Leadership Lessons from Henri Nestlé




“It is not enough to make the product, you also have to get it known and approved by doctors and the general public. You have to fight ingrained habits and prejudices and that’s no small thing.”- Henri Nestlé
Walking through the offices of Nestle Nigeria and seeing the team efforts of workers, their passion and energetic spirit made us review the life of its founder. What lessons can we emulate from this great Man? A man who founded the world's leading Food, Nutrition, Health and Wellness Company, Nestle Nigeria.
Nestle Nigeria’s history begins back in 1866, when the first European condensed milk factory was opened in Cham, Switzerland, by the Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company.
In 187, the founder Henri Nestlé, a German pharmacist, launched his Farine lactée in Switzerland, a combination of cow’s milk, wheat flour and sugar, saving the life of a neighbour’s child and since then nutrition has been the cornerstone of our company ever since.
“Henri Nestlé, himself an immigrant from Germany, was instrumental in turning his Company towards international expansion from the very start. Henri Nestlé embodied many of the key attitudes and values that form part and parcel of our corporate culture: pragmatism, flexibility, the willingness to learn an open mind and respect for other people and cultures.” Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, Nestlé Chairman
Henri Nestle tried his hand at developing and manufacturing various products including mineral, water, liquer, vinegars, fertilizers, liquefied gas and Portland cement. Not all of his projects were successful but he never gave up. His breakthrough came with his milk food. He recognized a need in society and applied the latest scientific findings to develop. His small business thrived particularly after 1905 when it merged with the Anglo-Swiss condensed milk.
Lessons to learn from  Henri Nestlé: Despite his failures, Nestle never gave up. We can put our abilities to good use and make a difference in the lives of those around us. Whether or not our talents lead us to major success or fame is irrelevant.




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