Career Growth with Unibake: Marvin and Milena's Stories
Navigating the complexity of career options can be overwhelming, but finding hands-on learning opportunities is crucial for success. For Marvin and Milena, Unibake was the perfect place to bridge the gap between their academic studies and real-world experience, leading to personal and professional growth.
Marvin, a down-to-earth individual with a degree in multimedia design at KEA, started off as a web communications student and eventually moved into an internship. His knowledge of the company and background in communications came in handy as he branched out into web development and marketing.
What motivated you to collaborate with Unibake for your internship?
Marvin shares, "I was here for 6 months before I started my internship. It just made sense to continue here since I already knew the company. But the internship opened up a whole new world for me, focusing on the commercial side of Unibake."
Marvin is grateful for the opportunity to explore new areas like product marketing and website development. His internship not only enhanced his technical skills but also provided insights into corporate dynamics and customer engagement. His tangible achievements, such as creating the Unibake career page and leading successful marketing campaigns, showcase his progress.
"I love seeing the results of my work come to life. It's always a mix of excitement and nerves when I launch a website," Marvin shares.
What were some of the initial challenges you faced when you started working on your project, and how did you overcome them?
Marvin reflects, "I learned skills that weren't my expertise and had to figure out a lot of things myself. But I also got a lot of support from my mentors at the company. If I was unable to do something, I felt like I could always ask a colleague and get their perspective and helping hand."
In what ways do you think your project contributed to Unibake or its customers?
Marvin explains, "We introduced a new career page and soon a sustainability page, making it easier for anyone interested in learning more about Unibake to navigate. Our social media campaigns also help reach new people, hopefully driving them to our website and boosting awareness of our brand."
On the other side, we have Milena, who moved to Denmark 1.5 years ago after finishing her bachelor's degree in Dietetics in Warsaw. She decided on Denmark because she had already spent 6 months studying in Copenhagen during her bachelor's through the Erasmus Program. Now, she's about to graduate from the University of Copenhagen with a Master's in Science in Integrated Food Studies.
At Unibake, she's working as a Global Communications Student in UBI, but she also did an internship in Sustainability and just finished her Master's Thesis with the Unibake R&D team. "Since I knew the company and the industry is very relevant to my study program, choosing Unibake as a partner was a no-brainer," she says.
Her thesis project involved conducting an economic viability and environmental sustainability assessment of different bread waste treatments, with a focus on upcycling.
What were some of the initial challenges you faced when you started working on your project, and how did you overcome them?
"Managing this project was a big task, as it involved understanding a wide range of both technical and business factors. It took some time to get a clear picture and figure out where to focus. I had never done such a detailed Life Cycle Assessment before, so I had to learn as I went and act quickly to stay on track. Luckily, I had a great support system in my project team. They helped me identify the right stakeholders and provided expertise in their areas. Whenever I needed advice or a chat, they were there for me. Even when things got a bit overwhelming, I never felt alone in the process." she explains.
How do you think your project helped Unibake or its customers?
“Our project, as a part of the Greenhouse Lantmännen Program, was approved for further development. This gives Unibake the opportunity to lead the way in implementing upcycling efforts for waste management," Milena concludes.
She’s proud that the team successfully completed the project on time and within the resources they had. As a result, she is now working on a research paper about upcycling in the bakery industry, which contributes to the European FOODRUS project aiming to find circular solutions for a resilient food system.
What advice would you give to students considering a similar collaboration with Unibake for their thesis or internship?
Marvin advises, "Be open, be interested, and embrace the opportunity to learn and grow. People here are very experienced, and they will gladly share this experience with you as long as you're curious."
"Take your time to understand the Lantmännen Unibake as a business. You will realize that having this scope of functions, locations, expertise, and nationalities is a wonderful opportunity to conduct almost any thesis topic relevant to the food/bakery industry. As long as you’re engaged – you will always meet engagement from Unibake’s colleagues," says Milena.
Marvin and Milena's experiences underscore the opportunities for collaboration between students and industry partners like Unibake. Their firsthand experiences have provided clarity regarding their career paths. Marvin is considering a future in web development or consultancy, while Milena intends to pursue advocacy for sustainability in the food industry. 😊