Dr Stella

Throughout my time with Unilever I have been amazed by the spectrum of activities that I have experienced. Working in multidisciplinary teams to drive technology into the marketplace provides thrills and challenges that I could never have anticipated when I made the step out of academia.

When I joined Unilever in 1999, I was unsure how my formal academic training in chemistry would impact on a consumer products business. All the uncertainty disappeared when I was confronted with the technical challenges of innovation, which are just as challenging as academic publication and peer review.

I am now programme manager for research projects relating to the Lipton brand. In this role I work in many diverse areas of science and technology, from consumer and sensory science to microbiology and health. I feel I have naturally grown to take on these responsibilities, thanks to my technical training. The other side of my job, which has transformed my outlook and career in R&D, is the close working relationship with business groups and colleagues in the supply chain and marketing. This has given me the ability to deliver science and technology that are truly relevant for our brands and really mean something to the final consumer - that's job satisfaction!

The sheer diversity of Unilever has provided opportunities and fresh challenges on an almost daily basis for the past five years - long may it continue.