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Jack Colliver
Msc in Mechanical Engineering
Jack Colliver, from the UK
First rotation: OPTIMA team within Supply Chain

Why did you apply for the Danish Crown Graduate Programme?

I applied to the Danish Crown Graduate Programme as I have a passion for working with food, and I have always wanted to try living and working in a different country than the UK, specifically Denmark as I am half Danish, despite not speaking the language. The Graduate Programme also allows for rotations throughout the entire business, which is super exciting to be able to experience and learn all about the full value chain of Danish Crown’s business.

Your background:

I have just graduated from Loughborough University in the UK with a Masters in Mechanical Engineering. I have also had experience working within foods and consumer goods organisations in the past, working for Unilever and Mondelez International during my university summers and placement year. Outside from work I love playing and watching sport – even if this is confusing my fellow Danish graduates watching rugby together!

What does a typical workday look like for you?

Within OPTIMA there is no such thing as a typical day! But usually, my day will start with catching up with some emails and messages, before I head into the factory with the team to discuss the previous days production. Often in the afternoon we will run some workshops with the production leaders to implement some new initiatives to improve the efficiency or production manning, for example. In the evening we will have dinner as a team as we are based on site away from home in the week, before heading back to a hotel for some well-deserved rest!

What is the best project or task you have worked with so far?

I think the best project I have worked on is the rollout and training within the new bacon site in Rochdale in the UK. It has been great to be able to train the new leaders within the factory in the OPTIMA ways of working and get to know how the new site will run. As a part of this I was given the responsibility to lead an introduction workshop for one of the tools, which was super exciting to do given I am still new to the team.

What skills make a good Danish Crown graduate?

I think that a good enthusiasm to get stuck in and learn is the key to being a good graduate. You are often faced with situations that you have not been in before, often in an area that you have not had experience from university, so being excited to learn and get up to speed quickly is a key skill. Other than that, I think being able to stand up and ask questions and for help when needed is also super important, as it is not expected that you know everything straight away.

What was it like being a new employee at Danish Crown?

It’s a great company to work in, and the welcome to the company has been really good. The introduction week with the fellow graduates is a great way to meet each other and learn lots about the whole organisation that we will be working in. As I am not a native Danish speaker, it was reassuring to meet my team, and know quickly that speaking and working in English was not a problem, and they were super keen to help me get settled in and up to speed quickly.

How do you experience the community among you fellow graduates?

The graduate community here is one of the best things about being a Graduate here at Danish Crown. Not only have we been able to get to know each other within our batch, we also got to know the older graduates to share experiences together. This has been great to hear about the graduate experience from further on within the programme, how they managed the challenges of the programme and also let off some steam together.

What is the best thing about working/being a graduate at Danish Crown?

I think the best thing about being a graduate here is the ability to work in three completely different departments throughout the two-year programme. Despite only being on my first rotation, I have already learned so much about the business and how it works, not only from my own rotation, but from discussing our rotations together with my fellow graduates in my batch. This is something that I am excited to keep continuing to do as we go through the programme together.

Tell us something that others might not know about you?

I have been rowing for 10 years, and it has been the only sport I can say I have been somewhat successful at as my hand-eye coordination growing up was very bad! As part of this, I have spent many long winters with my team-mates looking to make a boat go faster for the summer racing season, teaching me resilience and the joy of chasing the ‘perfect’ stroke. I have also competed and won medals at national regattas within the UK and been on trials for the junior national team. Despite this being a minority sport, it is one that I would highly recommend anyone try.

I think being able to stand up and ask questions and for help when needed is also super important, as it is not expected that you know everything straight away.
Giulia Pelagalli
MSocSc in Organizational Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Giulia Pelagalli, from Italy
First rotation: Global Categories

Why did you apply for the Danish Crown Graduate Programme?

My work and educational background are very interdisciplinary, so when it came to finding a full time position I was unsure on what to look for. I knew that with Graduate Programme I could try multiple jobs and meet people who could help me learn more about my future possibilities. I chose the program at Danish Crown because from the first interview I got the feeling that they were really interested in getting to know me.

Your background:

I have a BA in Global Governance, attained in Rome, and I recently graduated in the MSocSc in Organisational Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Copenhagen Business School. I have some previous job experiences as an intern and student worker in many fields, HR, Marketing, Documentation and even ice skating.

What does a typical workday look like for you?

Everyday is pretty different from the one before. I work with two teams so I get the chance to help many people in diverse projects: sometimes I get to do some creative brainstorming for field marketing ideas, some days I look into label changes or possible innovation concepts and some other times I am busy working on bigger projects, like marketing strategy or product scaling.

What is the best project or task you have worked with so far?

The best project I was assigned so far is the Markets’ quarterly follow ups. It’s at times very administrative but I truly enjoy it as it allows me to meet and get a dialogue in with the categories’ representatives from other markets, like Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and more. In September we all met in person in Germany to talk about the great projects that the countries have ran in the past year and to share insights and solutions.

What skills make a good Danish Crown graduate?

Flexibility and being a good team player. As a graduate, you almost never know what project/task will be assigned to you next. Sometimes it’s something you are used to, sometimes it’s something completely out of your comfort zone. In both cases, you have to be confident in rolling up your sleeves and giving the task a go. Your team is always ready to help you, and where you are the expert, they are happy to ask you for advice.

What was it like being a new employee at Danish Crown?

Everybody in the company has been very welcoming. From Jais (CEO) to my team members, they all took the time out to sit down and get to know me. Having started with the other graduates made it also much easier, as we could support each other in times of need.

How do you experience the community among you fellow graduates?

From day one I had a group of friends who acted as a support system. Most graduates in our batch are international which allowed us to bond even more in a country that was foreign to us. We have regular Graduates’ lunches and catch ups, but we also see each other a lot in our free time. In those catch ups we share some tips and tricks we learnt from our current rotation, as well as speaking of our struggles and successes.

What is the best thing about working/being a graduate at Danish Crown?

The best thing about being a Graduate at Danish Crown is that you get to exposed to many different work experiences, with the additional support and advice from your fellow graduates, mentors and managers. People here listen to your ideas and welcome your curiosity and willingness to make a change.

Tell us something that others might not know about you?

I was a professional Ice Skater for more than a decade. I have learnt many things from this sport, especially on how to deal with life challenges. For example, the only way to get better at ice skating is to fall, so my life motto has ever since been “No matter how many times you fall, you will always stand up one more time”.

Everybody in the company has been very welcoming. From Jais (CEO) to my team members, they all took the time out to sit down and get to know me.
Sofie Horsager
MSc in Economics and Business Administration
Sofie Horsager, from Denmark
First rotation: Nordic Retail Sales

Why did you apply for the Danish Crown Graduate Programme?

Firstly, I believe that the Danish Crown Graduate Programme is very beneficial if you are not 100% certain about what area within a business you want to work with, as you have the opportunity to experience multiple sides through the three different rotations. It is also an opportunity to learn valuable skills and competencies that can contribute to your personal and professional growth due to the exposure to different business areas and people with the rotations. Secondly, I greatly admire the company’s dedication to feeding the future in a more sustainable way through its many sustainability initiatives. Furthermore, I find Danish Crown particularly interesting because of the tangibility of FMCG and the fact that the products and brands of Danish Crown are some that we see and consume almost every day.

Your background

I have a BSc in Economics and Business Administration and an MSc in Economics and Business Administration (Cand.Merc) with a specialization in International Business, both from Aalborg University Business School.

What does a typical workday look like for you?

Since I am in the Nordic Retail Sales department, I have had the opportunity to work on different projects that involve many of the different grocery stores we have in Denmark. Mostly, my day consists of having meetings to align what the different tasks and projects are about, spending time working with the data either alone or with other members of my team, and help prepare presentations.

What is the best project or task you have worked with so far?

I really enjoy learning more about all the processes that needs to take place before a product is put on the shelf. Since the beginning of my rotation, I have been a part of a tender process involving private label contracts which has taught me a lot about how many people and steps are involved before a consumer can buy a product at the store. This has really opened my eyes to how complex a company Danish Crown is and how complicated a task it can be to create a sustainable future for food.

What skills make a good Danish Crown graduate?

Since the rotations are eight months each, it is essential to be open-minded, a team player, and possess a willingness to learn to make the most out of the rotations. You will most likely be given tasks where you feel outside your comfort zone and that is okay, because it gives you more room to learn. Being able to adapt to change is also a great skill to have both for the different rotations but also within Danish Crown in general.

What was it like being a new employee at Danish Crown?

It has been an exciting experience to start as a new employee at Danish Crown, but it can also be overwhelming at times because of all the impressions you receive and people you meet. I started out with an introduction week with my fellow new graduates, where we had the chance to get to know each other but also a lot more about the company, all the way from farm to fork. In my department, the onboarding process helped me feel very welcome and I had the chance to learn a lot about my colleagues and their areas of expertise.

How do you experience the community among you fellow graduates?

The community is excellent both among the current graduates and the previous graduates. We prioritize regularly catching up with each other and we also have many social activities. It is very valuable to have someone who is in the same boat as you, that you can reach out to both for advice or just to talk about a topic that you would like to know more about.

What is the best thing about working/being a graduate at Danish Crown?

You have the opportunity to learn so much about a rather complex company, and the different rotations will help you gain insightful knowledge and different perspectives that will aid in your overall understanding of the company and its goals. You may sometimes feel like you are far out of your comfort zone, however the support system is really great so there will be someone you can reach out to such as your buddy, your mentor, your manager, or the other graduates. 

Tell us something that others might not know about you?

I was an au pair in the US for almost two years where I was fortunate enough to travel and explore different parts of the country, resulting in me having visited 34 U.S. states.

I greatly admire the company’s dedication to feeding the future in a more sustainable way through its many sustainability initiatives.
Justin Luijendijk
BA in Human Resource Management
Justin Luijendijk, from The Netherlands
First rotation: Danish Crown BU - End-to-End Planning and Logistics

Why did you apply for the Danish Crown Graduate Programme?

After 4 years of studying, I was unsure what career direction I wanted to pursue. However, I did know that I wanted to work for a large international company. I wanted to build further on the field that I had been studying and broaden my horizon into new business areas.

The graduate programme is the perfect opportunity to do that. Two years of learning opportunities, split up in three eight-month rotations (including an abroad rotation) allows for a huge learning potential. Developing my business acumen, network and necessary skills & competencies required across the whole value chain to become a future leader within Danish Crown. Hence the reason I applied for a spectacular programme of this kind.

Your background

I am 22 years old and born in The Netherlands. I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree (BA) in Human Resource Management from the Rotterdam Business School. I have lived for a year in Denmark during my childhood and visited multiple times per year.

 

What does a typical workday look like for you?

I am having my first rotation in the End-to-End Planning & Logistics department under the Danish Crown Business Unit. One of our main projects is the S&OP Process. In this process the improved planning of Sales and Operations is the broader goal.

My daily tasks consist out of: analyzing data, creating dashboards, meeting stakeholders, and preparing presentations and material. To support a data-driven agenda within the Business Unit is something that truly motivates me.

What is the best project or task you have worked with so far?

I am currently working on an automated dashboard in SAP that shall support all our processing sites navigate on their short-term planning. It is exciting to present to different stakeholders on different levels and to find suitable and concrete solutions for the business needs.

What skills make a good Danish Crown graduate?

In order to thrive in the graduate programme, I believe it’s crucial to take a proactive stance, show enthusiasm for learning from those around you and embrace a hands-on approach. The coming two years offer opportunities for growth and education, with limitless possibilities. Yet, it ultimately falls on you to determine how you utilise this time in the program.

What was it like being a new employee at Danish Crown?

I got to meet a lot of wonderful colleagues and confirming my gut feeling that Danish Crown is a great place to work. Everyone has a good and positive attitude towards their colleagues.

The onboarding week has been great with my fellow graduates.

Starting in my department has been very informative and interesting from the start.

How do you experience the community among your fellow graduates?

It is fantastic. The graduate community is not something you come across every day. Having a group of close colleagues who are going through the similar experiences as you can be a huge support throughout the programme. We all come from different backgrounds, and it is a very international and diverse group. Helping each other with our challenges and showing different perspectives on our operation is something helpful for me. In addition, we organise frequent lunches, catch-up sessions and spend our free time together. I have not only found a place to work, but also found a great circle of friends here in Denmark.

What is the best thing about working/being a graduate at Danish Crown?

I think… the support that the system provides. Every graduate is exposed to 3 different business areas. However, you have the fellow graduates, your mentor, your graduate buddy, the graduate programme manager and the department manager backing you up along your learning journey. Giving you the necessary tools that are designed for you to succeed.

In addition, I would say that the learning possibilities are infinite. Something you should really leverage as a graduate.

Tell us something that others might not know about you?

I hear often that I possess a flawless memory. Rather than it being helpful, it feels more like having a mental scrapbook that occasionally unveils charming yet awkward snapshots from the past, such as my incident on the first day at the office.

I believe it’s crucial to take a proactive stance, show enthusiasm for learning from those around you and embrace a hands-on approach.
Tove McArthur
MLitt in Media and Communications
Tove McArthur, from Scotland
First rotation: Group Procurement.

Why did you apply for the Danish Crown Graduate Programme?

Having already worked for 2 years since graduating University, I found myself feeling uninspired and slightly lost in which career direction to take that was different from the marketing, comms industry where I had found myself. The Danish Crown graduate programme offered a fresh and enticing opportunity to shake things up. A chance to really explore a diverse range of job roles, some of which I would previously never have had the opportunity to try, all within a supporting environment. Additionally, the opportunities for personal growth and development and to be part of a team of aspiring colleagues made it the perfect steppingstone into the professional career that I wanted to pursue.

Your background

Graduating from my Bachelors degree in International Business with Marketing during the midst of Covid, I returned to University to complete a MLitt in Media and Communications. Since completing my Masters, I have held several professional roles spanning Public Relations, Marketing, and Event management.

What does a typical workday look like for you?

My day is usually kickstarted by an enthralling discussion with my colleagues as we commute in a carpool from Aarhus to the Randers head office and many “god morgen” ’s later, I arrive at my desk in Group Procurement.

Excel being my most used app, my work day frequently consists of number crunching, data gathering, and analysis. I always have interesting meetings to attend and over the course of the day am part of lots (and lots) of intriguing conversations; often where no one knows the right answer and we are putting our heads together to solve the day’s presenting problems.

What is the best project or task you have worked with so far

Within Group Procurement, I am part of the Sustainable Packaging Team. Our mission remains to deliver outstanding & sustainable food packaging solutions that elevate food safety, prevent food waste, and lower the CO2 footprint. We have so many exciting projects running across the business from minced beef, spegepølse, bacon, kødboller, etc. I find this to be an interesting team to be a part of, working on projects where I can really see meaningful impact deriving from our hard work.

What skills make a good Danish Crown graduate?

The only constant is change, so be ready and eager to learn.

What was it like being a new employee at Danish Crown?

You may have to give the same introduction (name, where you’re from, why you have applied for the program, etc.) a million times over, but it is a joy to have so many people genuinely interested in getting to know you as one of the new graduates. Additionally, it is all about finding your feet, being positive and open minded, and rolling with the punches as new challenges are thrown at you daily.

How do you experience the community among your fellow graduates?

Whilst attending my weekly Danish lessons, in response to the question “Hvad lavede du i weekenden?”. My reply is almost always “Jeg havde det rigtig sjovt sammen med mine kollegaer”.

What is the best thing about working/being a graduate at Danish Crown?

For me, the best thing about being enrolled in the graduate programme, is the simmering feeling of endless possibilities. In some lights a scary thought, but in others – isn’t it great to be in the position where you could be doing any number of things in a years’ time, all of which have the potential to be amazing and possibly career defining.

This is something I remind myself of daily, in both the exciting and more mundane moments.

Tell us something that others might not know about you?

True to stereotype, I am a Scottish Highland dancer (think Kilts and Bagpipes)... not really a surprising fact. But in 2021, as part of the opening TV coverage for COP 21 held in Glasgow, I performed live on ITV’s This Morning, a popular British daytime TV show.

So perhaps, my unknown fact is that somewhere out on the dark web exists a GIF of me dancing the Highland Fling in the pouring rain beside TV host Alison Hammond.

It is a joy to have so many people genuinely interested in getting to know you as one of the new graduates.
Karolina Ek
MSc in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science
Karolina Ek, from Sweden

First Rotation: Sustainability within Business Development at DAT-Schaub

Why did you apply for the Danish Crown Graduate Programme?

Coming from a background which is very critical towards the meat and food industry, Danish Crown was not necessarily the most obvious employer to me. However, I strongly believe it is an organization where I can make significant impact, particularly through the exposure and experience that the different rotations of graduate programme offers. There is a lot of potential in the food industry if you want to

Your background

I am originally from Sweden, but I spent my last years of high school in Guangzhou, China. I completed my bachelor in Combined Social Sciences in Economics, Business and Geography at Durham University in the UK, and my MSc in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science at Lund University in Sweden. Prior to the graduate programme I’ve worked both in non-profits and as a consultant in the sustainability field.

What does a typical workday look like for you?

I start off my day with breakfast with my team and some planning for the day. After that, every day is different. I have a project management role, meaning I interact with many different stakeholders relating to everything from packaging legislations and sustainability reporting, to production flows, energy sourcing, and logistic footprinting.

What is the best project or task you have worked with so far?

One of my major projects that I am working on now is a material flow analysis for our products, mapping out every process step that our products go through from gut room to sale, calculating their environmental footprint and resource use. Coming from outside the industry and with little technical experience, this has really been a challenge. But a very fun one! During my rotation I will also get involved with developing our sustainability strategy and road-map, which I am incredibly excited about!

What skills make a good Danish Crown graduate?

As a graduate you will be challenged in so many ways. Being resilient, curious, and proactive will help you to step out of your comfort zone and adapt to different working areas, different managers, and even different country and corporate cultures.

Much of your business skills develop as you go through the graduate program. You are not expected to be an expert in your area. Rather, you are meant to come in with fresh eyes and a different way of thinking, in order to challenge and develop our ways of doing business.

What was it like being a new employee at Danish Crown?

It has been an incredible start. My manager had prepared my first couple of weeks with introduction meetings and site visits so that I would get a smooth start.

The support network that comes with the graduate program is great. You have a mentor, a buddy, a line manager, and often a team (or two) to support you. They aren’t just interested in the results you produce, but they are genuinely interested in your development and your future. You have a lot of shoulders to lean on if you find yourself struggling along the way.

How do you experience the community among you fellow graduates?

Being the only graduate based in Copenhagen, I still get to see the other graduates in person once a month, whether that is for training or social events. It’s a fantastic group of people that you can always rely on, as a colleague but also as a friend. That is one of the real benefits of being a graduate.

What is the best thing about working/being a graduate at Danish Crown?

You do not just get to experience different parts of the business, but also different company cultures by doing rotations in different business units, whether that is KLS in Sweden, DAT-Schaub in Copenhagen, Sokolow in Poland or Danish Crown in Randers.

Being such a decentralized company, each business units is run differently. In order for us to function well as one Danish Crown we need to work a lot more together, building bridges, and sharing knowledge. During our rotations, we as graduates get to be that link. We get to try different business functions, different business units, different management styles, figuring our what works and what doesn’t. And this brings so much potential to make a difference.

Tell us something that others might not know about you?

I grew up in a seaside town in the south of Sweden, and I have sailed since I was eight years old. I competed in several Swedish championships during my youth and eventually went to the world championships. Despite this I am one of the most seasick persons I know.

You are meant to come in with fresh eyes and a different way of thinking, in order to challenge and develop our ways of doing business.
Martin Møller Christensen
MsC in Commercial and Retail Management
Martin Møller Christensen, from Denmark
Frist rotation: PMO for the United Performance Project.

Why did you apply for the Danish Crown Graduate Programme?

I saw the Graduate Programme as the ideal first step into the professional world. With all the focus the programme has on development and training, I saw it as the perfect transition between being a student and having a full-time job. Also, the international scope and end-to-end nature of the programme enticed me a lot!

Your background

I have a BsC in Economics & Business Administration and a MsC in Commercial and Retail Management. I also have a background in Danish Crown as I was an intern during my third semester of my Master’s and subsequently a student worker until I became a Graduate.

What does a typical workday look like for you?

My workdays usually consist of a lot of meetings, where stakeholders from both Group and Business Unit Finance have to align on how to move forward. Furthermore, we have daily meetings in the Project Management Office, ensuring that all workstreams are working as planned. Other than that, a lot of my time is spent with data analysis and making PowerPoint presentations.

What is the best project or task you have worked with so far?

The best project so far has been creating the new interim P&L report. This report will allow senior management to review the business in a new way, where financial measures are separated into the actual organizational structure of accountabilities. Other than that I have been working a lot with dashboards as well.

What skills make a good Danish Crown graduate?

Adaptability and proactiveness are hugely important, I would say. The programme is all about being able to adapt to situations that change frequently. This means you will be outside of your comfort zone, where the ability to adapt and the willingness to be proactive in nature are essential traits.

What was it like being a new employee at Danish Crown?

Embarking on my role as a Graduate has been a great experience. The HR-organized introductions during the onboarding week, coupled with my initial experiences, and the warm welcome from the department, have been nothing short of incredible. The beginning was filled with a wealth of information and impressions, which has been a bit overwhelming, but in a positive way!

How do you experience the community among you fellow graduates?

The Graduate community here is truly remarkable, and it caught me by surprise. This camaraderie is evident not only within my current cohort but also extends to those who came before us. Sharing dinner in our first week and gathering for lunch every other week has been a wonderful tradition. The active involvement of so many people in networking and welcoming newcomers really fosters a welcoming atmosphere that makes you feel right at home.

What is the best thing about working/being a graduate at Danish Crown?

The opportunity to learn, I would say. Personally, I am working in a department which is a bit outside of my comfort zone, which means I learn new things daily. The programme is anchored in learning and development, which I think is wonderful, as you can use the skills you develop in different scenarios in the future.

Tell us something that others might not know about you?

I can rotate a ball on every single finger on my right hand – quite a good trick.

The programme is all about being able to adapt to situations that change frequently.