Marketing Generalist at Enza Zaden

From studying International Business in Amsterdam to a sales internship at Kraft Heinz on the Zuidas, Amsterdam’s financial district, Mila seemed well on her way to a career in the corporate world. It was here that she discovered her interest in the food industry. But working in the seed sector? That certainly wasn’t part of the plan.

Still, she felt she would be missing out if she ended up confined to a narrow role at a large corporation. She wanted to broaden her horizons and see and learn as much as possible within sales and marketing. So, for her graduation internship, she went looking for a company where she could do just that. As it turned out, Enza Zaden— the company her mother also worked for — proved to be a surprisingly good fit. Because behind a single seed lies an entire world of consumer behaviour, data, international markets and strategy. Exactly the combination Mila was looking for. Today, she brings these worlds together in her role as Marketing Generalist at Enza Zaden.

2015: A little entrepreneur in the making

Even as a little girl, Mila was always looking for opportunities and figuring out how to seize them. From the age of fourteen, she worked at the reception desk of her father’s golf course, gaining valuable work experience. And entrepreneurship? That was already in her blood. She asked her father to buy flowers that she could then sell along the roadside for a few cents extra. Starting young!

2020: Discovering the world of business

After secondary school, it was time to study International Business in English in Amsterdam. Mila wanted to work with different cultures, people and languages, and above all, explore as much as possible. Yet one area in particular caught her attention: the commercial side of business. She threw herself into everything related to marketing and sales. Time to find out what it looked like beyond the lecture hall.

2023: Zuidas unlocked

Third year of university: time to get some real-world experience. Mila landed a work placement at Kraft Heinz on the Zuidas, diving into the world of sales and supermarkets. Thinking on her feet, taking a commercial approach and understanding why products do or don’t work on the supermarket shelf. The food industry left her wanting more. But the strictly defined roles? Not so much. She wanted to take a broader view, spot opportunities herself and then do something with them.

2024: Pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere

For her graduation research, Mila decided to look a little closer to home. Her family suggested the seed sector as an option. Her first thought? What would I do there? No agricultural background, no connection to vegetable or flower seeds. Yet the doors to Seed Valley opened, and she eventually applied for a position at Enza Zaden. Here, she researched the growth potential of pumpkins in Northwestern Europe. She even travelled to Spain, because conducting solid commercial research means getting out there and immersing yourself in the market.

2025: From graduate to valued team member

Mila did a fantastic job during her graduation internship, and soon after graduating, she was offered a position on the marketing team. And that narrow, box-ticking approach she had wanted to avoid? It turns out she had nothing to worry about here.

As a Marketing Generalist, Mila works on all sorts of things: gathering market data, digital marketing, developing product launches, organising events and collaborating with Sales. During the Nijmegen Four Days Marches, she even joined the crowds to hand out thousands of seedless mini peppers. A little reminder of that little girl selling flowers by the roadside. And just like that, things have come full circle!

Fun Fact: The Pumpkin Plot Twist

Mila used to have no idea how to cut a pumpkin. Now she knows all there is to know — and her research is actually being put into practice. #tobecontinued