Gopi

SR. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER

What's on your iPod?

If you put on my headphones today you'd hear Nicole C. Mullens, Evanescence, Rihanna, Linkin Park, Kanye West, Muse, Keane, U2, or MercyMe.

What's your most unusual or impressive skill?

Most people don't know this, but I can do nearly flawless imitations of both Bono and Kermit the Frog—but not at the same time.

What are your favorite books?

The Bible, Tales of the Kingdom, What's so Amazing About Grace?, and Wild at Heart.

What made you choose to work at Nestlé Purina?

I had the benefit of working as a consultant for the Company before becoming an employee. In that role I visited most of our plants and worked closely with people in St. Louis who would become my co-workers and supervisors. I liked the culture and values of the Company and felt it would be a great environment for me to use my existing skills and continue to develop professionally. Coming from consulting, I really appreciated the Company’s commitment to work-life balance.

What motivates you to continue working at Nestlé Purina?

I enjoy the people I work with in St. Louis, at the plants, and throughout other parts of Nestlé. Our people are very highly qualified and take pride in and ownership of their work. Also, each day presents unique challenges and learning opportunities for me.

What has been the most advantageous opportunity provided to you at Nestlé Purina?

Two years ago I had the opportunity to participate in a weeklong engineering conference at the Rive-Reine training center in Vevey, Switzerland. Every division of Nestlé throughout the world was represented. Interacting with each of these people as well as some of our senior management in Vevey was extremely educational in and of itself. The experience gave me an appreciation for just how vast and “global” of a company this is.

What is the most gratifying component about your current role?

Our goal is to help our plants minimize any adverse impacts on the environment while they make the most of their production capabilities. It’s always gratifying to me when I’m able to contribute to solutions to make that happen.

How have you been able to use your past experience or knowledge in your current role?

My prior experience exposed me to a lot of different industrial settings. I often draw on those experiences when trying to develop solutions for our plants. I also worked very closely with various regulators, which is a significant part of my job today.

What has Nestlé Purina done to help you develop professionally or personally?

I’ve had several opportunities to attend professional training courses over the years. I think our work environment fosters professional growth.

How has Nestlé Purina supported your work-life balance?

With four children, work-life balance is very important to me, but a demanding job can make that challenging sometimes. When I’ve needed additional flexibility to attend to personal or family concerns it’s never been a problem.

What is your favorite thing to do when you are not working?

I enjoy spending time outdoors with my family—camping, bike rides, soccer games—and getting together with friends. I also sing at my church and enjoy volunteering there.