Success Stories
Benedikt Feuchtmüller
Participant in HIC 3
Brand Manager at Henkel Central Eastern Europe (Adhesive Technologies)
Even if you don't win or get into the finals, you participate in the challenge, learn and have a better start for your job application.
How did you start your career at Henkel?
When I heard about the HIC I thought this might have been the perfect opportunity to introduce myself to Henkel. Even if you don't win or get into the finals, you participate in the challenge, learn and have a better start for your job application. Later I applied for an intern job at Henkel and I was hired.
What attracted you to Henkel? Why did you choose Henkel as an employer?
The main reason why I choose Henkel was because of its family-value. Within every team that I know, the working environment is excellent. We joke around and help us actively during the day and go out after work. Of course - thinking about the future - you also have the possibility to do a job rotation in a different country, as Henkel is present in every continent.
What are your current responsibilities?
I am working in the brand management for adhesives and I monitor a category of products in the CEE region. Basically I analyse the existing brands, look at the sales figures in different countries, to understand how country works and i.e. if one country can adapt other winning strategies or promotions. We also develop new products which means product testing, agency screening, preparing of first marketing drafts and materials and implementing those brands in the countries.
What is the first thing that comes to your mind, when I ask you about the people at Henkel?
Friendly, cooperative, fun, active, intelligent, helpful - all in all a good combination of really nice people which helps you to work easier on your tasks and topics.
Besides the job itself, I really like the Henkel-Shop, the canteen and the sport-section: we can see which sports are played, when and where and participate for free - for example we had the finals of beach volleyball just a few weeks ago and two Austrian professionals who played in the Olympics 4 years ago were playing with us.
How was your development during your work?
Right from the beginning of my internship, I was given challenging tasks and I had soon increasing responsibilities. That makes you feel as a part of the company and really motivates you as an intern. Everybody here had an influence on my development.
Marina Vodicka
Participant in HIC 3
Assistant Brand Manager at Henkel Germany (Beauty Care)
It was a challenging experience, but at the same time really exciting and a lot of fun.
What’s the value of this challenge?
HIC gives students a direct insight into the creative, strategic and analytical work of a Marketing Department. Thus, it’s a real life experience that helps you to decide whether this job is right for you.
What did you learn from HIC?
Within the short time of participating in the HIC, the learning curve was huge. Supported by a mentor, I could quickly get an insight into the process of innovating a new product at Henkel and the various aspects to be considered: consumers’ needs and behavior, competitor activities, retail structure, packaging and name of the product, communication strategy etc.
How did you start your career at Henkel?
After my graduation, I joined Henkel in the Talent Onboarding Program Marketing/ Sales Beauty Care. Currently I am working as an assistant brand manager in the national marketing department. I am very happy to say that a real job at Henkel is just as interesting and exciting as the Innovation Challenge!
What attracted you to Henkel? Why did you choose Henkel as an employer?
As an international company operating in various business fields and having a strong portfolio of established brands, I considered Henkel an interesting employer already before participating in the HIC. However, the spirit at Henkel and the employees I got to know during the challenge finally convinced me to apply.
What is the best thing working for Henkel?
The best thing – besides the people – is that it never gets boring! My current job includes various diverse tasks and I consider my future opportunities to be manifold as well. With three business units, various functions and offices all over the world I guess there will always be a challenging task – even if I stay with Henkel my entire career.
Do you have any hint for the HIC participants to be successful in their career development?
Putting a lot of passion, motivation and enthusiasm to the task will not only be helpful to succeed in the HIC, but also in your future work at Henkel.
Bola Nam & Myriam Pille
Winning team HIC 5 (3rd place)
HIC5 was: challenging, international, thrilling and above all: unforgettable! So thank you Henkel!
Why did you decide to take part in HIC?
We heard of HIC through classmates from our school, ESDES Business School. They took part on the contest a couple of years before us and they told how fun and interesting it was. After talking with them and our marketing teacher, we decided to take part in the HIC adventure too!
What’s the value of this challenge?
It is a fun yet challenging way to discover Henkel’s values and principles. Plus, it is a great way to exploit our creative side as well as put in practice what we learned through our studies: marketing, finance, communication, sustainability …
What is the first thing that comes to your mind when I ask you about HIC?
HIC5 was definitely amazing and it went way beyond our expectations! Our HIC5 experience was full of surprises: not only we had fun, but we also developed new skills, pushed our limits and met incredible people! HIC5 is definitely one of the richest experiences we ever had!
Would you do it again?
Sure, why not? But since we already won once, we want to let other people have a shot at winning too! ;-) We are excited to see the next HIC winners and we can’t wait to discover the new ideas! To sum up in a few words, to us HIC5 was: challenging, international, thrilling and above all: unforgettable! So thank you Henkel
Would you like to tell us a story that happened during HIC?
During the international finals in Warsaw, we learned randomly that another team (Italy) had the same innovative concept as we had! Just like us, their idea was a technological solution to absorb dust from the air. At the beginning, we freaked out to see that our solution wasn’t unique. Cherry on top, the Italian teammates were wearing blue outfits/accessories for the presentations, just like us! It turned out that even though we shared the same solution, our marketing, pricing and brand strategies were way different. The product design was also different. But we really enjoyed their presentation and we liked how their concept differed from ours! This experience was also revealing: the fact that 2 teams at this stage of competition had the same ideas proves that there is a real potential behind this innovation, right? :-)
David van Damme
Participant HIC 2, CEMS Alumnus
Key Account Manager at Henkel Belgium (Laundry & Home Care)
During HIC you will meet new people, be challenged in your thinking and get a rare opportunity to ask questions to Henkel top-Managers.
What’s the value of this challenge?
The HIC was extremely valuable to me right from the start. The interaction with interesting mentors through the process, the endless discussions between my team members on marketing ideas and the conclusive ‘International Final’ (which took place in Brussels that year), all helped me learn more about myself and Henkel.
How did you start your career at Henkel?
When I finished my CEMS program, I was as offered a position as Junior Brand Manager in Laundry and Home Care Belgium. I did that for one year after which I worked as a field representative in the region of Brussels/Antwerp. Without the HIC I would have never had this opportunity.
What are your current responsibilities?
Currently I am a Junior Key Account Manager, responsible for the Metro Group and assisting on Carrefour. In my current responsibility, I am already on my 3rd position at Henkel - which shows how dynamic the company can be! I am responsible for the promotional planning, strategic implementation and relationship management at the retailer. I find it to be a very fast-paced position with daily challenges, this keeps it interesting.
What are the best things about working for Henkel?
Henkel is one of the leading companies in consumer goods. This basically means we are everywhere, and thus get in contact with loads of information about retailers, trends, market dynamics and business developments. It has offered me an international, fast-paced learning environment that only few others can match. As mentioned earlier I have been able to learn a lot in 3 different functions, each revealing a new perspective on our businesses. Additionally I have also received French classes here, a language which, I’m happy to announce, I’m getting better at every day.
Do you have any advice for the HIC participants?
Like any competition in life, try and enjoy it! During this experience you will meet new people, be challenged in your thinking and get a rare opportunity to ask questions to Henkel top-Managers.
A tip concerning your HIC product idea: whatever the jury might think about it, convince them how it will provide additional value to the company and provide plenty of arguments to support the assumptions you’ve made. Good luck!
Marin Schuerman
Winner HIC 2
International Marketing Manager at Henkel Germany (Laundry & Home Care)
I would advise the participants to keep in touch with Henkel after the HIC and discuss the possibilities of an internship. This would provide them with an invaluable experience and a possible stepping stone for a first job. Henkel is really supportive and encouraging HIC alumni to join the company.
How did you start your career at Henkel?
I first got in touch with Henkel through the HIC, which left a great impression on me. The organization of the competition was excellent, and we got to meet - and work together with - top management and students from all over the world. During my interviews it was confirmed that Henkel would offer me great opportunities in Brand Management, an international career and a diverse team. This was exactly the combination that I was looking for, and fit perfectly with my studies. On top of all this, Henkel is one of the leading partners of my Master's program CEMS, which is a great plus for me.
What are your current responsibilities?
After moving from Holland to Belgium to work on Persil and Le Chat, I currently work at the German headquarters in Düsseldorf. I'm part of the International Marketing Unit for Laundry Care, working on Leading Premium brands. Our team focuses on the emerging markets, which provides me with a lot of new and interesting insights. Besides steering regions such as Latin America and Middle East North Africa, we develop global laundry projects which will afterward be rolled out in the countries. Compared to my job as a local Brand Manager, I now have a stronger focus on the strategic aspects of marketing and am involved in market research a lot more.
What is the best thing working for Henkel?
Working for Henkel has a lot of benefits, so it is hard to pick just one. If I had to, I would name the international diversity and mobility. Having studied International Management, my passion lies in working for an international company, within an international team. Not only is working in an international team way more fun, I also believe that it is the only way to successfully steer a multinational company like Henkel. In my experience, Henkel really walks the talk and actually stimulates and enables people to have international assignments. I only joined the company two years ago, but have already worked in Benelux and Germany!
Do you have any advice for the HIC participants to be successful in their career development?
My advice would be threefold. First, the students should try to speak to as many Henkel employees as possible. Top management is there, HR is there, each team has a mentor: they should learn as much as they can from them and ask as many questions as possible. This way, they can get a better idea of Henkel and the job opportunities the company offers. This will help them in deciding what they want to do after they graduate. Second, I would advise the participants to keep in touch with Henkel after the HIC and discuss the possibilities of an internship. This would provide them with an invaluable experience and a possible stepping stone for a first job. In my experience, Henkel is really supportive and encouraging HIC alumni to join the company. Last but not least, I would tell all HIC participants to enjoy the experience to the fullest and have as much fun as they possibly can!
Filip Degoricija & Matija Jakšić
Winners HIC 5 (2nd place)
I never had so much fun doing something as challenging as HIC.
Why did you decide to take part in HIC?
At the end of our bachelor studies, we wanted to participate in a student competition to compare us to other students in the world. We selected 3 different business competitions but we decided to take part only in HIC, as we saw that we will have had fun while learning something very useful and new. And we weren't wrong :)
What’s the value of this challenge?
You have to use your presentation skills and be very creative, innovative and interesting, while showing all characteristics that are important in business. The more you work on the project, the better the awards get. Later on in the competition you get a chance to meet top managers of Henkel and a big group of international students.
What is the first thing that comes to your mind when I ask you about HIC?
Challenging and fun. I never had so much fun doing something as challenging as HIC.
What did you learn from HIC?
We learned the dos and don'ts in preparing a presentation for business people. We learned how to present and talk in public. We also learned a lot about other cultures and how a multinational company works.
Tell us something that impressed you during the HIC.
On the last day of the international final we all (students and mentors) were driven in stretch limos to the VIP lounge on the Legia Warszawa football field. During the challenge, we spent all the time with Henkel top managers; they supported us, we talked, asked them questions and generally had fun!
Marco Cheung & Vincy Sun
Winning team HIC 5 (1st place)
HIC has been a fantastic experience for both of us and no exaggeration, it changed our lives by opening a new door for our future directions.
Why did you decide to take part in HIC?
Inspired by our mentor in Hong Kong who worked as VP for Henkel Loctite a few years ago, I always wished to join a chemical company like Henkel as it suits my academic background in chemicals and business management. I believed HIC was a perfect platform for me to gain a real-life insight into the industry and get in touch with the world's largest adhesive company.
What’s the value of this challenge?
The most distinctive and valuable essence for HIC is all the guidance and exposure that we obtained as we proceeded to further rounds. With full financial support from Henkel, we flew to Shanghai and Warsaw for the finals in a multi-cultural environment. Meanwhile, the mentoring support is not restricted to the business game itself, but lasts beyond the challenge. That’s why we were not only advised on the project, but also on our personal career development.
What is the first thing that comes to your mind when I ask you about HIC?
Passionate people! From contacting HR at the registration stage, to meeting the jury members at the finals, we realized their passion and initiatives to assist young people like us personally and professionally. We can only imagine how much it costs for a manager to be away from their jobs for 3 whole days while attending the International Final!
What did you learn from HIC?
We learned a lot about new product development by performing a fictional product launch in HIC, starting from brainstorming ideas, to developing a marketing proposal and preparing a financial forecast. Apart from the mentorship program, we were challenged by the jury members, which definitely helped us to further develop our proposal into a comprehensive plan.
Would you do it again?
Definitely! HIC has been a fantastic experience for both of us and no exaggeration: it changed our lives by opening a new door for our future directions. The international final in Warsaw concluded the game, but commenced our new career options for tomorrow. Now I’m (Marco) doing an internship at Henkel in the Branding department of Adhesive Technologies.
Mehnaz Ece Seltün
Participant in HIC 4
Product Manager at Henkel Turkey (Beauty Care)
The whole HIC experience was unbelievable great. We had the chance to meet top Henkel executives, to broaden our perspectives and to compete with the best students. How did we feel? Sometimes excited, sometimes anxious but always full of joy. Even though we did not win the competition, the whole experience itself was a reward of its own. Now I am working for Henkel Turkey. I've always believed that good things will somehow come my way, but even I couldn't imagine this.
Beata Bogusz
Participant in HIC 3
Assistant Brand Manager at Henkel Poland (Beauty Care)
HIC was a unique experience and very challenging: a couple of months of co-operation in the group, complex tasks, time pressure and presentations in front of professionals from different countries. On the other hand, it was an overall amazing experience!
I really enjoyed the tasks and the opportunity to work together with a mentor during the international final was a great honor for me. Our mentor supported us from the very beginning. He pointed out the best part of our work and advised us on how we could continue to improve. Taking part in Henkel Innovation Challenge was just the beginning of a great adventure!
For me, HIC opened the door to a very dynamic, interesting and challenging environment. I can only say 'thank you' to all the people who made this unique experience possible.
Mitch van Bovene
Participant in HIC 1
Account Manager at Henkel Netherlands (Beauty Care)
I think the Henkel Innovation Challenge is a good way to get to know Henkel, but also to develop yourself as a student and future employee in the world of Fast Moving Consumer Goods. It is a good challenge that helps you to transform your theoretical knowledge in a very practical way and stimulates your creativity at the same time.
Every student who wants to work in the FMCG-business should apply for the Henkel Innovation Challenge. For me it was a good way to get in touch with a very impressive international company and it was my first step from student to Businessman.
Anna Szpot & Anna Szarecka
Winning Team HIC 4
HIC was a great deal of joy, incredible people, but also very hard work and a valuable lesson on not giving up, striving to find the best solution, being ahead of the others with your ideas and the most important, working as a team.
Tim Brüggemann & Matthias Mittelsten Scheid
Winning Team HIC 3
Retrospectively, not only because of our prize, we can say that the effort was worth it. We gained valuable experiences, had the chance to test our uni-gained knowledge, forged interesting ties to managers and students, got to know the great metropolis Amsterdam and: had a lot of fun!
Bastian Steinbach
Participant in HIC 3
The Henkel Innovation Challenge was demanding since it not only requires a high level of creativity but also strong analytical abilities to derive a coherent vision of the future. This intense experience also ensures that all participants form strong bonds with each other and create a community that will transcend the setting of this business competition.
The entire experience was very enriching, to a large part due to the excellent mentoring from Henkel managers who took the time and worked together with us.
For everyone who is even remotely interested in his own future or the future of the world at large this challenge is an opportunity that cannot be missed.
