Unilever Foundation
School 2025

I was fascinated by the world of HUL, exploring the CiiC Centre, Agile Innovation Hub, and Lakmé R&D Centre. What excited me the most? The 'Customer Home Visits,' which transformed my understanding of consumer behavior as a former entrepreneur. The program offered an incredible chance to shadow business leaders, and understand the magic behind launching world-class products.

The opportunity to interact with HUL leaders, engage with consumers, and connect with like-minded peers was transformative. It motivated me to push my boundaries, refine my goals, and prepare myself for life at a B-School and beyond. The lessons I learned at the HUL Foundation School will undoubtedly guide me as I advance in my career.

HUL’s Foundation School proved to be the perfect launchpad to kick off our B-school journey! Immersive sessions by industry leaders and interactions with peers from top B-schools provided a crisp yet impactful introduction to the FMCG world, inspiring us to take on the future.

Growing up loving brands like Lakmé, Pond’s and Knorr, I was amazed to see how various business functions come together to make these brands iconic. Also having participated in research projects on the rights of persons with disabilities in law school, I was excited to learn about initiatives implemented by HUL to further inclusion and build equitable workplaces.

I think Foundation School was the best start I could have ever received for my B-school journey! The two-day HR workshop was packed with face-to-face interactions with HUL leaders, along with visits to warehouses and informative sessions on HUL’s supply chains and market research. Senior HR leaders engaged with us to discuss specific domains which were invaluable before starting my HR degree.

The program included enriching interactions with CXOs, my first case competition, and a market survey, all of which broadened my perspective. Despite coming from an engineering background, HUL provided me the opportunity to participate in their finance program. These experiences have played a crucial role in shaping my journey at IIM Ahmedabad.

A key highlight of the program was the consumer behavior sessions, which helped us prepare for on-ground customer visits. These visits gave us a first-hand look at how everyday consumers interact with HUL’s products, their preferences, and decision-making. There were also sessions led by Industry leaders, who shared behind-the-scenes stories of how brands like Dove and Taj have evolved over time.

“Few Indians have heard of Hindustan Unilever Limited. But they are intimate with the brands it sells.” - These lines stared at me as I opened this book called: “ The CEO Factory.” Never would I have ever imagined that one day, I would be standing at its headquarters in Mumbai, interacting with the senior leadership. This 3-day program has been one of the biggest highlights of my MBA journey.

Foundation School was an insightful three-day journey into Sales and Marketing. Through consumer home visits and hands-on learning at HUL’s innovation centers, I gained a deeper understanding of the FMCG industry. The experience was practical, empowering, and has significantly shaped the way I approach business and innovation.