Transforming Tech and Talent, All Through Intention
Julieta Schuster didn’t necessarily plan out her life or know exactly what career she would pursue, but her personality made her a natural leader, driven to see results and create change.
by Elsa Cavazos
JULIETA SCHUSTER- CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER FOR FAMILY CARE AND P&G VENTURES
AFTER 21 YEARS with Procter & Gamble, she continues to grow with intention, both personally and professionally.
Schuster was born in Venezuela during “the precious days of the country,” she proudly describes. Both her parents were immigrants.
“My mom was from Spain and my dad from Argentina. I spent the first 23 years of my life in Venezuela, where I went to school and later joined Procter & Gamble,” she said, reminiscing. At the time, Venezuela had one of the most renowned engineering universities, Universidad Simon Bolivar, where Schuster earned a degree in chemical engineering.
Growing up, Schuster’s father ran an IT Institute. She attended summer school there and learned to code at eight years old.
“EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T STUDY COMPUTER SCIENCE IN COLLEGE, I LIVED AND BREATHED IT FOR A LONG TIME THANKS TO MY FATHER’S BUSINESS,” SHE SAID.
Schuster joined P&G in 2000 while in Venezuela, first working as IT Manager in SAP implementations for the Latin America region. Her role with the company brought her to Canada in November 2003 followed by a move to P&G’s Cincinnati headquarters in 2008 where she’s mostly lived ever since.
Schuster credits her parents for her work ethic and drive. While her father built his IT institute, her mother worked as an executive assistant for a cosmetics distributor, making it natural for Schuster to think of pursuing her own career. “I always knew I would be doing something where I would have a big future, an opportunity to grow, be a leader and be independent,” she said.
Schuster’s father passed away when she was sixteen, so her mother took on the solo responsibility of preparing her and her brother for college. Schuster first thought of pursuing medicine, but her mother helped her think through the pros and cons and get mentors to guide her on the decision. Pursuing a different path in the science field, she shifted her focus to Engineering.
Growth Outside of Venezuela and Beyond
In Schuster’s eyes, Venezuela was in many ways ahead of other countries when it came to empowering women in the workforce. After moving to Canada and later the United States, she gained a new awareness for the challenges women and minorities can face at work. But she credits advocates and sponsors for helping her navigate these challenges along her career journey. Because of this, she has prioritized being a mentor to up-and-coming Latinx women and men, both inside and outside of P&G.
“Mentoring is my way of paying it forward,” she explains. “I humbly believe the recipe for success is getting the right advice and getting perspectives different from your own.”
Schuster leads a diverse team in her role as IT VP and CIO for the Family Care and NBU business units of P&G. She loves that advances in technology have given her team the power to transform the way they work and better serve consumers.
“At P&G, IT was focused solely on making the company work more efficiently. That conversation has changed,” Schuster added. “Now it is about driving value and growth as part of the digital transformation she is leading, with irresistible superior products and brands.”
Schuster is passionate about leading teams, achieving change, and fostering new talent. “For me, the meaning of leadership has evolved, especially considering the events of last year, including the pandemic. As leaders, we need to serve our people and give them the vision while directing them with clear priorities and what matters most.”
Achieving balance in her busy life can be hard. But, at the end of the day, Schuster remains grounded in what is most important for her.
“My family and friends bring me back when I am busy, and my mind is focusing too much on work. I don't make sacrifices when it comes to this matter. I have a support network. I have been very fortunate to have my mom and extended family along my side, including my male family members who take as much responsibility as women around the house,” she said.
When it comes to advice to the Latinas coming after her, her message is this: simply remember to be themselves and enjoy what they do for a living.
“If you’re your authentic self and enjoy what you do, you are going to be successful,” she said. “If a push is needed that is where advisors come in. Help is always available.”