preserving environmental resources for future generations.
What do you like about the people you work with?
Team spirit, proactive co-operation, a clear understanding that achievement of personal goals is guaranteed when we realize our common objective.
The safety culture, respect for environment and drive towards compliance gives me confidence that this is the right environment that anyone should aspire to grow in.
How does it feel to work with a leading brand in Nutrition Health and Wellness?
At Nestlé, the world’s leading NHW company I have the best job I could think of:
With over 400 factories worldwide and presence in virtually every corner of the Globe, it’s a great experience to know that Important discoveries, knowhow, lessons, cultures and best practices can be shared freely and applied to solve difficult tasks making it rather easier to achieve one’s objectives.
Also provide a brief comment about what you like about Nestlé:
- Perhaps this is the most exciting thing about Nestlé Equatorial African Region, with many countries in its nest; there are great opportunities presently and in the future as the region embarks on investment program that is changing the face of factories by upgrading and expanding existing ones while starting up of new ones from scratch (Greenfield projects). As an Engineer, this greatly enriches my career due to direct involvement in the initiation processes and numerous ground breaking activities within the region.
- Nestlé recognizes the need for well balanced work-family life as demonstrated by top management who respect employees working hours and have invested to ensure that employees get to work conveniently and leave work early ensuring safety in all circumstances. Nestlé has demonstrated its desire to equip and retain the best by progressively assessing a person’s current potential and systematically developing it through targeted training both locally and internationally. This ensures one is well equipped to qualify and take up new positions in their career line hence growth and upward progress is guaranteed.
Name: Janet Sunkwa-Mills
Job Title: Business Executive Manager
Department: Culinary
Country: EAR
How long have you worked for Nestlé?
I joined Nestlé straight after my MBA degree and I have stayed with the company for 16 years.
How did you get started in this career?
My career aspiration has always been marketing and business development. However, I needed a solid foundation to launch it. I started in field sales and administration management for 4 years before moving into brand management in 1998. As a manager I worked for Nestlé Ghana MAGGI brand for 3 years until 2001. Subsequently, my career progressed in brand management in Cote d’Ivoire (3 years), Nigeria (2 years) and back to Ghana where I then joined the regional NESCAFE team from January to March 2008. In April 2008, I joined EAR as BM Culinary and became a proud member of the pioneering team of the new region.
What do you like most about your work, have you encountered any challenge?
Throughout my 12 years experience with the MAGGI brand in Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria and now EAR, I have developed a deep passion for women and the key roles they play in family nurturing and nourishment. What I enjoy most about my work is the opportunity and ability to use MAGGI, as a platform, to bring solutions and smiles to countless faces of women. It has been emotionally rewarding and worth more than words can express.
The point to note is that although the fundamental needs statuses for family nurturing among women are similar in most countries, the physical expression of these varies from one culture and/or economic environment to another. The challenge has been to learn, adapt and offer solutions that make sense to the local consumer. There have been instances where I had to unlearn the knowledge I had developed from previous experiences.
What background does one need to efficiently do the job?
I will without doubt recommend a solid foundation in sales for those who would want to pursue a career in Business Management. Definitely a first degree and/or second degree in Business Development will facilitate the process of business analysis and strategy. It is equally necessary to develop a firm grasp of the basics in sales & marketing as well as confidence, good communication and interpersonal skills to drive implementation. Above all, passion for the job is a critical success factor.
Did you have to go back to school to consider a career switch?
No I did not. I pursued my MBA degree (Marketing major) with a clear career aspiration in mind - Business Development.
With your current knowledge, would you have done anything differently before entering the field?
Not really.
Would you advise others to enter this career at this time? Why or why not?
I would advise those who are passionate and have the inspiration to go for it and ensure that they leave positive footprints wherever they are.
Why? Being in brand and/ or business management offers countless opportunities for close contact with consumers. As we all know consumers are at the core of all business endeavours.
Can you recommend any learning activities related to this type of work?
Joining any social club is good exposure to different situations and helps to develop adaptation skills to new environments. Frequent sales visits (with the field sales teams) and in-home visits (with consumer services) are priceless.
Anything we should know about the constraints of moving geographically?
Moving geographically has been a very exciting and rewarding experience. However, as with all new accomplishments, these movements do have some challenges; as an African wife, mother and career woman, my major goal is to ensure that my family is content irrespective of any distance or temporary separation. I would add as well, that I have also encountered cultural variations from one country to another which have required careful consideration and skill adaptation. All said and done… it’s all about caring and developing a happy balance between my family, my needs and my career.
Finally, Can you chose one of the following values (trust – respect – action – clarity) and tell us how it has impacted your career?
I would say that all four values are requisite in any career in Nestlé. As an expat though, trust and respect, for the different cultures and people that I have worked/interacted with, have been immensely valuable to me.
Name: Shahzad Hameed
Job Title: Regional Demand and Supply Planning Manager
Department: Demand and Supply Planning
Country: Pakistan
When did you join Nestlé?
I joined Nestlé Pakistan Ltd. on 2 nd June 2002, as a “Supply Planning Coordinator” - Skeikhupura Factory
What has been your best moment in Nestlé?
My best moments in Nestlé were my first day in the company, assignment as an expatriate in Nestlé Middle East, Dubai, in 2006, when I received a five years service award in 2008 and lastly working in Africa in Equatorial African Region. So far so Good.
What do you like about the people you work with?
Their good behavior, love and understanding of one another.
How does it feel to work with a leading brand in Nutrition Health and Wellness?
Just in one word, “privileged”
Also provide a brief comment about what you like about Nestlé:
Quantitative; PDG/PE & Trainings, Qualitative; Person’s positive attitude & proactive approach