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.
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.
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.