Building A Rewarding Career, Anna’s Growth at MDLZ

Friday, November 22, 2024

When did you join Mondelēz International, and what position were you responsible for?

I joined Mondelez in 2017 as a Research and Development Department Scientist. It was truly a dream position for me- exactly like I imagined it during my studies: traveling to different plants and countries and designing and validating new lines and product recipes. That was the perfect combination of scientific and practical worlds but also exposure to new people, cultures, and departments.

What was your career look like?

My career development since then has been quite dynamic and not always straightforward. After a promising tenure in the Research and Development Department in Wroclaw, I needed to relocate to Warsaw. I wanted to continue working at MDLZ due to the company's culture and values. I was offered a position in the Materials Planning Team, which is part of the Supply Chain function. This role allowed me to gain insights into the business environment from a new perspective.

I recognized that my ability to learn quickly, along with my 'can-do' attitude and a results-oriented mindset, was more valuable than my supply chain knowledge or experience, which was limited at that time. Subsequently, I took on the responsibility for Central Demand Analysis and Reporting, which helped me understand the overall business landscape and how critical decisions are made.

Thanks to my manager's support, I was able to outline my future career goals related to people management and prepared myself accordingly as part of my personal development plan. Soon after that, due to a company reorganization, I was given the opportunity to manage a wonderful team of two people. I am continuously faced with new challenges that foster my development and, I believe, contribute to Mondelez's growth as well.

What is unique about Mondelēz International with regards to career path?

I think we do not have any limitations to develop our career in line with our individual path. I have heard about multiple examples of colleagues who were originally starting their journey in different fields than they are now and enjoying the learnings across the different departments. Well, I am also an example of that! Moreover, there is always a good moment to decide if we would like to grow further as people managers or individual contributors. On top of that, I believe that our company’s superpower is agile people with practical approaches with a lower focus on theoretical and ideally designed processes.

What are you most proud of in your career so far?

I am grateful for the continuous trust and growing opportunities I have experienced throughout my career journey, which has evolved from a technical specialist to my current role as a people manager. I take pride in the extensive network of people I’ve built, despite working in different departments and occasionally having differing viewpoints. Furthermore, I am inspired by the leaders at MDLZ, and I feel fortunate to be part of this team.

Reflecting on my proudest moment, it would undoubtedly be my work on the patent application for one of our technologies and product recipes.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to start their career at Mondelēz International?

If you enjoy continuous learning and personal development and have the courage to express yourself, MDLZ is definitely the place for you! Your journey here will be exciting and filled with challenges. I encourage you to view these challenges as opportunities and to contribute to making Mondelez a great workplace. Additionally, always remember that our attitude and self-awareness are just as important, if not more so, than technical skills, which are mostly acquired over time.