Friday, July 15, 2022

Being brought up and raised in a family where global cuisine and food was so present and core to my culture, I knew that I wanted to work for a food company from a young age. I distinctly remember family vacations in Sweden where I wandered off to the snack and candy aisle, and admired the wide variety of Scandinavian snacks, including one of my Mondelēz favorites, Marabou chocolate. Over the years, as I began to uncover more of my culture, and discover new sweets and snacks, seeing Mondelēz brands gave me a sense of familiarity, nostalgia, and comfort.

Fast forward to college, I took my passion for food to the next level and received a specialized degree in Food Marketing and Business Administration at Saint Joseph’s University. While I approached my senior year of college, overwhelmed with career opportunities, I knew I wanted to work for a global company within the food industry. As I began my search, I remember one distinct opportunity popping up at the very top of my list, Mondelēz International’s Leadership Development Program. This program would be a great chance to tap into my strengths and explore my potential for growth in the food industry. Being given the ability to explore both the sales and marketing functions made the decision easy for me to accept when offered the position.

From day 1 of the program, I was provided with a support system, which included managers, mentors, and buddies who were experts in the field. Most importantly, I formed invaluable friendships with the other leadership development associates, where I was able to gather and share knowledge from the challenging yet rewarding rotations. Throughout my time in the program, I was given various exposure opportunities, where I was able to engage with Senior Leadership, while learning about the different functions and layers of the organizations. Being in the program, I was learning something new every day, and challenging myself through on the job learning experiences.

Looking back at my experience in the leadership development program, I’m proud to say I was given the autonomy to take ownership of my career and unleash my true potential while working for brands consumers know and love. It’s truly rewarding to know that I’ve added value to the organization through meaningful projects, while building a support network throughout the years. Being where I am now, and speaking with college students daily, I encourage students to take ownership of their careers, and look for rotational programs to get the experiences need to be the next leaders within the organization.