Unilever

M. Scott Whitson

Luisana Gonzalez

Unsaleables Analyst

Luisana Gonzalez was matched up for a Unilever internship her sophomore year through INROADS, an organization that prepares minority students for professional careers. Although she didn’t know a lot about the consumer packaged goods industry when she was first hired as an intern, she now works with a multitude of brands everyday, such as Slimfast, Lipton, and Dove. She also collaborates with sales teams in the field and overlooks policy compliance throughout the sales organization.

What surprised you the most when you started at Unilever?
I’m the first college graduate in my family, and the first one who entered into a corporate environment. I thought that transition would be difficult, and that I would always be that young girl from an inner city that doesn’t fit in. But I was wrong. Being here is like being with a big family. Everyone talks about their spouses and kids, what they did this weekend, and what’s going on in their lives. It’s easy to open up and relate to everyone. It ended up being a very easy transition.

What are your main career goals?
I’d like to be a manager, or even a director at Unilever, in the next 10 to 15 years. I’m very sensitive to the topic of having a successful career as well as having a family. It’s a dual goal for me, to be able to do both well. What’s great about Unilever is there are a lot of role models here that show you can have that balance. Unilever is willing to work with you, so you can take on a role that respects your personal and career aspirations.

What role do you play in making Unilever diverse?
I’m a young, Hispanic woman, so that makes me a piece of diversity within Unilever. Diversity is really accepted here, especially in my team. We sit in an arrangement of eight cubes and we call ourselves “International Drive.” We all represent different parts of the world, whether the Middle East, China, India, etc. It’s funny it worked out that way.

Why is diversity important at Unilever?
Unilever is a global company, and our brands are sold across the world. If we are selling in South America, we need to understand that consumer. We need to be able to relate to everyone. It helps to have a diverse workforce to understand all these different consumers. For example, I can offer my unique perspective as a young, Hispanic, newly out of college consumer on say, a new Dove body wash. Diversity is also important for teamwork, because in life, there’s always going to be teamwork involved—you’re not going to work with the same type of person all the time.

Has your diversity influenced your success?
I would say yes, because it’s lit a fire under me. Through my diversity and my relationship with INROAD S, I’ve been exposed to many successful minority figures. They’ve shown me what minorities are capable of despite hardships and obstacles. This seems childish, but I remember thinking in high school, “I want to make $70,000 some day.” But seeing INROAD S alum who are representative of diversity and are financially successful, I began to realize that my goals are attainable. INROADS has really motivated me because I know it can be done.