Meet Anna from Switzerland

Monday, October 25, 2021

I studied Business Management at Corvinus University, in Hungary and started my career in Marketing at Nestle Purina. Over the years, I gained experience in local and international marketing positions, moved countries to expand my horizon.

I loved brand management and insight but wanted to learn more about shoppers, retailers and how we can win in sales. Thanks to my aspiration, I got the opportunity to lead Category Planning & Activation in an international business unit, and together with the team we changed our partnerships, Mondelēz International won supplier of the year award and we delivered great results. After 13 year of extensive market experience, it was time to grow further in regional roles. I joined the European sales team, built our early e-commerce strategy, led pan-European activations. In between maternity leaves I further stretched myself in our regional marketing team and led Digital Transformation.

It was great to be close to strategy, but I wanted to go back in the action, I wanted to be in sales. I love working in Sales because it means working with customers, which leads to mutual growth. When I worked in recent marketing roles, I missed the time with retailers and the adrenaline of Sales. But I was worried that sales career requires ongoing mobility.

As a single mum, I am not able to move out of Switzerland and I wondered how I could continue my career. Despite my limited mobility, I did not give up my career ambition to grow in sales, and I knew I just need to start conversations with the right people, so I reached out Senior Sales leaders for advice.

My solid Marketing and CPA experience was a perfect fit for a role one of these executives was planning in his head. And a few months later, my role was created. Now I work as Associated Director of Insight, Strategy & Activation in the Central International Sales Team in Zurich.

I'm fulfilled and loving every minute of my job, while I also get the flexibility from my leaders and colleagues, so I can raise two charismatic, happy girls, who maybe one day want to work in sales.

I was open about my career aspirations, talked to the relevant people and I continue to shape my role to grow and learn.