Work With Us: Careers at Colgate
|
Research & Development
Abraham
I joined Colgate right after I graduated from College. I received offers from 2 companies at the same time, one in the area of manufacturing and the other one (Colgate) in R&D. The opportunity of working in R&D was more in line with my professional goals and expectations, and there are not a lot of companies in Mexico that could offer that opportunity. It was clear to me that Colgate would give me the opportunity to grow professionally and at my own pace, so I could look forward to a long-term relationship with the Company. Colgate is a very well known Company and I remembered that we always had Colgate products at our house. I felt that by working at Colgate I would be proud of my work and have the opportunity to create products that at the end will be used by millions of people. As Research & Development Manager, my main activity is to manage the Product Development team for global cleaning products (R&D). I have a team of 8 people. I'm also part of the "Monarch team" that is in charge of helping the Technology group around the world have a consumer centric focus. I'm also a Quality Systems Auditor and have participated in corporate audits at different CP sites. There are lots of things I like about working at Colgate, but if I had to choose only one I would say that when I work with people from different departments and/or different countries there is always a feeling of partnership, even if it's the first time you meet or you talk with a person. In this environment you can feel comfortable expressing your opinions and ideas. This feeling helps to make the work easier, more productive, and more enjoyable. With reference to my professional development, I've been with Colgate for 16 years and have not been in the same role or had the same responsibilities for more than 3 years, so there are always new experiences and new challenges that give me the opportunity to grow. These changes are not always reflected with promotions, but a promotion is not the only way to reflect professional growth. Most exciting has been the opportunity to live in different countries and learn from different cultures. This has helped not only in my professional growth but also in my personal enrichment. I have also been able to participate in 2 major changes within the Technology team: the creation of Regional Technology Centers and the creation of the Product Development team in Mexico. Starting a new work group with a new structure and responsibilities and the opportunity to be part of the process since the beginning has allowed me to learn a lot. It also provided a chance to re-invent the way of doing things and share the experience acquired with new people. I was also part of the team that helped to design, install and start the new Oral Care Factory in Brazil (Anchieta) and this experience was also very exciting. I was able to see the building of a new plant from sketches until the final construction is finished. To be successful at Colgate, be professional, committed to the objectives and faithful to the values. Don't be afraid to express your opinions and ideas. Challenge the status quo in a creative way, always trying to improve how things are done. The Colgate environment fosters this approach. I would recommend Colgate as it is a very stable company, even during uncertain conditions. One of the reasons for its stability is the continuous renewal that happens. This creates a challenging environment where an employee can feel that he/she is always doing new things and learning from each of them, so he/she is part of the change. At Colgate, every new employee at a certain time is able to participate in shaping the Company's future. |
 |