Vinicius, IS Business Analyst

1. What's your background? What subjects did you study, and where?

My degree is in computer science, which I gained at Brazil's topuniversity for technical subjects. As part of my degree, I spent oneyear on placement in Montreal, Canada. This gave me the opportunity toimprove my English, learn French and gets a taste of what workingoverseas in a different culture was all about.

2. Can you give us a quick snapshot of your career so far?

Whilst studying I gained valuable work experience through anumber of internships. I gained a good insight into how differentorganisations operate. After I graduated, I joined the graduate schemeof a well known global car manufacturer but within six months I decidedthat the culture was too prescriptive for me and started looking for anew company.

From there, I joined the Reckitt Benckiser graduate scheme and Ican honestly say I haven't looked back! In the three years sincegraduating I have already worked in three countries – and I've visitedanother five as part of my job. After three years learning the front endcommercial aspects of the Reckitt Benckiser business, my current roleis as a Business Analyst in South Africa. I'm responsible for supportingcurrent IS processes as well as identifying opportunities for ways inwhich the business can do things more effectively and cheaper thanbefore.

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 love a challenge – that's what drives me and there's lots ofit to be had here at Reckitt Benckiser! That's what brings me into theoffice everyday – the fact that no two days are ever the same and thatevery day will bring the opportunity to deal with new and excitingchallenges. Being given the freedom to deal with these challenges myselfwas a key factor in my choice of company – it's the Reckitt Benckiserway. Couple this with the fast pace of FMCG and I really have found myideal job. I am lucky to be able to utilize my IS specialism within sucha vibrant environment.

4. What do you love about working in FMCG?

Things move so fast there really is no space for egos, strictworking practices and hierarchy. This wouldn't appeal to everybody but,for me, I enjoy the freedom of being able to contribute actively to howthe business runs and make improvements to the way we do things.Everyone has a job to do and you're left to do it to the best of yourability. There is an immediacy in FMCG that means that you can quicklysee the results for your hard work and that's what keeps you going.

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?

I'm not sure if this is true of all FMCG companies or particularto Reckitt Benckiser, but even at this early stage in my career I'vebeen given great exposure to all levels of senior management. It meansI've been able to learn an awful lot in a short space of time. I've beenon a fast track skills development journey and have been able toexperience firsthand the benefits of a truly international career. Whichother industry can offer the breadth of experience across the sameglobal spread as FMCG?

6. How fast has your career moved? Do you think it's easy to progress quickly and easily in your field?

In the past three years I have worked in three differentcountries. I now have a solid grounding in Reckitt Benckiser'scommercial operations which is essential if you're going to provide aneffective IS support service to front line commercial colleagues. I'vebeen open to any opportunities which have been offered my way as well asactively seeking out the positions and roles that interest me and thatwill allow me to add value to the business. At Reckitt Benckiser I'vebeen encouraged to bring my views to the table from day one – no oneworried about my status or length of service. As my confidence andknowledge grows, so do my ambitions and I'm excited about the challengesthat lie ahead.

7. What kind of person do you think will succeed in the FMCG industry?

It's certainly not for everyone. You need an open mind. You needto be open to new ways of doing things and accepting of other people'sviews - even if they're not the same as your own. Consensus doesn't workhere at Reckitt Benckiser; that's not the way we'll stay ahead of ourcompetition. With constructive conflict comes new ideas and the abilityto find innovative solutions to the challenges everyone in FMCG faces.That's what enables us to get the best out of people and what enables usto give the best of ourselves back. You've got to be positive in theface of adversity so that you can take full advantage of opportunitiesand challenges as they present themselves. A positive can-do attitude isessential.

8. What do you see as the biggest challenge facing FMCG in the future – for your business area and for FMCG as a whole?

Increased competition and market saturation in certain marketsegments is a constant challenge. There are one or two big namecompanies that lead specific markets and it's up to us to keepinnovating faster and more cost effectively than they do, so we can keepand build custom. The challenge for IS is supporting the business sothey can make timely and informed decisions. This means making sure theyhave the right information at their fingertips when they need it –wherever they may be, whatever the time of day or night. At the end ofthe day, it's the speed in which we can react to changing marketconditions and our competition that will keep us at the forefront ofFMCG operations.

9. What single thing would you say to persuade someone to consider a career in FMCG?

If you're looking for a truly international career, there's nobetter place. If you enjoy a challenge, it's FMCG all the way. If youthrive on rules and routine – FMCG will not be for you!

10. Some people might think that technology isn't a big focusin FMCG – that most of the work is manufacturing, marketing and sales.What would you say to them?

I would agree with them. The aim of our business is to get theright products to the right consumers at the right time. This places thecommercial function absolutely, and quite rightly, at the forefront ofeverything we do in FMCG. This means that FMCG IS cannot be aboutinstalling the newest, shiniest solutions. But the technology role is acrucial one - picking the most suitable solutions to support greatdecision making. The role of FMCG IS is simple: ensuring our commercialcolleagues can get accurate information, easily, whenever they need it.IS can hinder as much as it can enable so we've got an important role toplay. And if you're only looking for a glory role then FMCG is probablynot for you.

If you are interested in finding out more about a career at Reckitt Benckiser, please visit their website or read their employee blogs.