Get to Know Eric Lindskog

With 24 years at General Mills, Eric Lindskog is a key player in Baking Research & Development, focusing on improving the efficiency, capacity, and quality of how we manufacture our dough products. His work is driven by a passion for innovation, collaboration, and turning challenges into opportunities that make a lasting impact on the business.

We recently caught up with Eric to learn more about his journey at General Mills, the passion behind his work, and what keeps him inspired outside of work.

What energizes you most about your Baking R&D role?

The challenge of taking something that’s already good and making it great. I love building strategies and watching them come to life with each project. I get to collaborate with an incredibly smart team who bring fresh, innovative ideas from concept to reality using cutting-edge technologies.

What's one professional accomplishment you’re particularly proud of?

One project that stands out is my role as a Vertical Start-Up (VSU) coach for an upgrade of our Shapes Cookie production system. This was a new process to GMI at the time, aimed at ensuring our systems meet and sustain their production and quality targets. This project was the first to meet the VSU criteria within the specified timeframe, and?the system has continued to sustain high performance and quality for many years after the startup. It’s a great example of how teamwork, risk management, and collaboration can lead to long-term success.?

What advice would you give to someone looking to start a career in the CPG industry?

Explore different roles within the industry. General Mills is a large company with so many opportunities, you never know what may spark your interest. I've had the chance to work in long-term research, Supply Chain, and Technology Development, and have seen many people who have moved across different roles and have found new, unexpected career paths. Having cross-functional experiences can be challenging, rewarding, and open up new possibilities you didn’t even realize you wanted to explore.

Outside of work, what are some of your passions that drive you?

I love spending time outdoors, especially with my family. I’m a big fan of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA) and Superior Hiking Trail in northern Minnesota and take my kids canoeing and hiking as often as possible.

What is your favorite General Mills product?

Nothing beats Pillsbury Grands! Cinnamon Rolls. They always hit the spot!

What’s a fun or surprising fact about you that your colleagues might not know?

In between my time working at Pillsbury and General Mills, I spent a winter in Colorado living the “ski bum” life. It was a fun way to fulfill a childhood dream of working at Breckenridge Ski Resort, but I really missed the technical challenges of my engineering job at Pillsbury, so I was excited to get back to work solving problems. These days, I still make time to ski on weekends in Minnesota and head to the mountains for a ski trip each winter.