Laura Magon, Sr. Brand Director, Procter & Gamble

To help current students and recent graduates navigate the world of work, several USI Alumni shared their career paths and career story. Here the story of Laura Magon, Sr. Brand Director for the Feminine Care Latin America in Procter & Gamble in Panama. USI Degrees: Master in Marketing, 2008 and Bachelor in Communication, 2006.

How did you start your career?

I joined Procter & Gamble (P&G) in 2008 after participating in the "P&G Spring Business Challenge", a week-long immersion program for students in Rome. I learned of this program through the USI Career newsletter. I then joined P&G in Geneva as an Assistant Brand Manager. Since then, I changed roles within the Brand Management function every 2-3 years, and collected several global experiences between Geneva, the US and now Panama.

Why did you choose a career in P&G?

I joined P&G 'by chance', without knowing too much about the Company. I was interested in a Marketing Career at a large International Company, and P&G meet the criteria. What made me stay for almost 15yrs has been the large variety of experiences, the quality of all the team members I've had through the years, and importantly the high standards and values of the Company, which are in line with my personal values and ethics. Through each assignment, I learned new skills, faced new business challenges, grew as an individual and as a business leader... and I never got bored!

What is your current role/duties?

I've moved to Panama in 2022 to supervise the Feminine Care Business in Latin America. In my role, I am accountable for the growth and profitability of our Pads, Liners and Tampon businesses. My team is dispersed between Panama - where we define strategies and innovation plans, and the markets - where we sell and distribute our products. I manage the day to day business operations of our brands across all the countries in which we compete (essentially commercializing, selling and distributing our products), and I lead our Strategy, Innovation and Brand Building programs with which we aim to serve consumers with superior products that help us to sustainably grow our business year after year. My role is very multidisciplinary, as I partner with all Commercial (Sales, Communications, Finance..) and Technical functions (R&D, Product Supply,..) and with Plants, Market Operations and our Global Headquarters to build plans that generate value and growth for the Company.

In your opinion, what are the qualities necessary for a successful career in P&G?

• Growth Mindset - approaching each new challenge or job assignment with curiosity and humbleness to learn. Through my international experiences, this skill helped me enriching my leadership approach with multiple perspectives.
• Seeing around corners - using analytical skills and passion for consumers understanding to identify trends and opportunities that help us anticipate what could come next - and how to adjust our strategies ahead.
• Business Strategy - Understanding the key business drivers that generate Value for the consumer and the company, and how to foster their growth.
• Organizational Leadership - practicing daily coaching and mentoring to unleash the potential of my team, empowering each individual to bring forward their best performance.

What positive aspects and qualities meant most to you during the study programme you attended?

I believe USI is 'big enough' to expose every student to a large variety of learning experiences and opportunities, yet 'small enough' to create a safe environment for every student to leave their mark and personalize their experience.

What competences and/or skills acquired in your USI Study Program have been useful/are useful to your professional career?

The international body of students and the hands-on group learning taught me how to interact with different cultures and develop emotional intelligence to collaborate and partner with others in an effective, inclusive and respectful way. I was able to immediately apply all of this since my first day of work.

What is your advice to USI students entering the job market?

In today's word, you have the power of making what you want out of any job experience, yet this comes with the great responsibility of always giving your best and listening to how you feel in each situation to know if you are on the right path. Stay humble and open to learn and trust the growth process. Your path will be unique to you, so don't obsess over what others may be doing. You may not know yet who you want to become, but you'll get there if you follow your instincts :)