Mehnaz Ece Seltün

Turkish finalist in the Henkel Innovation 4

Started her career as an Assistant Brand Manager at Henkel

“It was a cold December night full of obstacles. The clock was ticking towards the Henkel Innovation Challenge 4 deadline and we were still struggling due to internet problems. It was 11.30 pm when we decided to split the team and apply from three different locations. I remember how I ran home, breathless but still dedicated to submit the application form. To tell the truth, it was all worth it. The whole HIC experience was unbelievable great.

In the international finals, 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. However, my excitement didn’t end there. Since our team made 3rd place, we were able to meet the CEO, Kasper Rorsted. I am proud to say, that he is now also my CEO, since I was hired by Henkel Turkey.

I always believed that good things will somehow come my way, but even I couldn’t imagine this. Therefore, I would like to thank the HIC team and my BENkel teammates, namely Buğra and Nazlı, for making those days unforgettable and to always be remembered.“

Marina Vodicka

Second placed german team in the Henkel Innovation
Challenge 3

Started her career as an Assistant Manager Field Force at Schwarzkopf

“When I decided to participate in the Henkel Innovation Challenge³ I had no clue what this would lead to.
 
My initial motivation to participate was to get some insights in how the marketing knowledge I gained at university is applied in real business life – and the task was promising: from imagining what the world could look like in the future, analyzing customer needs, and developing a product targeting those needs to finally implementing the ideas and even creating a commercial. It was a challenging experience, but at the same time really exciting and a lot of fun.
 
During the preparation for the national finals we were coached by a mentor working in the corresponding field at Henkel and during the national finals in the headquarters we finally got the chance to get to know the company firsthand. The atmosphere during the national finals, the insights gained about the job in the field of Marketing at Henkel and the impression of Henkel’s corporate culture finally convinced me to apply for a job right after graduation.
 
About a year after the national finals took place I joined Henkel in the Talent Onboarding Program Marketing/ Sales. I am very happy to say that a real job at Henkel is just as interesting and exciting as the Innovation Challenge!”

Beata Bogusz

Third placed polish team in the Henkel Innovation Challenge 3

Started her career as a Marketing Cosmetics Assistant at Henkel

“The Henkel Innovation Challenge Final in Amsterdam was a very unique experience for me. On the one hand, the competition was 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, the Henkel Innovation Challenge was of great pleasure to me and an overall amazing experience!

I really enjoyed the tasks: forecasting future trends, developing a product, preparing marketing plans and financial statements. The opportunity to work together with a mentor during the international final was a great honor for me. The mentor, a high-level professional who knows the industry, 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. His commitment and involvement was a pleasant surprise for me.

I'm glad I had the opportunity to compare our work with the other competing teams. Representing Poland was a great honor for our team. It gave me great satisfaction to see our work acknowledged and to be placed among the top three teams. The atmosphere at the finals in Amsterdam was just amazing and I enjoyed myself very much.

Taking part in Henkel Innovation Challenge 3 was just the beginning of a great adventure! After the international finals, my team had the opportunity to meet the CEO, Kasper Rorsted and to personally discuss our winning concept with this very inspiring and experienced business leader.

In the following year, I committed myself as a Henkel Innovation Challenge ambassador and had the pleasure to visit Berlin and witness the international finals of the Henkel Innovation Challenge 4 and gained precious professional experience at Henkel Poland.

For me the Henkel Innovation Challenge 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. I wish I could do it again!”

Donna Soedarso

Dutch finalist in the Henkel Innovation Challenge 3

Joined Henkel as a Marketing intern in Milan

"It has been a dynamic whirlwind since the Henkel Innovation Challenge. After winning the Dutch finals our ideas made it into the press and ended up in the hands of a Member of European Parliament, leading to a personal invitation to the European Parliament in Brussels.

Two days later I took a plane to Milan where I started a marketing internship for Henkel Italia. Despite the highly competitive atmosphere, the Henkel Innovation Challenge allowed for new friendships to flourish and new networks to be laid. Top level managers are available for advice and on top of that always seemed fond of mingling with the participants. All in all, I suggest anybody that is even slightly interested or curious to take a leap of faith and to participate. Who knows, maybe you will be the next one sitting here and writing your reflections on your own "Henkel-experience"."

Agnieszka Gardocka

Second placed Austrian team of the Henkel Innovation Challenge 3

Joined Henkel as an Employer Branding Intern

„The Henkel Innovation Challenge has been an amazing experience for me! In the beginning everyone was making jokes of our idea but we really believed in our product innovation. During the national and international final we got support from Henkel managers that were our mentors. I gained so much business experience and met students from all over Europe. The challenge was great fun, the location was amazing and although competition was tough I would participate again.

After participating in the Henkel Innovation Challenge I started an internship in Düsseldorf. This was the first step to get closer to Henkel.“

Yilmaz Can Akbulut
  

Third placed turkish team in the Henkel Innovation Challenge 2
  

Joined Henkel as an Online Media & Supply Chain Management Intern  

"HIC has touched my life in so many ways; all the way from the beginning till the end. I remember shooting our promotional video for the national finals on a rainy Istanbul day, and then editing it the entire night.

Stefano Orazi

Italian finalist in the Henkel Innovation Challenge 2

Startet his career as a Regional Key Account Manager at Henkel

“I think that the greatest challenge was to be completely free to innovate (maybe better to say "to dream!") and at the same time to be coherent with Henkel vision and values and Brand equity.

The final has been very exiting, a moment of sane competition and great visibility in front of Italian Top Management. Above all, it has been an important opportunity of comparison with other students from other parts of Italy with different backgrounds and to improve skills like project development, team working, emotion management and public speaking.

Unfortunately, my team did not win, but lately I've understood that the real victory has been to be selected by this company. I want to thank everybody for this opportunity. It is an experience that I will always bring with me.”

Mitch van Bovene

Dutch finalist in the Henkel Innovation Challenge 1

Started his career as an Account Manager at Schwarzkopf

"When I applied for the Henkel Innovation Challenge I could never predict what effect this challenge would have on my career. I had the chance to get in contact with employees of Henkel and would describe this culture as informal and very personal. 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 laborer 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 that 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.”