Unilever

Chris Gabello

Gail Tifford

Senior Media Director, North America

Gail Tifford was an attorney when she first started consulting for Unilever. That eventually led to a job offer, and, impressed by the caliber of its employees and already loyal to Unilever brands, Gail jumped at the opportunity. Now that she’s on the inside, she benefits from a supportive and flexible workplace—but still finds time to sing the praises of Unilever’s brands, from Hellmann’s to Q-tips.

What was your perception of Unilever before you started?
From the outside, you’re only aware of the products. I was a loyal Unilever consumer but when I got on the inside, I was amazed by the passion and excitement brand managers have for their brands—they take great pride and are very emotionally connected.

Can you describe a typical day?
I sometimes work from home, as Unilever supports an agile work environment. I manage the media portfolio for Unilever, and help drive world-class campaigns for more than 40 brands across North America.

What roles do sustainability and innovation play in the workplace?
They are broadly deployed across the workplace. It inspires me to work for a company that is so committed to people, consumers and the environment, whether that commitment is demonstrated through consumer educational programs, developing products that make consumers’ lives better, or reducing our environmental footprint.

Are there any misconceptions about working there?
A common misconception is that at a big company, you become a number. You never, ever feel that way here. So whether it’s due to the strong investment in training and mentorship programs, or an opportunity to manage one of our iconic brands, you feel like you’re part of a small, intimate community rather than a large, global organization.

What prompted you to leave Unilever, and what made you decide to return?
During my first job at Unilever, I discovered a passion for working with our media partners and about finding new and innovative ways to reach our consumers. So when a large media organization offered me an opportunity, I decided to pursue it because it gave me a chance to learn how global media companies operate. Unilever called a few years later and offered me my current opportunity. Looking back on it now, it was quite serendipitous—I knew the brands, I knew the people, and finally had the media experience to merge it all together.

What is your favorite aspect of working at Unilever?
The endless opportunities. I’ve been able to work across sales, marketing, training and now media, which really demonstrates Unilever’s 360-degree point of view and its commitment to valuing each individual’s skill sets across disciplines, across brands, and across the world.

Do you have a favorite Unilever brand or product?
I’m very partial to the icecream brand Magnum—if you haven’t tried that, you haven’t lived! But I’m also fond of Q-tips because it was the first brand I worked on when I came to Unilever (and they really do have 50 percent more cotton at the tip!).

What advice do you have for students?
Be patient, persistent, and get out there and network. You never know when your next boss could be in an elevator with you or sitting next to you in a restaurant. It’s happened to me!