Consumer & Retail: Fostering Creativity and Innovation

We asked leaders of a number of organizations within the Retail and Consumer sector what, strategies they are implementing to engage and attract the emerging generation of leaders.

Miroslava Rychtárechová, CE Head of Market Services and Manager for Tesco Central Europe, shared her views:

“At Tesco, we are deeply committed to engaging and attracting the youngest generation of leaders through a variety of innovative strategies and initiatives. First, we believe that a diverse and inclusive workplace is essential for fostering creativity and innovation. Our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programmes are designed to ensure that all employees, regardless of their background, feel valued and have equal opportunities to succeed. We actively promote diverse hiring practices and provide ongoing DEI training to create a culture of respect and inclusion. Likewise, we strive to create a workplace where everyone feels welcome and valued. This includes fostering a positive and supportive culture where employees can thrive. We encourage open communication, provide mentorship programmes, and celebrate the unique contributions of each team member. Furthermore, our leaders play a crucial role in mentoring and guiding the young generation. They lead by example, demonstrating the values of empathy, respect, and collaboration. By providing regular feedback and support, our leaders help young employees develop their skills and grow into future leaders. We offer a range of programmes specifically designed for students and recent graduates. These include internships, rotational programmes, and entry-level positions that provide hands-on experience and professional development opportunities. Our goal is to help young professionals build a strong foundation for their careers. We also collaborate with educational institutions to offer dual education programmes that combine classroom learning with practical, on-the-job training. This approach ensures that students gain valuable real-world experience while completing their studies, making them well-prepared for the workforce. And it’s not just educational institutions - we partner with various organizations, such as DofE, Junior Achievement, Alliance for YOUth, that support youth development and empowerment. These collaborations allow us to engage with young people through community projects, educational initiatives, and leadership programmes.”

We also spoke to Andrea Kožuchová, the People Director at HEINEKEN Slovakia, about attracting the emerging generation of leaders in the Consumer sector:

“For leaders in the youngest generation, our strategy and initiatives are aiming at addressing their needs – giving them a flavour of our company culture, opening the curtains of the multinational environment and providing the opportunity to get to know the business in the areas of their interest with international experience.

We have a long-term cooperation with the University of Agriculture in Nitra – where we work on common projects, involving students to help us to address sustainability topics – examples are sustainable barley or growing hops in Slovakia. We are a part of the Talent Programme initiative, providing cross company internships in Dutch companies in Slovakia. Also the HEINEKEN International Graduate programme opens opportunities for young talent to join us and grow through an international experience already during their first year, aiming in the future to executive country leadership roles.”

Find out about Amrop’s Consumer and Retail expertise, methods and tools in Slovakia by contacting Ladislava Molnárová or your local Amrop Consumer Practice Partner in your country.