CEO on the Road at Nestle

Helena Duong

I recently had the opportunity to head to Nestle’s head office for a day and interview their senior female leaders. As an organisation known for their variety of supermarket brands, like Uncle Toby’s, my expectations were set high. No chocolate river greeted us but my expectations were matched as the experience was nothing short of inspiring, with empowering stories being shared.

Three out of the six women I had the pleasure of interviewing had been at Nestle for more than 15 years, progressing through the hierarchy to eventually become the heads of departments such as sales and supply chain. The idea of being at an organisation for that long was foreign to me, but I soon understood why they had made the decision to stay. It was clear from their responses that the organisation is excellent at nurturing female talent, providing flexibility and ensuring that mothers had satisfactory work/life balance. A particular point that Susan, the Head of Sales made was that women are more than capable at managing various identities, such as being a mother and manager simultaneously. Female leaders can come in all shapes and sizes.


Moving onto the office tour, I learnt that Nestle is definitely a place that I would consider applying for. Its work areas are open and perfect for collaboration. The most interesting aspect of the tour, however, was that the Purina pet care department floor is pet friendly. Employees are able to bring in their pets at any time, staying true to its brand!


All in all, I would highly recommend attending CEO on the Road events because of the opportunity to meet empowering leaders and learn more about different industries.

Joanne Ters

Taking part in CEO on the Road to Nestle was a wonderful and worthwhile experience where I was able to learn more about the corporate culture of Nestle. I was not just taken away by the views from the head office at Rhodes but also the knowledge and discussions shared by the employees. I feel privileged to have spoken with employees who have been working at Nestle for over 15 years and to learn about their experiences and the opportunities for growth offered to them. It was amazing to hear about the support that Nestle provides in any career sector and the opportunity to grow within the sector or move across the organisation.

The thing that stood out the most to me would have to be the flexibility that Nestle provides and the extra support in motivation and personal wellbeing. The employees feel part of a family where everyone's views are taken into account and the managers work to ensure all employees are happy. This is important in any career. As you invest your life into a job, being satisfied makes a big difference.

The best tip that I received would be to treat the internship application as another unit of study as it requires the same level of motivation and investment. It is about being able to let your personality shine through the application and putting in the effort to show your motivation for the role.
I particularly enjoyed the office tour and finding out that employees are allowed to bring pets to work. I would definitely recommend looking into Nestle to see if the organisation is suitable for you, as the corporate culture is very friendly and open, which makes work exciting.