How ‘delivering cheers’ worldwide packs a great expat career in Prague

Logistics is about getting things from A to B – but while this sounds simple, the reality of global supply chains is anything but. Logistics provides the underpinning to our daily lives, and without it, we would miss much that we take for granted.

In the words of Kornel Zuchewicz, Logistics Process Manager UK & Ireland and Spain at AB InBev in Prague: “Anyone who follows the news will quickly realize that without logistics, the world would come to a standstill.”

For AB InBev, Prague is the beating heart of a busy global logistics web. The company’s logistics division is a place where colleagues work hard and play hard, making friends for life while “delivering cheers” around the world.

AB InBev’s Prague center employs hundreds of people across a wide range of functions. Logistics stands out, though, for the ever-changing nature of the job, which constantly presents new challenges for born problem-solvers.

Daniel Sariñena, originally from Spain, is an International Supply Chain Director responsible for ocean-based logistics out of Europe, U.S., Latin America, and China. He sums up what working in logistics is all about: “If you like to travel and organize trips, logistics is similar. You’re choosing flights, looking for the best prices and connections, but instead of doing it for your own holiday, you’re doing it for beer!”

It's important to “like the adrenaline, to enjoy problem-solving, to be curious, and to be good at working with people,” he adds. “You need to be comfortable with ambiguity and the unknown. We’re global, so anywhere in the world, at any moment, something is happening that could affect our work.”

Kornel, hailing from Poland, has lived and worked in the UK and Czechia. He says the thrill and fast-paced nature of the job is what defines logistics: “A bump may be coming down the road at any time of day. We get a kick from this; you simply can’t get bored here.”

Throughout AB InBev’s logistics division – from senior leaders such as Kornel and Daniel to more junior colleagues – one element of the job comes up for praise time and time again: the team spirit.

“You have to be a team player – in logistics, you can’t be a one-man band,” Kornel explains.

Central to this team spirit is a supportive culture. According to Team Lead Iva Fričová, “the atmosphere here is very supportive and open, and this enables you to grow fast within the company.”

AB InBev’s Prague office has a strong international culture, and in logistics, colleagues from around the world are brought together by the collaborative nature of the work. Denis Schloff, a Transport Planning Supervisor, describes being “motivated by colleagues; we laugh together and encourage each other to get results.”

This, according to Kornel, results in an environment in which “our teams work together, we work efficiently and quickly, with a smile on our face.”

The scale of AB InBev’s logistics operations brings great opportunities for personal growth. Denis, who started with the company in 2021 and achieved promotions by consistently delivering sustainable results, says AB InBev “gives amazing opportunities with great managers guiding you. You wouldn’t find such opportunities in such a short time at every company.”

For Iva, moving into a leadership role provides “a different kind of challenge, but I feel supported. We have mentoring sessions and there is no judging in our teams; everyone is approachable and supportive.”

“If you want to grow here, you’ll grow. ‘Want’ means you have to work hard for it,” says Kornel. Both Kornel and Daniel started in junior roles and their career trajectories have been rocket-fuelled by working with AB InBev.

“If there’s any place where you can grow in step with your talents, it’s AB InBev,” says Daniel. “No other company I know of focuses so much on developing its people. During my second or third month here, a manager told me: let your results speak on your behalf. If you can achieve those targets, your aspirations come true.”

The company’s hiring processes focus more on finding candidates with the right attitude than specific skills or qualifications. “We put a lot of effort into our people, because one day, they’ll become our leaders,” explains Kornel.

AB InBev is, however, a place which focuses on more than delivering great career potential. Daniel describes the strength of the company’s culture: “When people leave us, the thing they always miss most is the environment and culture. We bring people together through our beers all around the world, and we do the same with our colleagues in the office.”

Twice-weekly beer tastings encourage socializing after work and spark lasting friendships between teams.

Iva and Denis, who are both Czech, praise the international culture, while Kornel and Daniel confirm that AB InBev is an excellent place for workers to build a network of friends. “During my first year, we’d leave the office after beer tasting and go out together. The team spirit and collaboration is incredible – it’s wonderful for people who want to work in an international environment,” says Daniel.

These friendships are rooted in shared dedication to logistics success. “So many of my friends here in Prague are from AB InBev,” Kornel concludes. “We work hard, but we go through it all together, coming out stronger and better as a team.”