In conversation with HUL TechTonic winners who earned a full-time role at the largest FMCG company, Unilever!

In the lead-up to TechTonic 2021, the most awaited technology case-study competition hosted by Unilever here is a sneak-peek into the journey of past students who did well in the competition and are now part of the Unilever Technology family. 

Hence, we decided to interview four such past contestants of TechTonic:

1. Amanpreet Singh, IIM B, Batch of 2016-18
2. Nitin Samanta, SPJIMR, Batch of 2017-19
3. Swathi Kalyani, XLRI, Batch of 2017-19
4. Sakshi Gupta, NITIE, Batch of 2018-20

Q: What was your experience when you participated in TechTonic? How did the event help you get excited for a career in Unilever Tech?

Amanpreet: I was part of a 3-member team that made it to the National finals of IT Reboot representing IIM Bangalore. Themed around conceptualizing a tech-driven product idea, the competition put our entrepreneurial, analytical, technological, and business skills to a great test. Even though we didn’t win, I was fortunate to get a PPI opportunity on the competition day which I grabbed with both hands and landed a full-time working opportunity (PPO) to work with Unilever. 

Nitin: There is a 2-fold answer to this:

1. Focus on CPG – Due to the event launch, I got a sneak peek into the technology-driven operations which kindled my interest in exploring more about Tech-driven initiatives in the CPG industry. After taking part in the competition, as part of the context study, I was piqued into connecting with alumni already working in the industry. I surveyed the impact technology initiatives are bringing on the ground, as well. This has not only helped me in getting to the idea that I went on to pitch for the competition but also expanded my interest in the company vastly. 
2. Network in UL – As a participant, I had to consult seniors in the company to vet my idea. Sometimes I got referred to other UL colleagues and eventually got the right direction to proceed. In this process, I made some contacts which remain my source of help and direction in the company.   

Swathi: When I got an email from the Placement Coordinators of my b-school about HUL IT-Reboot 2018, it felt like yet another exciting business case to crack. Never did I think it would change the course of my career for the good. 

At that point in time, I participated in the competition purely for the excitement of solving business cases, with no expectations of winning or landing a job at Unilever Tech. The case challenged us to re-design the customer engagement strategy for HUL’s e-Commerce. Working on the case, I found myself applying the core concepts of all three areas of my key interest - Business Strategy, Technology, and Marketing. For a techie turned marketing major in me, this was the best of both worlds. I knew this is where I belonged.

The next couple of months were full of excitement, luck, and immense learning – campus rounds, the mentorship, National Finals, the Pre-Placement Interview…and a job offer at Unilever!

Sakshi: Unilever was a recruiter of choice for me since before I began my B-School journey. The TechTonic competition gave us a chance to work on the industry-wide problem statement of transitioning to a circular economy while getting to know about various innovative initiatives ongoing at Unilever. The process boosted my connection with Unilever’s purpose to make sustainable living commonplace and got me excited for the opportunities here. I couldn’t wait to be part of the Unilever ecosystem.

Q: How was your Unilever Future Leaders Program experience?

Swathi: In May 2019, I started my UFLP journey with HUL in Mumbai HO. The next 15 months were the best possible ways of seeing all the classroom learning in actual action. I had my training spanned across different functions of Unilever - from Field Sales in rural Tamil Nadu to driving Digital Transformation in Global Procurement with teams in Switzerland, from manufacturing Ice Creams to sustaining livelihoods in rural India – the program trained me in purpose-driven, future-fit leadership in the ways I never imagined.

Sakshi: I joined Unilever as part of the UFLP program and thoroughly enjoyed the experience of learning how all the crucial business functions operate and come together to create the magic behind the scenes. It allowed me to appreciate the scale and complexity of the organization and build a network of great mentors and colleagues across domains. The program helped to form a solid base upon which I can build.

Amanpreet: As a UFLP starting my career in Unilever, I was inducted into 15 months of a very well-designed learning & training program with wide exposure to stints in different business verticals viz sales, marketing, supply chain, factory, finance, and IT. The UFLP program played a crucial role in laying down the foundation skills which further helped me land a role of my choice in the Global Marketing technology team. 

Nitin: UFLP was a journey like no other. It was challenging, humbling and at the same time a lot of fun. On a normal day I could never imagine myself selling detergents in the remotest Tamil Nadu (I do not speak Tamil!), having lunches with factory workers (as that is the only time you get to speak with them), manning factory machines, packing soaps in cartons and living 15 months out of a 15 Kg suitcase (that is how many domestic flights in India allow). I met some extraordinary people during UFLP – I have a very good friend living in Pakistan. Another friend is a scientist. All these relations are a gift of being a UFLP. 

Q: What are you doing currently in Unilever Tech?

Nitin: I am currently an Analytics Product Manager in D&A delivering Route Market analytics solutions globally, currently these solutions impact 938,000 retailers across 4 markets. I was a Sales (CD), Data Manager, in the Data Centre of Excellence team before this role. It’s the beauty of Unilever, that it houses a plethora of diverse opportunities to explore. After having appreciated the value of data in the Analytics product value chain, I got an opportunity to manage an entire Analytics product portfolio. Every market has its own nuances in ways of working and engaging with customers. This dynamism and novelty in each market demand being creative which is the most exciting part of my job. 

Amanpreet: For the past 2 years, I have worked extensively in the Consumer Tech space helping Unilever brands curate cutting-edge digital marketing solutions and experiences for our consumers. Getting into the digital marketing consumer tech space was always my career goal and working in Unilever in this role has given me a chance to excel and get better at it working with the best minds in the industry.  

Sakshi: I recently started in my role as an IT SME Manager in the Enterprise Platform function where I am the IT Business Partner for Global financial controls. I get to work with internal and external partners on future-facing technologies. 

It is the greatest place to be, and the journey has been surreal!

Swathi: In my current role after UFLP, I am a part of the Data & Analytics team of Unilever, driving the Intelligent Automation and Advanced Analytics agenda for Customer Development and Finance across North America, Europe, and Latin America markets. 

From participating in TechTonic to shaping my purpose-driven career at Unilever under the mentorship of stalwarts of the industry, every day is new learning. Every day is a new beginning.