About the speaker: Heliana Romanelli is the Global VP of Procurement, Customer Operations and African Markets at Unilever, boasting an impressive 22-year tenure with the company. Throughout her career, she has held various roles encompassing product and process development, production, planning, procurement, technology, innovation, and supply chain management. She is an experienced senior leader within the international consumer goods sector, demonstrating proven expertise in aligning corporate strategic objectives and providing guidance for validation to both FDA and non-FDA-regulated manufacturing and corporate organizations. In her role, she actively directs operational, technical, and managerial staff to provide leadership in the development and execution of strategic initiatives, adeptly navigating both face-to-face and virtual environments. Notably, she is esteemed for her efficiency in people development, fostering a culture of growth and excellence within her teams. She is adept at cultivating and maintaining strong working relationships with other Unilever entities, including Unilever Research and Regional Manufacturing senior management, thereby facilitating seamless collaboration across the organization. Her educational background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais and an Executive MBA from Fundação Dom Cabral, highlighting her commitment to both technical proficiency and business acumen.

About the company: Unilever PLC is a British multinational fast-moving consumer goods company founded on 2 September 1929, following the merger of the British soap maker Lever Brothers and the Dutch margarine producer Margarine Unie. It is headquartered in London. Unilever’s products include baby food, beauty products, bottled water, breakfast cereals, cleaning agents, condiments, energy drinks, healthcare and hygiene products, ice cream, instant coffee, pet food, pharmaceuticals, soft drinks, tea, and toothpaste. It is the largest producer of soap in the world, and its products are available in over 190 countries. Their ice cream brands include Breyers, Popsicle, Klondike, Magnum, Ben & Jerry’s, Wall’s, Cornetto, Carte D’Or, and Viennetta.

Employees: 138,000

Revenue: 66.9 Billion USD