Job title: Principal Engineer
Department: Homecare
At Henkel since: 1998

What are your day-to-day responsibilities?
Currently I’m in charge of the process development group, which basically is the engineering group over the homecare division of the Dial Corporation. I lead the group in scaling formulas from product development to the full-scale plant, as well as developing and implementing cost savings initiatives.

Do you travel for your job?
At this time I’ve only been in this position for about two months. I’d say that I traveled a lot more in the laundry care division as I was considered an expert in this position but I foresee myself traveling a lot in the future.

What job experiences have you had at Henkel?
I basically started as an intern while attending Arizona State University. I worked in the bath soap group where I designed a liquid extraction system for the pilot plant. My work was very successful so I was invited to join the laundry/fabric care group where I worked for about seven years. The next step of my career was being a leader of the process development group for the homecare section.

What other options did you have for your career?
From the leadership point of view, I was showing good technical skills. However, in a R&D facility you need to be both technically qualified and at the same time master leadership qualifications, like being able to make decisions. So the person I was reporting to at that time took me under her wing and strongly supported me in developing those skills. Under a mentoring situation I was able to be a leader for both dry detergents and sulfonation. As a result, I was able to have direct reports and challenge myself technically.

What piece of advice would you give to people entering Henkel?
Work hard, have goals and basically enjoy what you’re doing. That has truly been my message for success and it has worked out positively for me over time.