David Nied

Developing Markets
MBA Finance Intern

This summer I received an internship with SC Johnson. SCT is family owned and managed and has operations in more than 70 countries worldwide, employs 12,000 people and has annual sales of over $7.5 billion. SCJ manufactures and markets home cleaning, storage, air care, pest control and personal care products for the consumer marketplace in more that 110 countries worldwide. A few of their familiar brands include Pledge, Windex, Shout, Drano, Ziploc, Edge, Raid and Off!

During the internship, I worked for the Developing Markets Platform. Developing Markets Platform, one of two platforms, controls all aspects of business in every country excluding U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan and Australia.

I worked on two main projects this summer. The first project was a financial feasibility analysis on an onsite supplier plant in South America. This project involved working with a small team consisting of all members outside of the U.S. I first gathered information on the current supplier situation and on examples where similar projects had calculated the NPV of each different option. I presented my assumptions, findings and recommendation to undertake the $2.5 MM NPV positive project to the Developing Markets Director of Finance and Director of Product Supply.

The second project involved working with a senior leadership team to define the Developing Markets Platform's Product Supply strategy for the next five years. This project allowed me to understand the current strategy and the need for a new strategy, it also allowed me to network with many of the senior leadership team members. My first assignment was to develop an opportunity map showing the large global cost savings opportunities. I then created a presentation and presented along with the team to four individual consulting firms and was involved in the decision of which consultant to hire for strategy ideation development. I then assisted in drawing up the terms of the consultant contract.

Overall, I enjoyed my internship with SCJ this summer. I was given the opportunity to experience and learn much more than I expected. I am excited to take what I learned and apply it to the corporate projects during my second year in the Nicholas Center.