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Matt Algar
POSITION: Customer
Support Team Leader in
the Logistics Organization,
Supply Chain Management
Program Leadership
Development Program
(SCMP) Participant
EDUCATION: BS, Supply
Chain and Information
Systems, Pennsylvania State
University, 2006
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AT I'VE LEARNED TODAY: been preparing for a
ing to participate in this El career in supply chain
rview has taught me
n about the wealth of management for years. His
ortunities given to me college major was specifically
at Unilever tailored to the profession, and
while he was still in school, he
even completed a semester-long
co-op program with Unilever. Algar found the experience-
and the people-to be so welcoming, challenging, and fun
that he was immediately drawn back to the company after
graduation.
You're in your second year of Unilever's SCMP. Can you tell
us a little more about it? SCMP stands for "supply chain
management program," and it's a three-and-a-half-year
rotational development program here at Unilever, where you
come into the business and pick a functional area of the supply
chain from either Plan, Source, Make, or Deliver. Then you
spend the next few years developing your skills and knowledge
within that track, and when you successfully complete the
program, you're offered a management position. I never would
have expected to get this kind of experience so quick in my
career.
How are you involved in getting Lipton Tea to grocery
shelves? Logistics is responsible for the entire process of a
product, from the time it's produced to the time it gets to
our customer's location. On a typical day, I'm involved in the
customer support aspect of logistics, which means I monitor
day-to-day order execution, making sure the orders of a
product like Lipton flow through our system properly and that
we're exeeding our customers' expectations.
What's something about Unilever that only those who work
there know? We have an excellent company store with great
discounts! If you like our brands, it's definitely an added
benefit of being an employee.
What surprised you most when you first started? Everyone's
really passionate about the business and willing to lend a
helping hand. And they're all so nice! At first you think, "Well,
maybe they're just nice because I'm new." But you soon learn
that teamwork is embedded in Unilever's culture.
You've been advising new SCMP participants as they enter the
program. How has it been to help those who are where you
used to be? I'm really passionate about helping the new co-op
participants because I understand what it's like being new to
the business-I'm only two years out of school! I've been in
their shoes, and I feel like I can help them learn the ropes as
they come on board.
What's the most fun thing you've done since starting here?
Getting to work in recruiting and going back to campus has
been great. It's been fun to get to be on the other side of
the table. And I love getting involved beyond my day-to-day
responsibilities. That's one thing you'll find about Unilever: If
you have interests above and beyond the normal scope of your
role, they definitely encourage you to get involved.
r :See more of this interview
-__ : at CareerTV.com.
Keyword: Unilever
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