We interviewed Laura Pineda, International Master in Marketing graduate, about her experience at EADA and on Graduate Programme at Nestlé which she started in July 2019.
Laura studied Engineering in Industrial Design and Product Development and did an internship at BSH in the product-marketing department. Later, she worked in Trade Marketing in Adidas and on finishing this placement, decided to take the International Master in Marketing at EADA.
Why did you decide to take the International Master in Marketing at EADA?
When searching for the right programme, one of the things I took in to account were the rankings. EADA is ranked by the Financial Times in the top 30 best European schools and the teaching on the Master in Marketing is voted 1st in the world by students according to the FT ranking. For me it was an important factor for the school to be in the rankings as it has a huge impact on employability.
I also liked the importance given to personal development at the Residential Training Campus in Collbató and the core courses, which were aligned with my future profesional objectives. Obviously Barcelona as a city was another point in favour. The city is a refernece for innovation, professional opportunities and headquarters for big International companies.
“All the classes were very hands on and interactive. The tutors encouraged us to share our opinions and they challenged us to find new and innovative solutions”.
What were the highlights for you of the International Master in Marketing?
All the classes were very hands on and interactive. The tutors encouraged us to share our opinions and they challenged us to find new and innovative solutions.
From July, you have been working at Nestlé on their Graduate Programme. How did that opportunity come up?
EADA´s career services sent round information about the selection processes open for various Graduate Programmes and I decided to apply to Nestlé through their web page. A while after, they got back to me and I took part in an intense selection process together with seven other participants.
Before starting the application process, I met with my personal careers advisor from EADA who helped me to prepare my CV and I also went to workshops on how to prepare for interviews which were really useful.
“My experience so far at Nestlé has been very positive and enriching as well as challenging”.
Tell us about a typical day at Nestlé
During the first stage of the Graduate Programme I have been working as Point of Sales Manager and I am in contact with clientes from the different sectors where Nestlé has product distribution. An average day is very varied: I visit clients in my designated area and I have to come up with effective solutions to any unexpected issues that arise. I also have a certain amount of autonomy to do business at base level.
The Graduate Programme can last up to 5 years during which the participant will have many different posts to gain a global vision of the Company before they eventually reach a definitive position.
What is your overall impression of Nestlé after these months on the programme?
My experience at Nestlé so far is very positive and enriching as well a challenging. I am enjoying the chance to find out how a multinational Company works from the inside. The Company has an exceptional on-boarding plan for new hires, allowing them to bring value practically from day one.
Which skills learnt on the Master do you find yourself using on a daily basis?
Many of the concepts learnt on the course come up in the day of a Point of Sales Manager. From negotiation with clients to knowledge of logistics and marketing, which help to understand the processes better and find the right solutions.
The soft skills we worked on at the EADA Residential Training Campus en Collbató and the advice given to us by the professors is invaluable when working with clients. The key is to understand the personality of the person in front of you and be able to mold the dialogue around their needs.