Taco Bell International is home to over 1,100 restaurants in 31countries outside the U.S. From building the brand in new markets, to disrupting the food industry with culturally relevant innovations, the international teams embody the Restless Creativity spirit in their efforts of taking the Taco Bell magic worldwide. As we head into what we’re calling “The Summer of International”, we’ll be sharing their personal journeys, exciting adventures overseas, and career growth stories that have quite literally taken them across the globe.
Claudia L. works out of our Woking Restaurant Support Center in London managing HR for Taco Bell ONEUROPE.
She actually got her start with Yum! Brands 14 years ago when she moved to France...
“I moved from Venezuela to France 15 years ago after falling in love with Paris. When I arrived, I didn’t speak much French or English—pretty much just “Bonjour” and “Croissant”! But I quickly realized how important it was to learn both languages, especially for my career, so I dove in and started learning French and English simultaneously.
After finishing my studies, I came across a job posting at KFC France. They were looking for someone who spoke English, French, and Spanish, and had experience with implementing training platforms. It felt like the perfect fit, and after three amazing years with KFC France and Iberia, I moved on to Pizza Hut Europe. There, I spent another three years working with European franchises to roll out HR and Training solutions. That journey took me to London, and five years ago, I joined Taco Bell UK & Europe, which we refer to as ONEUROPE. I’ve been having the time of my life ever since!”
Since joining, Claudia’s love for growing people has deepened even more!
“I’m a people person and one of the things I love most about my job is to be able to witness our team grow and support their development with us. It’s been so rewarding to see the European team go from 7 employees thriving and surviving to almost 40 passionate and committed professionals working hard to make the ONEUROPE dream come true.”
Now, she gets to be part of a stellar team continuing to build ONEUROPE from scratch.
“One thing I really love about this job is the need to create and innovate the brand across the continent. We’re building from the ground up, just like Glenn Bell did in California all these years ago, and it’s exciting to bring the vision to life for Taco Bell ONEUROPE. I also enjoy the operational side of things, where we’re always thinking about how to better support our restaurants and Team Members. After all, we have jobs at corporate because of our Team Members—it’s our duty to serve them, as they’re the face of the brand to our customers. I’m passionate about making sure our Team Members have the best experience so they can pass that on to our customers.”
Although it might be daunting to leave your comfort zone, Claudia believes it’s the best way to grow your personal and professional self at the same time!
“It's not an easy thing to do, especially if you are leaving family and friends behind, but spending time in other countries brings so much color to your life. It's given me perspective. There are not problems, always solutions. You can accomplish anything if you set your mind to it and surround yourself with people who will support and encourage you. Friends become family, co-workers become friends and life puts you in situations you never dreamed of when you were a kid. Life becomes an adventure.”
Even though ONEUROPE is full of exciting and unique menu items, Claudia always finds herself ordering...
“The Naked Chicken Taco with Lava Sauce in the U.K. is my absolute favorite!”
So, for those looking to grow their careers internationally (inside and/or outside of Taco Bell), Claudia advises the following:
“Own your development. Decide what you want to learn next and take advantage of the power of Yum! Brands as a global company to make it happen. Don’t be afraid of connecting with other brands, business units and functions. Be proactive and be curious. If you do these things, you can really grow your career. I came from Venezuela with a passion for traveling and learning languages. I was vocal about my intentions and what I would love to do, I was also lucky to have great coaches that encouraged me to take risks and try new things. If an international career is something you would love to explore, come join us at ONEUROPE, we need all the expertise and passion we can get. Take risks with the peace of mind of knowing a global and growing company will have your back because at Taco Bell, we’ll help you feel supported.”