What's your job about?
Diageo manufactures and sells spirits across the globe. Some of the core brands you might recognise include Smirnoff, Johnnie Walker, and Australia’s own Bundaberg rum. Being in the Commercial Graduate Program, my areas of responsibility fall under the sale of our products to customers, who then sell to consumers, customer relationship management, and ensuring our brands and products are present in the Australian spirits landscape.
I have spent my first 6 months of the Commercial Graduate Program in the On-Premise & Events & Sponsorship team. The On-Premise team works with customers that consist of venues that serve drinks to consumers, on-site i.e. bars, restaurants, music venues, stadiums etc. Some of the key responsibilities of my role have been to engage in customer negotiations to create contracts whereby those customers would stock and serve Diageo products at their venues. This work involves analysing volume sales projections, drafting offers, and ultimately agreeing on a partnership. The Events & Sponsorships team work with event-based venues, and event promoters/organisers/caterers. Some of the key E&S responsibilities I have had include contract negotiation and branded activation set-up. This includes working with customers to showcase our brands in the form of a branded bar or supplying awesome branded merchandise. This job is rewarding as I can actually see the impact of my work, like when I’ve helped our brands show up brilliantly alongside famous artists at sold-out arenas. It also doesn’t hurt that I get to attend some amazing events!
What's your background?
I have grown up in Sydney, Australia my entire life. I went to high school in North Sydney and University just a short train ride away in Macquarie. My first job was a barista at a local French Patisserie, and I worked in retail and marketing leading up to my current role at Diageo.
I applied for the Diageo Graduate Program in June/July 2022, mid-way through my final year at University. At this point in my degree, I had been searching for a graduate program to join following the completion of my degree, so that I could continue my learning in an environment that was geared to nurturing new starters and developing a depth of understanding of a business or industry from the ground up. There are so many graduate programs advertised around this critical time, and I was overwhelmed with choices. A friend and I were talking about the graduate programs we had found and were applying for, and he mentioned Diageo. I had heard of the company, mainly from a family who had worked in the FMCG and spirits industries and decided to read up about the company some more. What I uncovered was a spirits juggernaut, with a portfolio of many of the largest spirits brands globally. I saw the depth and breadth of Diageo’s presence across the globe, as well as the vast array of opportunities and channels available to work in. I applied and hoped for the best! After a month or so of interviews, meeting Diageo team members and checking out the office, I was fortunate enough to be offered a position in the program. I have now been in the business as a Commercial Graduate for 6 months, and have enjoyed every minute of this amazing new experience.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Graduate Program. When I began I was met with a business whose culture centred around growth, development and learning. I use elements of my previous work experience and education in my day-to-day work, but everything I’ve needed to do or learn has come from within the business. My colleagues and managers have taken care to understand my background and work history and assist me as I build new capabilities at Diageo. I have been met with new challenges, which with guidance and support, have overcome and produced great work. I believe that an individual's background can be useful in providing different ways of looking at things, and a fresh perspective, and that at Diageo, having a different background is not a limitation, but an opportunity to contribute and learn.
What's the coolest thing about your job?
The coolest thing about my job is the breadth of opportunity and oversight I have within the business. I have visibility over and the ability to contribute to a range of things; exciting events and sponsorships partnerships with local music venues and major stadiums, branded activations and marketing execution, customer orders and contract building. I think my favourite part is meeting a vast array of new and exciting people, whether that be customers, colleagues across the globe, or strategic partners of the business.
What are the limitations of your job?
Whilst the pace and breadth of my work at Diageo are exciting, it has equally been a challenge, especially coming from a university environment in which the semester's tasks are laid out in the beginning, and there are little to no changes. It has been a challenge to accept that things change quickly and new tasks and challenges arise without warning. With such a large company, there are many pieces of information that you may need to learn, and there are so many processes, differing ways of working between stakeholders and general product and customer information. It is difficult at times to feel across everything, but the key is to make peace with the unknown and arm yourself with an open mindset.
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