Gurveen, Regional HR Director
HR1. What's your background? What subjects did you study, and where?
I studied science at school with dreams of becoming a doctor andspent a year in the US on an academic scholarship. From here I wentonto complete my BA (hons) in Philosophy before gaining my Masters inHR. After completing my studies I took on my first role in HR and I'venever looked back!
2. Can you give us a quick snapshot of your career so far?
My first HR role was with a large manufacturer in India. I thenspent a few years in the hotel industry, before joining ReckittBenckiser – or Reckitt & Colman, as it then was - 17 1⁄2 years ago!As you might imagine, I have held numerous roles since I joined. I haveworked in four different Countries and have been able to develop myskills across the full HR spectrum.
3. What do you think is the single thing that has driven yourcareer? What made you choose your professional specialism, and what madeyou choose FMCG?
I've always wanted to make an impact and to make a difference inmy chosen specialism. I quickly rose through the ranks before joiningRB but soon realized that I wanted to be more than one of the 'back roomboys' – looking to get more involved than purely hiring and training. Iknew I wanted to work for a large multi-national because I knew I'd beable to make my mark. FMCG are renowned for their ability to seek andretain the very best talent. Even all those years ago RB were number 1in their categories and I knew I'd be able to fully develop my skills insuch a fast paced environment.
4. What do you love about working in FMCG?
I love the brands we make! It's really rewarding working for abusiness that is part of people's everyday lives. I would go as far asto say this is the first professional Head of HR role I've held in mycareer – it is seen as so much more than the traditional industrialrelations and employee relations role. I was the first HR specialist andthe first woman to sit on the management committee! And although I'dalready worked in HR for many years, my roles at Reckitt Benckiser havereally stretched me. HR is seen as not just supporting the business, butalso directly contributing to its success.
5. What one thing do you think FMCG has given you (in terms of your career) that you wouldn't have had in a different sector?
HR in an FMCG environment is as varied and complex as it gets.We're dealing with a mobile workforce, a global culture, along with allthe other challenges and opportunities that working in a 24/7, vibrantbusiness brings. We're developing people's competencies, rather thantraining them for specific roles. People are so mobile here and themarket is so volatile that we can't accurately predict what they mightbe required to do from one year to the next. So we have to bring out thebest in people, so that we can effectively deploy their services as andwhen they're needed most. That's not that we don't get involved in theday- to-day transactional HR, we do. In fact HR is quite leanlyresourced here at RB so we all have to be able to multi-task and turnour hands to strategic and operational tasks.
6. How fast has your career moved? Do you think it's easy to progress quickly and easily in your field?
I'm more the exception, rather than the rule. I have been withRB for such a long time and I'd already held a number of senior rolesbefore I joined. What I can say, however, is that the only person whocan really drive your career here at RB is you! If you have the personaldrive and the determination to achieve great things then the sky reallyis the limit here at RB. The breadth of experience I've gained since Ijoined has been far beyond what I had expected – but you've got to havethe right mindset to make it happen You've got to stay hungry to learnand eager to be the very best you can be. Even at this point in mycareer, I learn something new every day. I have worked at Country level,area level and regional level, been through a major business merger andall the cultural challenges and business realignment that this brings –exciting stuff for a HR professional. I've also been involved in avariety of global HR projects as well as gaining general managementexperience which leaves me better able to advise and support mycommercial colleagues.
7. What kind of person do you think will succeed in the FMCGindustry? You've got to be resilient and able to stick up for yourself.
Here at RB, HR plays an integral role in our business'commercial success and you've got to be confident enough to act as acompetent business partner. It's a fast paced environment, where no twodays are the same. This can be quite challenging at times – trying tokeep abreast of commercial developments so you can effectively guide andadvise colleagues - so you've got to be quite assertive and prepared towork at a pace. Ownership is important to us here, you've really got tostand up and be accountable for your decisions and actions, whetheryou're operating strategically or operationally.
8. What do you see as the biggest challenge facing FMCG in the future - for your business area and for FMCG as a whole?
Competition remains fierce and this heightens our need torecruit – and retain – the very best talent. Younger people now havedifferent expectations than they had years ago. The challenge is to notonly attract them to join your business in the first place, but also tokeep them engaged and motivated so they'll want to stay! No-one knowswhat the future will bring but we're looking for tomorrow's leaders,today and that's why we rely so strongly on finding people with the bestcultural fit. For us at RB, we'll all need a winning mindset to stayahead of the game and that's not something you can train people in –you've either got it or you've not. The challenge for FMCG is to findthe people who've got it.
9. What single thing would you say to persuade someone to consider a career in FMCG?
If you want a career in a fast-paced, truly global businessenvironment and if you have the resilience to take ownership of youractions then FMCG is the place to be.
10. Isn't HR basically the same in any sector? What are the specific challenges and opportunities to be found in FMCG?
I think the big difference with FMCG HR is the need to multi-task. You'll get experience across the full business spectrum –supporting and advising colleagues across supply, sales, marketing - soyou need a good all round business knowledge. The FMCG landscape isforever changing, we're constantly forward planning and preparing forthe future, without really knowing what it will hold. You do get theopportunity to specialise and get involved with projects, but resourcesare such that you'll always be required to retain certain generalisttasks. We work at such a pace that we don't have the luxury to sitaround and forecast and plan. We've got to think on our feet, make soundbusiness decisions and have the conviction to stick by them, whateverresistance the business may offer back. It's a challenging, busy, variedrole – lots to do and not always the time to do it, but that's whatmake's FMCG such an exciting and inspiring place to work and grow.
If you are interested in finding out more about a career at Reckitt Benckiser, please visit their website or read their employee blogs.