Cassandra White Bachelor of Commerce (International Business and Marketing) 2005

Courtney Butler Bachelor of Commerce (International Business and Marketing) 2008

Joel Renkema Bachelor of Science (Exercise Science) and Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing) 2009

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Global firm Procter & Gamble markets leading international brands like Pampers, Olay, Head & Shoulders, Pantene, Vicks and Pringles, and in the company's Asian headquarters in Singapore an up-and-coming cohort of UOW graduates is being established.

Cassandra White, Joel Renkema and Courtney Butler work in the Consumer Market Knowledge (CMK) sector at Procter & Gamble Singapore, which is focused on understanding the way customers behave and what they want.

"In CMK we are a bit removed from the business itself and we really can say what's right for the consumer," Cassandra said. "The mantra of Procter & Gamble is 'touching lives, improving life', and it's our job to bring that consumer understanding to the company."

Cassandra graduated from UOW in 2005 and started working at the Sydney Procter & Gamble office. She now works in the global Head & Shoulders (shampoo) team.

"I came to Singapore last year and have been working on product development for this brand. This involves customising and identifying products that we can launch globally and looking at all the individual cultural differences that we need to anticipate."

Since arriving in Singapore, Cassandra has pushed for more Australian recruitment and there are now more than 10 Australians working in CMK in the Singapore office with four from UOW.

"I've seen Joel go from an internship in Sydney last year to this role in Singapore and I actually sat on his interview panel," she said.

"From a recruitment viewpoint we look at Wollongong as a key supplier of our talent. We recruit on the success of where other people came from and how well they fit within the company."

"I think having other Australians to work with makes it very easy to get along at work because we share the same experiences," she said.

"We have shared memories and experiences, and those of us from Wollongong, which is a very practical university, all work and learn in a similar way."

As a new recruit only three months into her time in Singapore, Courtney said that it was reassuring to work alongside other UOW graduates.

"I think it makes it seem like a much smaller world having the UOW people around," she said. "Moving from Wollongong to Singapore was a pretty big move so it was great having that familiarity."

Courtney, Joel and Cassandra said their UOW experiences have paid off in their current jobs.

"Consumer Behaviour was my favourite subject and that's exactly what our job is," said Cassandra. "Other subjects offered case studies which are a lot like the work you do in the workplace."

"UOW offers such a well rounded package," Courtney said. "I had many inspiring, nurturing lecturers and the practical elements of the degree are quite in touch with the industry."

The trio said they can all see their careers continuing to develop in this multinational company, which provides extensive training and career development plans for its employees.

For more Alumni stories see the latest issue of Campus News Magazine.