Enhance your teams' performance, foster a sense of inclusion.

Kari Serruys
Senior Manager Regulatory & Scientific Affairs, Arbonne, États-Unis

Can you tell us about what you do at Groupe Rocher and your background, along with the qualities and skills you need to do your job? 

I oversee compliance for Arbonne’s personal care products here in the U.S., focusing on labeling, ingredients, registration, and safety, all within the legal department. My job demands a high level of ethics and accountability since regulations can often be complex and nuanced. 

I’ve been with Arbonne for 38 years! I started in 1986 at our manufacturing plant as a laboratory technician. After nearly a decade in product development as a chemist, I transitioned to our regulatory function at the plant, where I spent 12 years and eventually became a Senior Manager. In 2018, I moved to Arbonne HQ as the Senior Manager for Regulatory & Scientific Affairs.

 

How has the group supported you in your learning and what concrete actions have been most useful to you?

At Arbonne, I’ve had countless opportunities for growth and continuous learning. Back in the 1980s, when I first became interested in regulations—an emerging field at that time—the company provided tremendous support for my on-the-job learning. Each major project I led helped me gain new knowledge. For instance, in 2017, I had the chance to lead the implementation of a compliance software tool, which was a fantastic learning experience in cross-functional collaboration and project management. 

When the U.S. government enacted the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA) in 2022, I faced the challenge of ensuring our cross-functional teams complied with the new regulations. This experience taught me a lot about internal communication, collaboration, and technical writing.

As a team manager, I also learn with the help of our HR teams how to use various HR development tools, like the DISC test and Predictive Index, to enhance team performance and foster a sense of inclusion.

 

What advice would you give to anyone who wants to go further with their learning? 

Be curious! Don’t hesitate to reach out to others in your field—be bold! Ask questions and be proactive. There’s a wealth of information out there, and learning to collaborate is essential; otherwise, you might find yourself doing it alone.