The Value of Dual Degrees for Dietitians: Bridging Nutrition and Business

1. Dual Degree Dietitians – Why go the extra mile? Brenda Atkins, RD Nutrition, Labeling and Regulatory Compliance Target Corporation TCDDA Meeting, April 2012

2. Education • B.A. – Nutrition and Dietetics, Concordia College, Moorhead, MN • Dietetic Internship – U of M Hospital • M.B.A. – Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota; emphasis: supply chain • Why an MBA? • Deeper understanding/appreciation for cross-functional partners and their work • Stronger knowledge of my organization’s financial framework • Opportunity to diversify my experiences and education • An opportunity to add security in finding/maintaining work (your job is your greatest financial asset) 2

3. Work History 3

4. Camilia Rose, Coon Rapids • Nutrition Services Supervisor: • Leading day-to-day operations of the kitchen • Manage execution/prioritizing • Resilience and adaptability • Customer service • Positive opinion leadership • Engage and inspire others 4

5. Pillsbury, St Paul • Consumer Relations • Responding to escalated consumer contacts pertaining to matters of serious nature (illness, injury, allergic reaction, foreign material, etc) • Thinking on my feet • Engaged and ready to respond • Responding professionally to difficult situations • Listening skills, empathy • Answered contacts via phone, e-mail and postal mail 5

6. Pillsbury, St Paul • Labeling Specialist: Nutrition and Labeling, Green Giant and Progresso Soups • Developing the regulated information on food labels, including claims and required language • Extremely specialized knowledge, OTJ training • Working alongside experts in the industry • Project management • Cross-functional team • Communicating Technical Issues • Detail orientation • Identifying relevant claim opportunities • Timing and action; prioritization 6

7. Malt-O-Meal, Northfield • Quality Specialist: Quality Assurance • Being the in-house Nutrition and Labeling Regulatory expert • Bridging the Quality and Product Development functions • Presenting to management on hot nutrition/regulatory issues • Providing detailed and quality information to retailers 7

8. Target, Minneapolis • Senior Labeling Specialist: Nutrition, Labeling and Regulatory Compliance • Providing regulatory guidance in labeling of Archer Farms and Market Pantry products • Managing hundreds of labels annually • Highly cross-functional work • (Buyers, Product Development, Product Standards and Specifications, Legal, Packaging Engineering, Marketing, Food Safety, Trend teams) • Change management skills • Being able to manage execution well • Being able to lead initiatives • An opportunity to work on any product in the grocery aisle 8

9. Honeywell, Golden Valley • Senior Logistics Analyst: Logistics and Transportation • Assisting Leadership with cost reduction (savings) initiatives • Reporting results/forecasts for management • Assisting with special projects • Small parcel banding • Centralized warehouse modeling • Collaborating with colleagues globally • Opportunity to travel internationally 9

10. Valspar, Minneapolis • Regulatory Manager, Quality & Safety • Led effort to standardize labeling process and shift multiple business units into an on-line proofing system • Collaborating with multiple divisions globally • Engaging teams to share best practices • Developing and executing a process • Driving for results 10

11. Target, Minneapolis • Program Manager: Nutrition, Labeling and Regulatory Compliance • Leading special projects • Managing a direct report • Providing regulatory guidance on hundreds of labels annually • Sharing breadth of regulatory and nutrition knowledge with colleagues • Staying up-to-date on regulatory changes • Keeping current on health & wellness, and nutrition-related topics • Working on a wide variety of product categories • Influencing change by developing guidelines, programs and policies 11

12. Target, Minneapolis • Program Manager: Nutrition, Labeling and Regulatory Compliance • Opportunities within Labeling going forward: • Managerial track • Technical track • Opportunities outside of current team, with MBA: • Supply Chain • Distribution • Logistics • Transportation • Buyer/Merchandising • Field work (non-headquarters) • Finance • Accounting 12

13. Ideas that have helped me • Does your employer help pay for school? • Make the most of your classes, network with classmates when you can (before life gets too busy!) • Keep your resume posted and up-to-date on job sites • On your resume, be sure to note that you’re in school and state your anticipated graduation date. • Write and re-write your resume 13

14. Ideas that have helped me • Make full use of career center at your school. Treat the resume tune-up and interview preparation like another class. • What are your successes? What steps did you take? What leadership behaviors did you demonstrate? Make note of those moments! • Do mock interviews until yours is perfect! Remember: • Situation/Challenge • Behavior/I was able to demonstrate… • Outcome 14

15. The job hunt • Mock interviews with career counselors (the art of interviewing is constantly changing) • Do an informational interview/job shadow with someone in a role you’re interested in • Ask: • Daily responsibilities? • Favorite/least favorite parts of their job? • Functional areas that they interface with? • Background/how did they get there? • What type of position are they looking to do next? • What skill sets are essential in that role? 15

16. The job hunt • Leadership expectations • What is meaningful to your future employer? • How have I already demonstrated these behaviors? • Be able to explain these behaviors in a behavioral-based interview (3 parts) • Have examples ready-to-go • Make a note of your accomplishments when they happen • Be ready with questions for them 16

17. Final thoughts… • If you do pursue a second degree: • Make it as helpful as you want it to be. • It is not just about attending classes. • It is an opportunity to: • Network with students and professors • Gain valuable experiences • Learn from other students and their experiences • Utilize career centers/counselors • Work in groups with other students/establish friendships • Attend events and/or travel • Be on the forefront of your area of study • Learn about employers and what they’re looking for • Learn from professionals working in your area of study 17

18. Thank you! • Questions? 18