Emily is a Biology graduate from the University of Bath. She secured a role on the HR Early Careers Programme at Danone, through the Bright Network.
Her journey at Danone has been rich with professional development and personal growth. Discover Emily's story – from recruitment to beginning her second rotation on the scheme.
First, please tell us a little about yourself
Hi, I'm Emily. Before joining Danone, I studied Biology at the University of Bath. I'm originally from Swansea, and now I'm living in London and working as a HR advisor at Danone, which is my first role since graduating from university.
What attracted you to Danone's Early Careers Programme?
I discovered the HR Early Careers role on Bright Network and started researching Danone as a company. I learned about Danone’s Impact Journey, including the BCorp Certification and the commitment to producing healthy products, which aligned with my values.
I also liked that the Early Careers programme offered lots of opportunities for development. I knew I wanted to work within the HR function, but not exactly where, so when I learned there would be two rotations in HR, I thought it would be great opportunity.
What tips would you give to someone applying for the programme?
Firstly, do your research on Danone. Understanding what the company stands for helped me during my interviews and demonstrated my motivation. Additionally, you will be sent some preparation information ahead of the interview, so take time to prepare and bring your best self.
Can you describe your experience during your first rotation - What were your main responsibilities and projects?
As a HR advisor, in addition to managing social relations case work, I was also involved in a variety of projects. This included learning and development, culture and engagement, and people analytics.
One of the key projects that I led was our HR Dashboard. I created an executive summary that was presented to our board of directors, providing great exposure to senior stakeholders.
As part of this project, I received valuable feedback from senior stakeholders, including our HR Vice President. Being involved in this project early in my career was extremely valuable for my professional growth.
How has the programme helped you grow personally and professionally?
Personally, my confidence and resilience have grown. When I joined Danone, I was really nervous about making mistakes. And of course, things can go wrong; in my first few weeks I made a mistake and was worried that it would be huge. My manager supported me to contextualise the situation and helped me to overcome and rectify the mistake.
It helped me realise that to learn, you sometimes need to make mistakes, and I can now take a step back, breathe and manage the situation effectively!
What training or development opportunities have you found most beneficial?
As part of the programme, we undertake peer to peer coaching which is led by an external coach. In these sessions, we go through any concerns or anything that we may want advice on. It’s a confidential environment where you can share your worries to people who are also on the programme, and was really valuable to me, especially in my first few months.
We also complete business breadth modules. This happens once every two or three months and they're a deep dive into a business function. These sessions have been incredibly valuable to me, especially since I didn't have much knowledge about corporate businesses when I first started in this role. Through these modules, I have gained a solid understanding of business acumen, knowledge, and the context of our operations.
How do you see your career progressing at Danone?
I feel like I'm at a very exciting point in my career. I have really enjoyed my first rotation in a generalist HR position and feel confident I will feel the same about my second rotation in the talent team.
The opportunity to experience these different aspects of HR is invaluable, and after my two years, I will be able to make informed decisions about where I want my career to go in HR. I really like that nothing is set in stone right now, and Danone is providing me with the support and flexibility to envision my future
Why should someone apply to the Danone UK – Early Careers programme?
I have two reasons, first: Danone is an amazing company, and I'm proud to work here. We have a great moral compass behind what we do, and that’s reflected in our actions. We genuinely care about the impact that we have, which for me is very important.
Secondly, the Early Careers programme is fantastic for personal and professional development, I have only been here for a year and learned so much. The exposure and development opportunities you get so early in your career is really incredible.
We hope Emily’s experiences and insights have helped you understand a little more about Danone and what it's like to be part of the Early Career’s programme. If you're considering applying or want to know more about Early Careers at Danone, check out our careers website here.
For more information on Danone, who we are, and out Impact Journey, see here.