The future of our careers is commonly something that concerns us.
A lot.
Together with all the academic responsibilities we have, spending hours studying and preparing for exams (or at least trying to), we have quite a good amount of “extra”, let’s say, opportunities to help us shape our future professional life. Understanding how to pursue the “correct path” for us is not easy, we know that. That’s why, together with Whirlpool EMEA, we have been day by day putting efforts in developing leaders for the future, and we want to help you understand how.
We have talked with Máté Kosztolányi, Marketing Manager at Whirlpool EMEA, and we are going to tell you a bit about his path and how the Fast-Track program offered by Whirlpool helped him shape his career.
“This choice it’s one of the hardest ones, it’s easy to end up in a career that is not satisfying at all, or maybe in a place that is not aligned with your values.”
Máté, 30 years old, has been through 7 different roles at Whirlpool, in 6 diverse countries… an interesting career for someone at his age:
- Product management intern in Milan, Italy
- I-Improve specialist in Poprad, Slovakia
- Sales Representative in Paris, France
- Category Manager in Prague, Czech Republic
- Product Manager in Milan, Italy
- Category Manager of Refrigeration and Laundry in Johannesburg, South Africa
- Marketing Manager for the Middle East and North Africa division, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Mate joined AIESEC when he was studying International Business in Budapest, in 2010 and was part of the organization until 2012. Being part of the Biggest Youth Organization opened to him a world of opportunities and development.
“My AIESEC experience helped my growth through two aspects: attitude and skills.
The values we considered to be essential in AIESEC are the ones that drove me to always feel restless, look for new opportunities and not be afraid to lead (not necessarily in a leadership position) and learn every day.
On the skills side, we had used a lot of tools, soft skills, even excel templates that I could implement from day 1 in my everyday work. These skills enable you to hit the ground running and focus on things that are really important.”
The AIESEC experience helped Máté to understand himself as a professional and helped him to develop a “Striving for excellence” mindset, one of the AIESEC’s values.
After he finished his experience as Vice President for exchanges in his Home City AIESEC office, he took a 6 months internship in Product Management at Whirlpool EMEA, in Milan, where he got to know about the Whirlpool Fast Track Management Program and applied for it.
“After the 6 months in Whirlpool, I applied and got accepted to the company’s Fast Track Management Program”
This program was a full immersion in which Máté had the chance to experience new roles, new countries, and grow disruptively as a young professional. On this program, Whirlpool employees have access to mentorship, regular coaching, career planning, and a vast array of virtual or personal training (some universally available, some based on merit).
“My career path has been defined by one of the best examples of leadership development inside Whirlpool: The Fast Track Management Program
This program aims at exposing the participant to as many different types of experience as possible benefiting from the wide network of international divisions and production facilities.”
You can check more details about the Fast Track Program here.
Máté’s journey in the Fast-Track Program started Slovakia, as an I-Improve specialist in the factory, and after some months he was relocated to Paris as a Sales Representative, where he had the chance to visit over 100 stores in France, executing brand and training activities to the sales personnel.
After that, he moved to Prague, Czech Republic, as a Category Manager, and sometime later, Máté headed back to Italy, now with a different challenge: as EMEA marketing liaison, for the company’s first global refrigeration project in Italy as a Product manager in Milan.
After 30 intensive months of development, Máté was allocated as Category Manager of Refrigeration and Laundry in Johannesburg, South Africa, and since January 2019, he is the Marketing Manager of the Middle East and North African Division, in Dubai
“At Whirlpool, the development of talented individuals is understood to be the cornerstone of sustainable success.
The company is a global leader with more than 100 years of experience, has a set of global tools and processes to recognize talent and help them realize their potential.”
With that being said, that’s a great example of how opportunities like that one could help young people develop and grow as individuals and professionals, thanks to Whirlpool and AIESEC efforts, together.
“It was surprising to me first, that both AIESEC & Whirlpool share the same values and the same ideas providing opportunities to go after seeking new ideas and stimulus to people.
You will have to be brave enough to put yourself out of your comfort zone and humble enough to listen and understand people that surround you. These people, these interactions will leave you with a lot of great stories, help you become a better professional and most importantly a better person.
As of 2020 April, though, keep safe and stay at home if possible. Learn from yourself and get ready for your next adventure.”
Whirlpool has tons of opportunities for youth – You can check them in the Whirlpool EMEA Careers page.