036: The Art of the Turnaround: How Jan Zijderveld Transformed Unilever Europe and Saved Avon Products - Part 1

In part one of this two-part episode of Sandy on Talent, Sandy sits down with Jan Zijderveld, a rare breed of truly global executive who built an extraordinary career spanning eight countries across three continents. From brand manager in New Zealand to President of Unilever Europe — a $14 billion business across 34 countries — Jan shares the leadership lessons, hard-won instincts, and pattern recognition that only come from decades of doing difficult things in unfamiliar places. Jan opens up about his high-stakes turnaround of Avon Products, why the CEO success rate hovers around 27%, and how the right "click" between talent, work, and role is the real driver of extraordinary outcomes. His advice is simple but profound: start with the end in mind, take risks, get your flying hours, and surround yourself with people who inspire you. In this episode, you will hear: How Jan Zijderveld built a truly global career across eight countries and three continents The nearly 30-year Unilever journey that took him from brand manager to President of Europe Leading a high-stakes turnaround at Avon Products and navigating its acquisition by Natura Why only 27% of top-tier CEO talent actually succeeds — and what's really behind the gap Sandy's "click" framework and how it connects talent, work, and role as the real driver of success The case for pattern recognition and flying hours over raw talent alone Why starting with the end in mind — and surrounding yourself with inspiring people — is Jan's blueprint for a life well lived Connect with Sandy Ogg: Website: https://www.sandyontalent.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandyogg/  X: https://twitter.com/SandyOnTalent  Instagram: @SandyOnTalent Follow and Review: We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.