ESEG Tech Summit: Thaís Hagge, from Unilever, shows how diversity and networking can transform careers.

Building a career goes far beyond academic training. Networking, knowledge base, constant updating, and the ability to understand different realities can also make a difference throughout one's professional journey. These were some of the topics addressed by Thaís Hagge, a professional with over 20 years of experience at Unilever, during a lecture held on August 12th, as part of the ESEG Tech Summit 2026 program.

Held at the Ana Rosa Campus, the meeting offered students a reflection on career paths, building professional skills, networking, and the challenges of working in an increasingly dynamic and connected market. With a career built at one of the world's largest multinational companies, Thaís shared experiences from her career and showed how academic training, professional connections, and the constant pursuit of knowledge can open different paths throughout one's professional life.

Networking and skills for building a career

During the lecture, Thaís highlighted the importance of academic networking for career building. According to her, it was through the connections established during her studies that some of her first professional opportunities arose.

The speaker also talked about her early experiences and insights in building a professional repertoire, reinforcing the importance of seeking different sources of knowledge and constantly broadening one's perspective on the market.

In discussing her more than two-decade career at Unilever, Thaís presented students with aspects related to business strategy and brand building, including the ability to generate desire at scale, create connections with consumers, and continuously keep up with market transformations.

The need to stay updated was also among the points highlighted during the meeting. For Thaís, "in a scenario of constant change, professionals need to be aware of new possibilities, trends, and behaviors to keep up with the evolution of companies and society.".

Graduation as a space to expand opportunities.

For Guilherme Borges, a Computer Engineering student at ESEG, the lecture provided an important perspective on the possibilities that can arise from university education. "This lecture was very important because hearing an engineer talk about how her degree helped her in other opportunities showed me that I don't need to limit myself to what I learn in the classroom," the student emphasized.

The experience reinforced for the students the importance of using their undergraduate studies as a space to build connections, explore new areas, and develop knowledge that can contribute to different professional possibilities.

Another highlight of the lecture was the discussion about plurality and cultural diversity. When addressing the operations of a global company in the Brazilian market, Thaís emphasized that it is impossible to talk about Brazil without considering the diversity that characterizes the country. "It's no use talking about Brazil without talking about plurality," she stressed.

The speaker explained that this diversity is precisely one of the characteristics that shape how brands operate in the country, requiring a careful understanding of the different Brazilian cultural and social realities.

Diversity, the Brazilian market, and entrepreneurship.

Professor Caio Vioto used the topic to broaden the discussion and relate it to entrepreneurship and the challenges of operating in a country of continental dimensions. He highlighted the unique ability of a multinational like Unilever to simultaneously maintain a global presence while also developing a local understanding of the characteristics of the Brazilian market.

The conversation also touched on the challenges related to logistics in Brazil, considering its vast territory and the different realities found in the various regions of the country. According to the professor, "understanding these particularities is essential both for large companies and for those who wish to undertake and develop businesses in the national market.".

ESEG Tech Summit connects academic training and the market.

Thaís Hagge's lecture was part of the ESEG Tech Summit 2026 program, an initiative that celebrates the 20th anniversary of ESEG College and brings students closer to professionals with different backgrounds and market experiences, promoting discussions about innovation, technology, business, career and the challenges of the professional world.

By connecting real-life career experiences to the content covered in the classroom, the meeting reinforced the importance of expanding knowledge, building relationships, and understanding the different dimensions that influence professional performance in a constantly transforming market.