Nestlé’s recipe for a diverse workplace

When you think of Nestlé, the first thing that comes to mind might be your favorite product sitting in your pantry. But behind each nostalgic sip of Nesquik or sweet bite of a Toll House cookie is a company deeply committed to building a diverse talent pipeline, fostering an inclusive culture, and helping employees bring their authentic selves to work.

Nestlé’s approach to diversity is not just a corporate initiative; it’s ingrained in the very fabric of the company.

“Our workforce is proud to look like the communities that we serve and operate in,” Frankie Galizia, senior talent acquisition specialist at Nestlé, tells us during The Secret Ingredient: Building a Diverse Talent Pipeline at Nestlé.

“We want everyone to bring their authentic selves to work every single day. We want to hear your new ideas, keep it fresh, and create an environment where people can thrive,” adds Katerina Oviedo, another senior talent acquisition specialist helping build Nestlé’s inclusive workforce.

But how exactly does this global food giant create such an environment? Here, we’re sharing the highlights from our conversation with Frankie and Katerina, uncovering the secret ingredient to Nestlé’s success.

Why diversity matters at Nestlé

“‘Good food, good life’ is our motto here at Nestlé, but behind our success is our people,” Frankie shares.

Nestlé’s emphasis on building a workforce that reflects the diverse communities it serves is key to its innovative spirit. As Frankie explains, “We find ways to connect what we love about the company and its brands to the people we recruit. And that's something that really resonates with so many others when they're looking for career opportunities. It's a place they can grow, and where they can feel heard, seen, and valued for being their genuine and authentic selves.”

Katerina explains how diversifying their recruitment efforts — whether it’s meeting talent during a PowerToFly event or participating in a local community’s Pride festivities — helps Nestlé to reach talent from all backgrounds and, ultimately, build a team that brings a wide range of perspectives to the table.

Inclusion in action

Beyond diversity and inclusion rhetoric, Nestlé exemplifies what it means to truly practice what you preach. Building a culture of authenticity is woven into a number of initiatives across the company.

1. Employee Resource Groups (ERGs): Nestlé boasts 14-plus ERGs, supporting everything from veterans and working parents to LGBTQIA+ employees. As Frankie notes, “From day one, we ensure people know what ERGs exist, and our human resources team does an incredible job of giving a very thorough overview to all our new hires on how they can connect with each organization.” This ease of access encourages employees to find their place from the start and share their unique perspectives openly.
2. Quarterly surveys and action plans: Nestlé regularly conducts employee engagement surveys to stay in tune with how people feel about their work environment. “Wherever you're coming from, whatever your perspective is, it's important that we understand your workplace experience,” Katerina explains. “It's the action post-survey that we take very, very seriously to make sure we're evolving our culture on a regular basis.”
3. A dedicated DEI team: Nestlé’s DEI team works closely with each ERG to build training, events, and community outreach efforts. “You can't find a better place than Nestlé when it comes to really building that community piece, which I know so many people crave in their organization,” Frankie says, adding that “the best part is how open [their leadership team] is to discussions. You look at the world that we're in right now; there's a lot of concerns around DEI, and Nestlé continues to be a leader in embracing diversity.”
4. A welcoming culture from day one: “It starts with your team members,” Katerina says. “I remember coming on to a brand new team and everybody was so welcoming and willing to help me… People are just excited because you’re here.” This immediate sense of belonging helps employees feel valued and motivated to contribute to the company’s success.
5. Career growth and development: Investing in employees’ career growth is a cornerstone of Nestlé’s culture. From stretch assignments to early-career rotational programs to tuition reimbursement, employees have countless opportunities to build new skills and grow within the company. As Frankie explains, “The sky is really the limit… We are investing in you because you are the future of the company.”

Pulling back the curtain: Recruitment tips

Thanks to a culture that champions authenticity and values diverse perspectives, you might already envision yourself inside Nestlé. To stand out in the application process and ace your interviews, Katerina and Frankie share some practicable recruitment tips.

1. How to find opportunities:Nestlé’s career site is the best place to start, but don’t stop there. Attending virtual events like PowerToFly’s Chat & Learns or connecting with Nestlé recruiters on LinkedIn can help you learn more about the company and its opportunities. “There’s also our Talent Community, where you can sign up for alerts and keep yourself up to date on positions,” adds Katerina.
2. How to get your foot in the door: Networking is key. Frankie encourages searching for recruiters on LinkedIn and sending a personalized message about the role you’re interested in. “Tell your story,” he says. “We want to genuinely connect with and learn about you. That really helps you stand out in the connection process.”
3. How to prepare your resume: Your resume should tell the story of your accomplishments, not just your responsibilities. “Show us what you’ve achieved — whether it’s increasing revenue or saving your company ‘X’ dollars,” says Frankie. He also encourages candidates to build well-formatted resumes and not to shy away from spilling over onto a second page if necessary.
4. How to succeed in interviews: Authenticity is key. “It's okay if you don't know the answer to an interview question. When talking to candidates, I’d rather see honesty. If you're willing to learn, that's even better,” Katerina says. She also reminds candidates to stay positive even if they don’t land the first role they apply for. “You know, sometimes that position wasn’t the ideal position for you,” she adds. “Maybe something better is coming along.”

For those looking to join the Nestlé family, there’s a clear path to success: be authentic, stay curious, and believe in yourself. “If you can advocate for yourself, we can advocate as recruiters for you,” says Frankie. “There's nothing better than the day that we get to make that call to you and say congratulations. We want you to come work for Nestlé. It makes us proud.”

To learn more from Katerina and Frankie on building a diverse workforce at Nestlé, listen to the full conversation, The Secret Ingredient: Building a Diverse Talent Pipeline at Nestlé, here.