Meet Maidah Zaheer, Territory Sales Manager

Thursday, October 24, 2024

Can you share about your career journey at Mondelēz and what aspects of it have been particularly exciting for you?

My career journey at Mondelēz International has been an exciting and rewarding one. I was honored to join the company in 2021 as a part of the groundbreaking ‘Likho Apni Khani’ program, which paved the way for me to become the first female Sales Trainee in my region. I’ve been thoroughly impressed with the program’s comprehensive structure, which equipped me with necessary training and support to make an immediate impact. I’ve had the privilege of receiving two promotions within my first two years, a testament to the company’s commitment to its core value of ‘Growing People’ and to recognize and reward talents.

What advice would you give to someone looking to join the Sales department at Mondelēz?

I would advise to bring a genuine passion for the industry and a commitment to ongoing learning. Sales at Mondelēz is fast-paced and requires adaptability, creativity, and result driven mindset. Additionally, developing strong communication and relationship building skills are also vital, as you’ll work closely with several stakeholders. Mondelēz encourages bold thinking and values employee contributions – so speak up and share your insights!

Could you provide an example of a challenging situation in your role and how you addressed it?

Due to current geopolitical tensions, and economic downturns, Sales can sometimes become very challenging. As a sales professional, I need to be agile and responsive to changing market conditions. To stay ahead of the curve, I adopted a customer centric approach, engaged with retail customers to understand their pain points, and gather insights on ground. By doing so, I identified opportunities to pivot our sales approach, leveraging data-driven insights to form strategies and ensure business continuity in the face of economic adversity.

What key factors have contributed to your professional growth at Mondelēz?

First and foremost, I’ve been fortunate to experience a company culture that truly embodies support and empowerment, particularly for women in sales. I've never felt marginalized or at a disadvantage due to being the only female in Sales in my region. On the contrary, I’ve been actively encouraged to bring my unique voice and perspective to the table, and to innovate and drive change. Mondelēz helps me build the skills and resilience to take on bigger challenges and achieve my goals. I'm grateful to work for a company that values employee growth and progression so highly.