How a Tourism Graduate Became a Senior Manager at One of the World's Largest Snacking Companies

Thursday, May 28, 2026

Tell us about yourself and your role at Mondelēz International.

Hi, my name is Krisztina Nagyidai. I am a passionate marketeer working as a Senior Brand Manager of the Biscuit & Baked Snacks category at Mondelēz International in Hungary. In this role, I am responsible for the category’s performance by building great brands and leading an even better team of five talented Brand Managers.

How would you describe your career path?

With a first degree in tourism and hospitality, I would describe my career path as a degustation menu - a journey of selected, enriching experiences, each adding new flavors to my skill set.

As a student, I planned a career in international business that would be truly enjoyable in the long run, connected to my passion for food and beverages, while being excited enough to fuel my curiosity. After exploring different roles and industries early on, I realized I thrive where business meets creativity. Thanks to supportive manager feedback at the right moment, I decided to pursue a second degree in marketing. Winning the Young Cannes Lions Young Marketeers competition in Hungary in 2017 confirmed both my talent and my decision to build a career in marketing.

Over the past decade, I have gained experience in diverse marketing functions, from startups to multinational corporations, leading me to my current role at Mondelēz International, where I shape the future of snacking and bring joyful moments to consumers’ lives every day.

How did your career at Mondelēz International commence, and what initially attracted you to the company?

I joined Mondelēz International in 2021 during the COVID period, applying for an International Brand Manager position in the CZ/SK/HU region. At that time, I was looking for new perspectives, brand-building opportunities, and a more flexible & welcoming international environment, and Mondelēz felt like the perfect fit.

Mondelēz already had a strong portfolio of iconic brands and reputation for marketing excellence, is what I was thriving for. I was thrilled to take on the Brand Manager role for the Bars and Spreads segments, which included a mix of inspiring local and global brands. For instance, how to make a 70-year-old market leader local heritage brand more appealing for younger target audience without alienating core consumers? Find synergies of 3 different countries’ countline portfolio despite being treated under different categories in the stores. Figure out the best go market strategy of a completely new category under Milka, ... and many more.

The variety of roles and the multicultural environment were truly exciting. Despite the lockdown, the hiring process left a lasting positive impression on me- professional, engaging, and welcoming. I could not wait to start, and I am proud to say that several colleagues I met on my first day are still here at Mondelēz today.

May you give us a closer look at the Marketing team in Hungary?

We are the people behind beloved Mondelēz brands like 7days, Oreo, Milka, Győri Édes, Pilóta, and Sport, but ultimately, a team of commercially minded, consumer-driven professionals driving brand growth via various marketing acts.

We operate in a HUB structure together with the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary, led by the Marketing Director. The local marketing team consists of 11 marketeers, including the Country Marketing Lead, two Senior Brand Managers with category responsibility, and a community of Brand Managers and Junior Brand Managers with individual brand ownership. Despite the market’s smaller size, we rank among the top countries in market share for many of our brands.

We work closely with international peers, brand equity teams, and cross-functional partners such as CP&A, Demand Planning, Finance, Insights, Project Management, Production, Regulatory, Sales, Supply Chain, and our agency collaborators.

What's the most exciting or rewarding project you've worked on since joining the Marketing team?

I am always excited by the small wins, like seeing a single shopper switching for our product in front of the snack shelf or reading positive feedback from happy customers online.

So far, the most rewarding project for me has been the launch of the new Milka Choco Croissant in 2025, which exceeded all our expectations. It was an exciting product innovation led by the central team, but the route to market in Hungary was particularly challenging. Our local approach was to proactively build on consumer and retailer’s needs, creating hype with a bold hook idea to shake up the category. Without strong cross-functional collaboration and proactive colleagues, the outcome would have been very different.

In the end, it became the third best-selling SKU after the first three months, quadrupled the planned sales, achieved the highest repeat rate in the region, was recognized as an Effie finalist, and contributed significantly to both market share and category growth.

Another memorable project was celebrating the 70th anniversary of the market-leading heritage brand Sport countline during the World Athletics Championships in Budapest in 2023. We built the “newstalgy” campaign around the brand’s athletic roots, especially its real discus thrower hero featured on the original packaging. Bringing back this figure for the event delighted both consumers and the sportsman’s family.

What makes the marketing culture at Mondelēz unique and a great place to work?

Our marketing culture reflects how the company views the function’s role, how much access we have to insights, how consumer-centric our decisions are, and how we balance short-term results with long-term goals. Unlike many others, we continue to see marketing as a strong investment that adds real value to the company.

When it comes to people, we all play a part in shaping this culture. Marketing is inherently a diverse talent community, and that’s what makes us powerful and unique. Our team brings together people from different generations and backgrounds, united by a shared passion for building great brands and supporting one another. Whether it’s a quick lunch chat or a shared snacking moment, there’s a genuine sense of connection that makes this a great place to work.

How would you describe Mondelēz’s culture?

Mondelēz is an international company that welcomes talents from all over the world. We are passionate about our brands and work collaboratively to deliver the best snacking moments for consumers.

We value integrity, open discussion, and feedback that lead to better results and stronger connections across teams. Although the organization is complex and structured, an entrepreneurial mindset is always encouraged.

Among the many exciting development and engagement initiatives, two stand out to me. The local Training Tree program, where colleagues deliver business training to support each other’s growth, and the Mentorship program, where managers guide and inspire career development through personalized coaching.

What is your advice for new hires at Mondelēz International?

My advice is to give yourself about three months to get familiar with the business environment, meet new colleagues, understand the workflow, and learn the abbreviations.

Apply for a buddy to help you settle in, and don’t hesitate to ask others for help when you need it. Remember, you bring unique value to the company, so let your talent shine.

And be prepared to gain a few extra kilos, because Mondelēz products are simply too good to resist!

What advice would you give to someone who is interested in pursuing a career in Brand Management at Mondelēz? What advice do you have for someone considering an opportunity with Mondelēz?

I would advise focusing not only on marketing execution but also on building and managing brands holistically. A genuine interest in consumer insights and data analysis is essential, as it is being proactive and comfortable collaborating with multiple stakeholders in a fast-paced environment.