Having earned families’ trust for over a century, NIVEA is a brand with strong connections to the community and a proud sponsor and supporter of Life Changing Experiences Foundation (LCEF) and their SISTER2sister Mentoring Program. In this instalment of Brand Purpose, meet Julia Braun, Beiersdorf’s General Manager Marketing.
Tell us a bit about yourself – How long have you been with your company and in what roles?
I have been with Beiersdorf for over 27 years and began my career as a Marketing Trainee at Beiersdorf headquarters in Hamburg, Germany. Since then it has been an exciting journey, having been responsible for various global product and category launches. I have also had the opportunity to work in countries like Italy and, for the past 14 years, Australia, where as General Manager Marketing I look after the entire NIVEA portfolio, as well as Elastoplast, Elastoplast Sport and Leuko.
What is your favourite product or brand (from your own portfolio) and why?
I grew up with and love NIVEA. My first memories of NIVEA are with NIVEA Crème, which has always been part of our family as well as NIVEA Sun with its wonderful fragrance connecting me to holiday time in my native Europe. NIVEA is such a positive, authentic and trusted brand. Having launched NIVEA Deodorant in 1990 globally it will always have a special place in my heart. But so does our latest new NIVEA Cellular Anti Age range and NIVEA Anti-Wrinkle Q10 Pearls innovation, which I use every day. Being an active, outdoor person, Elastoplast Heavy Duty fabric strips is one of those products I cannot do without – I always carry some in my bag.
Tell us about the brand’s latest initiatives in the CSR, community or environmental engagement space?
For more than 100 years, families have trusted our products to take the best care of their skin. Over this time, NIVEA has become a true family member in homes around the world. For this reason, caring for families beyond their skin comes naturally to us.
NIVEA aims to support families and thereby strengthen the environment where you develop responsibility and a sense of belonging. As families are a reflection of society, promoting these values will strengthen individuals, local communities and societies at large.
NIVEA supports sustainable family projects in specific fields, which reflect socially-relevant issues all around the world. This support is delivered in cooperation with local partners and through the active personal commitment of our employees.
In Australia, NIVEA has been the proud sponsor and supporter of Life Changing Experiences Foundation (LCEF) and their SISTER2sister Mentoring Program since 2009. The program is aimed at helping and empowering teenage girls who have gone through traumatic experiences like violence, abuse, broken families and bullying, to turn their troubled lives around. Each of the teenage girls / “Little Sisters” is matched to a stable role model “Big Sister”. The 12 month program equips the girls with tools to overcome their obstacles and focus on a bright future.
Our Managing Director, Clynton Bartholomeusz, is on the Board of SISTER2sister counselling and helping to further develop the program.
With specific NIVEA brand campaigns we aim to generate public awareness. Our staff get highly involved and engaged by volunteering to organise fundraiser events, Christmas gifts for Little Sisters or even becoming a Big Sister to mentor a Little Sister. It is all about having and taking the opportunity to make a difference and actively contribute to help disadvantaged young girls overcome past traumas and get a chance to lead a better life again.