Javiera Paz Moreno Maritano (left) and Jose-Rafael Juncosa Nuñez (third from left) describe what they experienced in the first of two years in the KWS Global Graduate Program.
Encouraging advancement
The future starts here
Our KWS Global Graduate Program is in high demand worldwide. But just what makes it so special? Two current participants and two former graduates tell their story.
Jose-Rafael Juncosa Nuñez has always loved science and innovation. “But I couldn’t picture myself working in a lab. I was interested in a job where I could work with different departments and lead innovative research projects with a strong business focus.” He’s one of six graduates in our current class of 2024–2026. The program lasts two years, and Jose has already completed one of them.
He has experienced a lot: His rotations have taken him to the Tissue Culture unit in Research & Development and to the Gateway Research Center in the U.S. for four months. “The team I worked in was great,” says Jose. “We discussed ideas very openly, and everyone’s opinion was respected. It was a challenge at first to figure out how everything works when you’re not an expert in a field. But that made me realize how much I enjoy implementing these kinds of projects that challenge me personally, especially in the artificial intelligence arena.”
The KWS Global Graduate Program is not just about taking responsibility for your own projects, but also getting to know KWS and its diverse activities.
Six people made it into the program out of more than 500 applicants.
The graduates move to a new department every six months.
Department change every six months
Jose is part of the “Growing with Innovation” program, which is tailored to graduates with a background in biotechnology, plant sciences or other similar disciplines. During the two years, participants change departments every six months, allowing them to have a cross-functional learning experience by working on projects from different KWS departments.
In addition to “Growing with Innovation,” there are also “Growing into the Future,” which requires a more multidisciplinary background in agriculture, and the latest program “Growing with Data Science.” For the latter, we focus on high-potential early-stage professionals with a degree in bioinformatics, statistics, IT or similar fields. Being chosen as a KWS Graduate Program cohort requires dedication and a set of unique skills. “We receive over 500 applications a year,” says Melissa Mendoza Diaz, Expert Talent Development, who manages the program. Candidates go through a carefully designed selection process including interviews, case study preparation and an assessment center. Selected top-performing candidates are offered the opportunity to join the KWS Graduate Program.“As a graduate, you take ownership of interesting KWS projects with the support of a project coach and project sponsor and shoulder responsibility. That provides you with guidance and support, as well as many learning opportunities across the two-year program to develop yourself further, with intensive onboarding in the first month, as well as trainings, field visits, mentoring and networking opportunities with senior stakeholders across the organization,” says Melissa. “Our goal is to create a strategic and diverse talent pipeline for KWS, focused on the priorities and values of our company, while becoming an employer of choice in the university market.” The program is a building block in our Strategic Planning 2035 ambition to become a top employer in the seed industry. We’ve already made very good progress toward that: Our KWS Graduate Program won accolades in 2023/2024, being named one of the 20 best in Germany and one of the 30 best international programs.
“Everyone’s opinion was respected.”
Jose-Rafael Juncosa Nuñez
Sofia Guendel was one of the first to successfully complete the program in 2021. She’s currently a Project Manager in the Business Unit Sugarbeet. But exciting new tasks already await Sofia: She’ll become our new Head of Nordics and will be responsible for Sweden, Finland and Norway starting in January – a great success for the Costa Rican, who holds a master’s degree in Agricultural and Food Economics. “After graduating, I looked at various programs and had several offers – but what attracted me to the KWS Global Graduate Program were the various rotations and the opportunity to spend time abroad,” says Sofia.
One highlight for her was that all graduates are assigned a mentor. Sofia’s mentor was Gonzaga Hernandez Zaballos, who today serves as Head of BU Corn Europe. “He has guided me throughout my career journey at KWS, continues to support my development and has always encouraged me with valuable advice.” Her former project coaches, who had assisted her in accomplishing her projects at the time, also offered Sofia their backing right away. “The Graduate Program helped me connect with many people at KWS and prepare for my future roles,” says Sofia. As an alumna, she now provides support to current graduates in word and deed and has even been the project coach to two of them in her department.
Grow career-wise – and more
Javiera Paz Moreno Maritano came across the program when she was finishing her double master’s degree between the universities in Chile and Göttingen. Although she had initially considered returning home to Chile, she wanted to pursue her professional development in Germany first and improve her language skills. “The program has a little bit of everything, which particularly appealed to me: current challenges in agriculture, as well as the opportunity to work interculturally and grow career-wise.”
With her master’s degree in Sustainable International Agriculture, she decided to apply for “Growing into the Future” and, like Jose, is currently in her second year of the program. Javiera’s rotations so far have included projects in Global Marketing & Communications, Seed Technology, and in the Business Development Sugarbeet unit. “The lengthy time you spend in one place and your own projects give you really deep insights into a department,” she says.“You get really deep insights into a department.”
Javiera Paz Moreno Maritano
After an intensive onboarding process, close friendships have already been forged within Javiera’s graduate group. The group also jointly decided to do volunteer work as part of the program: In April 2025, they organized an intercultural cooking afternoon at the primary school in Kreiensen near Einbeck, at which each graduate prepared a dish from his or her home country with the children. “The program has really brought us together and makes it easy to get started at KWS, even if you aren’t a native German speaker,” says Javiera.
Lorenzo Castaldello, who like Sofia was one of the first group of graduates at KWS, had a similar experience. He hails from Italy and was completing his master’s degree in Göttingen when he heard about the program. After just one year in the program, he took over a job as Product Manager for CONVISO SMART® & Seed Treatments within the BU Sugarbeet. “It wasn’t an easy decision at the time, because I actually had the international rotation coming up,” he says. After consulting with both his project coach and his mentor, he then decided to accept the challenge. Lorenzo is now Regional Business Support Manager for South Europe, Middle East and Africa. As part of our sales organization, he works cross-crop and steers strategic initiatives together with the Heads of Region and Country.
Lorenzo Castaldello was part of the first class and quickly developed both professionally and personally.
Sofia Guendel felt well prepared by the program for future roles in the company.
Program with a good reputation
“The mentoring in the Graduate Program helped me in my personal and professional development,” says Lorenzo. “I’m still in touch with my mentor.” He also found the project management training at the beginning of the program especially helpful – one of several courses for all graduates to prepare them ideally for their future tasks at KWS. “The program also fosters visibility at KWS,” Lorenzo adds. “After each rotation, you present your project to a group of stakeholders, including senior management – that also helps you to be scouted for the next step.”
When Lorenzo started at KWS, the program was new and not so well-known. “Now it’s firmly established,” says Lorenzo. “When I speak with colleagues, I see how much the program is appreciated – and what an opportunity it offers to all graduates.” |© KWS SAAT SE & Co. KGaA 2025
