Mentorship Fuels Growth, Belonging and Longevity at P&G

It only takes one person, one piece of advice or one action to change the course of a career.

At P&G, mentors are more than helpful resources — they are powerful forces behind a thriving, inclusive culture that grows talent from within. Part of a robust leadership development curriculum, P&G’s mentoring program helps employees find belonging, navigate complex issues, make career-changing decisions and grow their skills.

Read on for a few stories of P&Gers who have been inspired to follow their strengths, find their places and build impactful careers at P&G – and how they’re now paying it forward for others.

Ela Matunakova: Inspired to Build Connections for Others

When Ela Matunakova joined P&G in April 2020 — as the pandemic began — her manager suggested she connect with a “buddy.” This mentoring relationship helped her navigate remote onboarding, build confidence and find community during a disconnected time.

That experience inspired Matunakova to find ways to support others. Based in Warsaw, Poland, Matunakova is a Data Asset Manager in Digital Experiences and the leader of a regional mentoring initiative in Central Europe. “This is what inspired me to go deeper with mentoring because I saw that it is not just a label, but also something that can really change the way you work,” she said.

One of the ways Matunakova is changing work for hundreds of employees in Central Europe is through a series of speed mentoring events. The program grew out of feedback that colleagues needed help initiating conversations with leaders. Each event enables new hires and early career employees to make connections with leaders they may not otherwise have access to meet.

“I love the energy,” said Matunakova. “When you see all these smiles and happy faces, you think, ‘OK, we made yet another small step toward making this workplace a great place to be’.”

Matunakova has continued to take advantage of mentors throughout her career. While she values building long-term connections, she also believes in being adaptable. “It’s not a lifetime marriage,” she said. “I change my mentors depending on a specific situation or an issue.”

What she values most is the opportunity to get a fresh perspective. “What is so refreshing to me is that when you reach out to your mentor, grab him or her for coffee, and say, ‘Hey, what do you think?’ Then you see a completely different perspective,” she said.

Arthur Ramalho: Finding the Right Career Path

In 2016, Arthur Ramalho, Digital Product Manager, was at a crossroads in his career. New to a complex role at the Louveria manufacturing plant in São Paulo, Brazil, he was struggling to meet the needs of the role. With the help of a mentor, Ramalho discovered his strengths in data, analytics and innovation and found the courage to pivot from a manufacturing role into a technology role.

With the guidance of his mentor and the support of a sponsor who advocated for him, Ramalho transitioned from Product Supply to Global Business Services and eventually to Information Technology, where his skills are a more natural fit. “I see how the Company sees the importance of matching the individual’s needs and preferences with the Company’s needs,” he said. “It’s a win-win situation.”

Now Ramalho is using his 16 years of experience at P&G to help others navigate complexity, find belonging and make informed career decisions. Ramalho currently mentors a college student through the “P&G for You” program, which prepares young students for potential P&G careers by helping them with their English and mentoring them in business skills.

Ramalho appreciates the opportunity mentorship gives him to teach and share his experiences. He finds it not only fulfilling to help others grow, but he is surprised how much mutual learning takes place. “If you leverage the experience of others and other points of view, you can grow faster, and not only faster, but better,” he said.

Ana Delgado: Empowering a Long Career with Confidence

If it weren’t for the support of a mentor, Ana Delgado, Talent Management, may have left P&G 13 years ago. A native of Venezuela, Delgado worked as a technical associate in Product Supply for 24 years in Venezuela and Chile before P&G moved operations to Panama. Not wanting to relocate, Delgado faced the possibility of leaving a Company she is proud to work for. “I love my job, and I stayed here working for this Company because of our principles,” she said.

Thanks to a leader's belief in her, she had the opportunity to start a new chapter in Human Resources and remain at P&G. She was skeptical about the transition to a new area of the Company at first, but her mentor’s support gave her confidence, helping her understand there were a variety of ways she could grow her technical skills within the Company. “When you have this kind of a relationship with a mentor, they empower you. The mentor knows you and your skills. I think a mentor sees in you things that you may not see in yourself,” she said.

Now, having been with the Company for 38 years, Delgado has had the opportunity to mentor new employees across different career tracks at P&G, several who have gone on to leadership roles. This experience has helped her learn to listen actively, be adaptable and value open feedback. "The trust that we have is a basis for constructing this beautiful relationship,” she said. “I am proud that I have worked with these people when they were building their career.”