There's an enormous amount of work that goes into proving the performance of products and substantiating claims. When we say Comfort delivers longer-lasting freshness, and softness, or easy-iron benefits – these are not just promises. We make sure they are real and not just one-time, but day-in, day-out, not just in the laboratory, but also in consumers' homes. For example, we might want to substitute an ingredient in our fabric conditioners for a new, more environmentally friendly one and so then it becomes our job to prove that we can still promise – and deliver – the same benefits to consumers that they had before.
I think that's what attracts me most to this role: we provide a crucial link between the R&D process and the brand in the market. It's about affirming our strong ethical position as a company – at the end of the day, we make sure that we don't promise anything we can't deliver.
The opportunity to work overseas has also been really valuable to me – I'm Brazilian and I've been in the UK three years now. But, in fact, the great thing about working in Unilever is that, wherever you are, you can talk to people from all different cultures and areas of expertise about the same thing and connect. I've never seen a conjunction of so many bright minds in one place – it's very stimulating."
