While studying at MISB Bocconi, I had the opportunity to intern with the Professional Products Division of L’Oreal India for two months. At the outset, I must state that I have never experienced such a fast-paced and active work environment!
Tremendous opportunity
The internship was structured very well, with a lot of support for the interns. My first week involved understanding more about the company: induction, networking with other interns, guides and division heads. As the marketing intern, I was given a detailed brief, outlining the expectations they had from my role. Every day came with its unique set of challenges, and the role gave me a tremendous opportunity to explore new areas.
The internship gave me immense field knowledge as well as on-the-job experience as a marketer. My project dealt with understanding the ‘hair colour’ space and identifying opportunities in new launch propositions, communications, and education.
I had to tap market insights with opinions and behaviour of hairdressers, along with consumer research to identify trends, and propose a plan of action. During the process, I organised and moderated the first Focus Group Discussion and analyse insights gathered from market visits. Armed with that intelligence, I presented an extensive proposition, spanning the perspective of hairdressers and Indian women about hair colour services in salons.
Takeaways
My role has encouraged me to stay updated with the latest industry trends. The market visits were eye-openers, not only in terms of meeting various professionals and learning from their experiences, but also through appreciating the mutually beneficial relationships the sales team established and sustained with salons and hairdressers.
Besides getting an overview of the beauty industry, the experience also gave me a lot of technical understanding about hair colour (Aside from a few goodies!).
In all the areas of my profile, I think flexibility is a key feature. At L’Oreal, ownership and innovation were highly encouraged. My guide was very informative and approachable, which motivated me to achieve more. After my extensive research work, I had several informal opportunities and one formal occasion to present my final solution deck. Working with L’Oreal has been one of my most memorable career experiences. This place demands passion and creativity and promises great returns with lots of fun.