Last summer, I had the opportunity to intern with Kimberly-Clark (https://www.kimberly-clark.com/en-us ), a Fortune 200 consumer products company with brands such as Kleenex, Cottonelle, and Scott. I was staffed in the international transportation division with an emphasis on finance, learning a tremendous amount.
*The Brands of Kimberly-Clark per Ad Age
A Day in the Life
The corporate world has shifted tremendously since 2020 and the pandemic, with one of the biggest aspects coming in the form of remote work. K-C, like many corporations, adopted a hybrid work schedule. Although my team was on a hybrid work schedule, I went into the office five days a week as I had learned from past experiences that I gained the most from in-person settings. So, I would get into the office at 8 am and start my day. With the dynamic nature of the supply chain, no two days were ever the same, but they followed a similar structure. I would check my emails, work on my projects and deliverables, eat lunch, take a few meetings, and finish up any outstanding work before heading home around 5 pm.
My Biggest Takeaway
My biggest takeaway from the summer came in two parts. First, adaptability is the most important skill in corporate America, especially for a new hire. Frequently, my schedule would shift, or my manager would inform me of due diligence that needed to be conducted as soon as possible. Adapting to your team's needs and providing support is extremely important. Secondly, the success of any organization comes down to its people. The K-C office had an amazing corporate culture, playing pickleball every day Tuesday and hosting a "summer games" day. However, these activities did not just boost employee morale but directly enhanced employee performance. A company is the sum of its employees and I learned that when employees feel united and driven to work toward a shared goal, the organization thrives. By fostering a sense of community and collaboration, companies can unlock higher levels of creativity, productivity, and satisfaction among their teams. This experience showed me that adaptability and a strong people-focused culture are not just desirable traits but essential components of a successful and fulfilling workplace.
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