I started my career as a process engineer, scaling up emulsion and surfactant-based systems from the laboratory to production in factories around the globe, both internal and third-party. This includes launches of products from multi-billion dollar brands including Dove, Vaseline, and Pond’s. As part of this role, I investigated, qualified, and helped to program new in-line quality control instruments and high-speed processing equipment. I conducted factory trials in manufacturing sites, both in-house and 3rd party, in North America, Europe, and Asia.

Some interesting facts about Unilever, soap, and beyond:

• an estimated 1.4 million people each year from inadequate handwashing-related issues ranging from malnoutrition to viral transmission (source: UNICEF)

• Unilever (technically Lever Brother’s) is responsible for mass producing and marketing the first plant-based soap, sold under the brand Sunlight

• An estimated 3.4 billion people use Unilever products each day

• Both hair conditioner and mayonnaise are oil-in-water emulsions (but only one has egg yolks, for now at least)