Dual Degree Dietitians – Why go the extra mile?

Brenda Atkins, RD

Nutrition, Labeling and Regulatory ComplianceTarget Corporation

TCDDA Meeting, April 2012

2

Education

B.A. – Nutrition and Dietetics, Concordia College, Moorhead, MN

Dietetic Internship – U of M Hospital

M.B.A. – Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota; emphasis: supply chain– Why an MBA?

• Deeper understanding/appreciation for cross-functional partners and their work

• Stronger knowledge of my organization’s financial framework

• Opportunity to diversify my experiences and education

• An opportunity to add security in finding/maintaining work (your job is your greatest financial asset)

Work History

3

4

Camilia Rose, Coon Rapids

Nutrition Services Supervisor:– Leading day-to-day operations of the

kitchen– Manage execution/prioritizing– Resilience and adaptability– Customer service– Positive opinion leadership– Engage and inspire others

5

Pillsbury, St Paul

Consumer Relations– Responding to escalated consumer contacts

pertaining to matters of serious nature (illness, injury, allergic reaction, foreign material, etc)

– Thinking on my feet– Engaged and ready to respond– Responding professionally to difficult

situations– Listening skills, empathy– Answered contacts via phone, e-mail and

postal mail

6

Pillsbury, St Paul

Labeling Specialist: Nutrition and Labeling, Green Giant and Progresso Soups– Developing the regulated information on

food labels, including claims and required language

– Extremely specialized knowledge, OTJ training

– Working alongside experts in the industry– Project management– Cross-functional team– Communicating Technical Issues– Detail orientation– Identifying relevant claim opportunities– Timing and action; prioritization

7

Malt-O-Meal, Northfield

Quality Specialist: Quality Assurance– Being the in-house Nutrition and Labeling

Regulatory expert– Bridging the Quality and Product

Development functions– Presenting to management on hot

nutrition/regulatory issues– Providing detailed and quality

information to retailers

8

Target, Minneapolis

Senior Labeling Specialist: Nutrition, Labeling and Regulatory Compliance– Providing regulatory guidance in labeling

of Archer Farms and Market Pantry products– Managing hundreds of labels annually– Highly cross-functional work

• (Buyers, Product Development, Product Standards and Specifications, Legal, Packaging Engineering, Marketing, Food Safety, Trend teams)

– Change management skills– Being able to manage execution well– Being able to lead initiatives– An opportunity to work on any product in

the grocery aisle

Honeywell, Golden Valley

Senior Logistics Analyst: Logistics and Transportation

– Assisting Leadership with cost reduction (savings) initiatives

– Reporting results/forecasts for management– Assisting with special projects

• Small parcel banding• Centralized warehouse modeling

– Collaborating with colleagues globally– Opportunity to travel internationally

9

10

Valspar, Minneapolis

Regulatory Manager, Quality & Safety– Led effort to standardize labeling

process and shift multiple business units into an on-line proofing system

– Collaborating with multiple divisions globally

– Engaging teams to share best practices– Developing and executing a process– Driving for results

11

Target, Minneapolis

Program Manager: Nutrition, Labeling and Regulatory Compliance– Leading special projects– Managing a direct report– Providing regulatory guidance on hundreds

of labels annually– Sharing breadth of regulatory and

nutrition knowledge with colleagues– Staying up-to-date on regulatory changes– Keeping current on health & wellness, and

nutrition-related topics– Working on a wide variety of product

categories– Influencing change by developing

guidelines, programs and policies

12

Target, Minneapolis

Program Manager: Nutrition, Labeling and Regulatory Compliance– Opportunities within Labeling going

forward:• Managerial track• Technical track

– Opportunities outside of current team, with MBA:• Supply Chain• Distribution• Logistics• Transportation• Buyer/Merchandising• Field work (non-headquarters)• Finance• Accounting

13

Ideas that have helped me

Does your employer help pay for school?

Make the most of your classes, network with classmates when you can (before life gets too busy!)

Keep your resume posted and up-to-date on job sites

On your resume, be sure to note that you’re in school and state your anticipated graduation date.

Write and re-write your resume

14

Ideas that have helped me

Make full use of career center at your school. Treat the resume tune-up and interview preparation like another class.

What are your successes? What steps did you take? What leadership behaviors did you demonstrate? Make note of those moments!

Do mock interviews until yours is perfect! Remember:– Situation/Challenge– Behavior/I was able to demonstrate…– Outcome

15

The job hunt

Mock interviews with career counselors (the art of interviewing is constantly changing)

Do an informational interview/job shadow with someone in a role you’re interested in– Ask:

• Daily responsibilities?• Favorite/least favorite parts of their job?• Functional areas that they interface with?• Background/how did they get there?• What type of position are they looking to do

next?• What skill sets are essential in that role?

16

The job hunt

Leadership expectations– What is meaningful to your future

employer?– How have I already demonstrated these

behaviors?– Be able to explain these behaviors in a

behavioral-based interview (3 parts)– Have examples ready-to-go– Make a note of your accomplishments when

they happen– Be ready with questions for them

17

Final thoughts…

If you do pursue a second degree:– Make it as helpful as you want it to be.– It is not just about attending classes.– It is an opportunity to:

• Network with students and professors• Gain valuable experiences• Learn from other students and their experiences• Utilize career centers/counselors• Work in groups with other students/establish

friendships• Attend events and/or travel• Be on the forefront of your area of study• Learn about employers and what they’re looking

for• Learn from professionals working in your area of

study

18

Thank you!

Questions?