L’Oréal exec advises Gen Z to be the one who fetches their manager’s coffee—rather than making you seem junior, she says it can help you get noticed

Members of Gen Z might grimace at the thought of fetching their manager’s flat white. And it’s understandable—they’ve entered the workforce in a time when appearances count, and they’re aware that being the one who constantly grabs coffee, takes meeting notes, or arranges lunch (also referred to as “”) can make them seem more junior and hinder long-term career growth.

But Stephanie Kramer, the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) of L’Oréal U.S., argues that these small tasks are often the starting point for opportunities—and they played a surprisingly significant role in her own rise to a top executive position at the world’s largest beauty company.

Quest Fragrances, where she worked closely with perfumers in the early stages of her career 

Before joining the 500 firm, L’Oréal, Kramer’s first post-university job was at Quest Fragrances. It was also the first time the value of a simple coffee run became clear.

“I really wanted to find time to meet this incredibly interesting perfumer,” she remembers, noting that she arrived early to the meeting with the intention of simply supporting her team. Yet she quickly found that “positive outcomes can emerge from these small actions as well.” 

Rather than fixating on being seen as the most junior person in the room, she observed that such tasks grant access.

“If you’re the one capturing action items and next steps from the meeting, and you’re listening and observing, that’s not necessarily a drawback,” Kramer explains. “You’re in the room, absorbing how these points take shape. You’re developing the ability to draw insights.” 

“So when dismissing these smaller tasks, make sure you’re not overlooking the value they bring to your growth. I think about this all the time.” 

Take whatever you can now, be strategic later

Kramer’s professional background includes stints at , Kiehl’s, and L’Oréal’s executive offices—but it’s the middle-school jobs and the odd, early-career tasks that stand out most in her memory.

“Those experiences stay with you,” she says. That first job likely won’t be your dream role; it certainly wasn’t hers. But over time, it will have a cumulative impact on your career.

“I don’t know if those are roles I ever envisioned myself in long-term,” she adds. Yet, she emphasizes, every experience contributes. “It does. It makes a real difference.”

Her message to young workers navigating a tough job market: take the role, take the task, take the coffee run—because its value will only grow over time. 

“You just need to start,” Kramer stresses. “I guarantee that someday, that will be the story you share in an interview.”

 “It might not be the job you want, or one you’re sure you should take. Right now, it could be a paycheck, or a platform to connect with others and discover what you want to pursue.”

“When people ask how I ended up in HR, I trace it back to middle school. In middle school, I was a lifeguard, a Girl Scout, and a cross-country runner—meaning I ran alone through the woods but still contributed to the team’s score…. Those roles shaped what I do today.”

The promotions will come later—but first, focus on 

As the saying goes: Take care of the small things, and the big things will fall into place. The same applies to careers. Kramer isn’t the first executive to advise young workers that excelling at small tasks today paves the way for promotions tomorrow.

Cisco’s U.K. chief spent 25 years advancing at telecommunications giant BT before joining Cisco in 2022 as managing director, then being promoted to lead its U.K. and Ireland operations just two years later. 

She previously told that both Gen Z new hires and millennial middle managers need to in their pursuit of success. Promotions will follow, but ambitious young workers should prioritize skill-building over rushing to secure flashy new titles for their . 

Pret A Manger’s CEO Pano Christou rose from a $3-an-hour McDonald’s job to leading the British sandwich chain, earning millions. He credits his successive promotions to excelling in every role—even junior ones.

“I’ve seen people so focused on the next role that they lose sight of their current job,” Christou . “My philosophy has always been that if you do excellent work, people will take notice.”

Similarly, Shaid Shah, a top executive at Mars—the company behind household brands like Dolmio—says is to stop fixating on promotions or dream titles and embrace the incremental steps that lead to success. 

“It’s about gaining the experiences needed to fulfill your ambitions, to understand what makes you happy, what drives you, what inspires you to get up each day,” Shah explained. “Because career success is about more than just climbing the hierarchy.”