What I learned during my internship at Mondelez International -By Pooja Goyal from IIM Calcutta

My internship at Mondelez International was a dream come true. Being a part of an organization that cares about its people is a blessing. In these unprecedented times, Mondelez kept its promise to provide the interns with an exciting internship experience despite the odds. It gets a bit discomforting when things do not roll out as expected. Adapting to the virtual internship was a similar feeling. But the team left no stone unturned to make our experience a memorable one. Even before we began our journey with Mondelez, we had frequent communications with the HR to keep our apprehensions at bay.

How my journey started

The induction process at Mondelez was fun-filled and exciting. There were ice breaker activities, accompanied by knowledge and insightful sessions from the leaders to get well accustomed to the culture. The onboarding process was well designed by the team to provide a seamless experience. It helped me fit well in the organization.

My mentor was very supportive right from the beginning and was open to discussions anytime I felt stuck. I was assigned a buddy to help me get comfortable with my project and with the culture of the organization. I had many apprehensions before joining virtually. After six weeks of experience, I can proudly say that the project I am working on is beneficial for the business. I got all the help I needed, and given the open culture of Mondelez, I was able to reach out to any of my senior leaders as well in case of any inputs required.

My internship at Mondelez International helped me grow as a person and as well as an employee. The experience provides a sense of belongingness when people take time out of their busy schedule to help an intern. Catch up calls with fellow interns helped in building companionship and allows learning from each other.

Working Virtually

Working in a virtual set up right at the beginning of my career was something that I dreaded, but Mondelez has given me an experience filled with immense learnings that I can surely say I have become more resilient and more positive in these uncertain circumstances. I was working in the Information Business Services function, and as part of my role in supplier experience, I got to interact with people all across the globe. It gave me good exposure in dealing with cross-cultural practices.

Mondelez believes in creating an inclusive workforce, and a woman employee is always supported in her endeavours to grow. Diversity and inclusion is a priority for senior leaders, and it gives a confidence boost to know that hard work is always appreciated.

While working in a virtual environment, it made me feel anxious about whether I am putting in efforts in the right direction or not. that’s a common issue each of one us faces at one point or another. But it is a part of adapting to the new normal, dealing with ambiguity, building resilience and creating positivity around us.

My everlasting experience and memories

As much as work is important so is the health of the people. Keeping this in mind Mondelez provided us with a subscription to fitness apps ensuring that even when we are distant from the office gym, we got ample resources to keep our mind and health in place. In the end, all of it boils down to the fact that all that matters is to adapt to new ways of working, being agile and get the necessary support from the organization. I am proud to be a part of Mondelez International. My internship at Mondelez international was a fulfilling and exciting experience.