New Programs for Graduates

With close to 650 applications in the first round, both programs were well received in the graduate market. “The programs offered a strong value proposition with extensive onboarding, diverse rotational projects, mentorship support and various other aspects, so it was nice to see that translate into high application numbers” said Johanna Demirag, who is responsible for both programs.

Setting up the programs took eight months and was accomplished thanks to a strong team effort from everyone across KWS. Business stakeholders, Human Resources, Recruitment, Employer Branding and many others made an active contribution. “Our colleagues worked closely with each other during the preparation and implementation phases,” added Johanna Demirag.

However, it was not an easy journey for the candidates due to the high number of applications. Applicants for Growing into the Future had to fight hard to get short-listed after a five-stage interview process. The interviews concluded with a four-hour Assessment Center where – like in the TV show “Dragon’s Den” – the final 24 candidates had to pitch an idea to a mock KWS Board consisting of various business, HR and Recruitment team representatives. The pitch had to be based on an idea relating to agriculture’s link to innovation and technology, new ways of farming, mindset shifting in the food industry, saving resources and energy, agriculture and social responsibility, and the future of agriculture. “We were excited about the quality of the presentations and the creativity behind the ideas,” said Sabine Vogt, Lead at the Expert Hub Performance, Talent and Employee Development.

Alongside that, applicants for Growing with Science had to undergo a number of other challenging assessment steps. In addition to presenting an essay on how to create value with technology in the context of KWS’ businesses, they had to showcase their business acumen during a specialized Assessment Center.

Insightful training

“The training programs were very insightful and even in some cases life-changing” said Sofia Guendel, a University Class President who gained a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Agricultural and Food Economics from the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelm’s University in Bonn. Sofia, who hails from Costa Rica, had completed various internships with Bayer before joining KWS and she is currently undertaking a project with the Marketing department and leading a global CRM campaign as part of that. Her next project will be at Cereals.

Latifa Mrisho, the first and sole Growing with Science graduate, enjoyed the field visits. “I got to see some of the processes in action and it helped me make sense of some of the processes required for my project. I also got more insight about the challenges in the production systems, which is great for a starting point,” Latifa said. She has an impressive educational track record with a PhD in Molecular Biology in addition to a Bachelor of Science (BSc Honors) in Medicine and a BSc in Molecular and Cell Biology. She also managed to squeeze in an MSc in Chemical Engineering onto her CV.

Program’s ambassador for future participants

Latifa is proud to be the first graduate KWS hired in the new Growing with Science program, and she is looking forward to be the program’s ambassador. “I hope I’ll be lucky enough to mentor the future participants of the program and help them through the steps I went through”. Latifa is currently working on a research topic related to developing efficient strategies to identify traits for virus- and insect-resistant sugarbeet during her first year, and she will spend time exploring the business development, intellectual property and strategy aspects during her second rotational year.

Tobias Kunze, another Growing into the Future graduate, is currently working on a Cereals project. “My first project allowed me to forge contacts and work on exciting topics with international teams and colleagues from day one.” Tobias, a German citizen who spent several years in the U.S. due to his father’s occupation, is fluent in both languages and has a Master of Arts in Sustainable International Agriculture with a focus on tropical agriculture. He was the rugby team captain during his bachelor’s program and a teacher’s assistant in the department of Tropical Plant Production and Agricultural Systems Modelling during his master’s studies.

Support from leaders

The mentoring support each graduate receives from appointed senior leaders has been a valuable experience. “The mentoring made me more confident in the professional choices I need to make, as well as more secure about overcoming challenges.” says Bianca Torezan. Bianca, a dual Brazilian/Italian citizen, was rewarded with an international internship in a multinational company and ended up coming to Europe. Bianca said: “When I saw the opportunity to work in different departments, including a project abroad with mentorship support, I knew Growing into the Future was just right for me.”

In addition to mentorship, graduates are accompanied by a Project Coach and Project Sponsor, with whom they work closely for each project. Graduates meet up periodically during Convergence Meetings and share best practices, meet senior leaders and attend further trainings. Martin Kessler; a Growing into the Future program graduate who is currently working on a Corn project, is an Erasmus alumni and former financial coach for three coffee farm units in Brazil, Mexico and Uganda. “I’m looking forward to connecting with my fellow graduates during the Convergence Week. Sharing best practices and learning from each other’s experience will be valuable,” said Martin. |

Anyone with questions can contact Johanna Demirag:
johanna.demirag@kws.com