I think it’s fair to say that RB is different.
Certainly it is the most successful consumer goods company of the decade; and probably it’s the most demanding, international and fast paced.
Not just anyone can work here, in fact it takes a certain type of person to thrive at RB. And not everyone will stay, but while you’re here you’ll be making consumer products history.
In an article just published in the Harvard Business Review, my boss Bart Becht talks about what makes RB tick – what makes RB really quite different from anywhere else I have ever experienced.
And when friends ask me what it’s like working here I describe it as like driving a Lotus 7 racing car: Dead simple, all engine and no frills – and quite a white knuckle ride!
You know you’re going to go fast, but quite how fast is up to you and how hard you press on the gas. And if you go too fast and slip and skid, it’s down to you to do a nifty manoeuvre to get it back on track and keep racing.
For people who like the freedom to make things happen and who are driven to make their mark, it’s an energising place to be. It feels a bit like working in the United Nations of business – with people from all over the world – and people who love to live in different places around the world and feed their spirit with different experiences and places.
My role is an interesting one. I remember to this day my interviews for the job. I wanted to join because I was fascinated by the business. It had this amazing performance reputation with other FMCGs (I was in one of them before) and I wanted to see what RB was really like.
I met people – very different people – yet some things were really similar about them. They had real soul. They were irreverent; down to earth – no airs and graces – all not British and they all laughed. Imagine that – having a laugh in an interview!
They challenged me and I challenged back… and we got on just fine.
So what do I do? Why was I employed? Well it’s simple really. We aren’t known amongst people who’d really enjoy working here. My job is to make us known – not amongst everybody. A person buying Dettol doesn’t need to know RB (there’s no corporate arrogance on that front here). But people who might work here, they need to know us. So I do our PR, our on-line presence (well, a couple of fab team members do it and I help them.. a bit).
I do our crisis management (yes, things go wrong when you manufacture stuff and people need guidance on what to do when the unexpected happens), I speak to financial journalists, speak to universities, and I get to do our branding.
That was fun – rebranding the company. Our old brand just wasn’t RB – too boring by half, too old. People here are anything but boring and I’m one of the oldest – now that’s a career first! Our new brand is quite ballsie; more attitude in it – more punchy and more RB in every way. I also get to set the goal for what we should do for Save the Children all over the world – imagine that. A company that says – OK, you think that’s important? Go do something about it! Of course I am held accountable for delivery too – but that’s OK. I just want the chance, as their cause is so important.
What fascinates me is why some people would chose to apply for a job or apply to a graduate scheme here and why others wouldn’t.
I suppose it’s down to what people want from life and what they like in a job. Me? I like people with strong intellects, strong opinions and who laugh a lot – and who don’t think in stereotypes.
At RB I like the fact that I hear different accents everywhere, and have heated discussions in the coffee bar about which nation has the best coffee, the best tea, which usually progress to opinionated debates about the best fashion houses or best footballers! What I like even more is I am free to do what I do well. That’s the deal here. You get direction on what to aim for. But how to get there – now that’s up to you… you can’t imagine how good that feels! Or maybe you can…
What have you heard about RB? What would you want to ask? What would stop you going for it?
I’m here to answer your questions.
Tags: achievement, career development, company culture, Core Values, Culture, fast-pace, innovation, Opportunity, Success, team work
Hi Andraea. I was interested that you said “You get direction on what to aim for. But how to get there – now that’s up to you…” But everything you and some other RB bloggers have said suggests that RB has strong values and a strong culture too, which must drive the way your people do things to some extent. Every successful company seems to have both of those. How is that influence felt at RB, and what impact does it have on people doing things their own way?
That’s a really good question Andy. You’re right, RB does have a strong culture and values which do drive the way people do things. Our values or characteristics are: entrepreneurship – daring ideas are encouraged and allowed to thrive; ownership – you take on your own shoulders what’s needed to get the initiative delivered; achievement – people like to out perform and not just meet targets; and team spirit – people respond fast because they know you don’t ask unless you need the information.
So people do things in their own way, but with these characteristics. We are governed by principles rather than rules and processes. We have a few of these and those must be followed, but you aren’t bumping into them at every turn or decision point.
I hope that helps to explain it a bit more.
There’s a good article on us in Harvard Business Review which gives you an idea how our culture works too – here’s the url for the link: http://www.rb.com/building-company-without-borders