My MBA Internship: From Market Analysis to Sustainable Innovation

Mining data to develop strategic business solutions at SCJ Lifestyle Brands

Blog
October 23, 2024
Simrun Bhandal MBA 25

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve gained from my UC Davis MBA journey is the power of strategic thinking and staying ahead of consumer trends to drive success in today’s competitive market.

This forward-thinking approach was essential during my summer internship with SCJ Lifestyle Brands, which houses brands under the SC Johnson umbrella, including Method®, Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day®, babyganics®, and Ecover®. As part of the Business in Action Program, I worked on brand innovations, focusing on future consumer needs and market trends.

SC Johnson's commitment to fearless trailblazing in the pursuit of a better world through bold action is admirable. They prioritize constant curiosity, honesty, transparency, and care for people and the planet while maintaining an entrepreneurial mindset as they navigate growth and shape the future.

A box filled with various personal care products, including Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day hand lotion and car diffuser, Method foaming hand wash, a Babyganics soothing itch stick, an orange notebook, and Method and Mrs. Meyer's branded items. The background features a card with colorful icons of people and a message reading 'Hi there, so glad you could join us. — Consumer packaged goods (CPG) from SCJ Lifestyle, featuring eco-friendly brands like Method®, Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day®, babyganics®, and Ecover® under the SC Johnson umbrella.

Analyzing Market Data and Driving Innovation in CPG

Over 12 weeks in the San Francisco headquarters, I analyzed market data to predict future consumer needs, going beyond current trends to identify emerging patterns and opportunities. Innovation in the consumer-packaged goods (CPG) industry goes beyond creating new products; it involves rethinking existing processes to align with sustainability goals.

The Full-Time MBA program’s emphasis on integrating sustainability into business strategies prepared me well as I proposed ways to reduce environmental impact through research on new product development.

My recommendations focused on creating products that resonated with eco-conscious consumers while helping the brand minimize its environmental footprint.

One of the highlights of my MBA was applying concepts from courses like Product Management and Organizational Strategy. The Product Management course unified many of the marketing concepts I had learned, offering a comprehensive framework to balance consumer desires with product feasibility.

Through marketing simulations, I could practice managing real-world challenges and making strategic decisions—skills that directly translated into my CPG work.

The Organizational Strategy and Structure course shaped my approach to sustainability and supply chain challenges, teaching me to assess firm resources and capabilities for implementing sustainable practices effectively. Part of the MBA core curriculum, the course covered strategic management, including industry analysis, corporate strategy, resource allocation, and organizational design.

This was essential when proposing supply chain innovations, ensuring they benefited both the environment and our competitive positioning.

The support from the GSM staff and faculty has been invaluable. I am particularly grateful for the preparation provided by the career team and my exceptional Product Management Professor, Marc Lowe. Additionally, I appreciate the guidance from Professor Olivier Rubel and the invaluable knowledge I gained from the Marketing Management course.

group of MBA students in Gallagher Hall — Simrun Bhandal (front row, fourth from left) and her Full-Time MBA classmates in Gallagher Hall. She credits the career services team, Lecturer Marc Lowe, and Professor Olivier Rubel for their support in interview preparation and marketing strategies.

Identifying Business Growth Opportunities

The Business in Action Program played a pivotal role in shaping my career goals. It gave me hands-on experience in innovation strategy for a new category, teaching me how to identify and capture market opportunities.

I learned how to spot trends, understand consumer behavior, and determine the internal capabilities needed to bring innovative ideas to life.

This process sparked my passion for working in CPG and taught me how to approach complex market challenges, transforming them into growth opportunities for the business.

My Action Plan: Turning Data into Compelling Stories

A significant challenge I encountered was synthesizing large amounts of data. In the CPG industry, there is no shortage of information, but sifting through it to find the most relevant insights can be overwhelming.

I developed a systematic approach to identify key patterns, trends, and consumer behaviors that aligned with the brand’s goals. This allowed me to craft actionable insights and present them in a compelling story to leadership and cross-functional teams.

Through this experience, I learned how to prioritize data and use it to support strategic decision-making—a skill that has been invaluable in my career.

One of the key takeaways from my MBA is the ability to tell a compelling story. Whether in supply chain or sustainability, distilling complex data into clear, actionable insights is crucial.

Identifying key points that resonate with your audience and aligning them with strategic objectives enables you to influence decisions and drive change.

Success requires cross-functional collaboration, as understanding how different departments like finance, marketing, and operations work together allows for more informed decisions and stronger recommendations.