Expat graduates in Czechia have a chance to make it big in the beer industry

Young people fresh out of university have great skills and qualifications to their name. But equally key to future success is finding the right place to apply these abilities – a workplace in which their unique skill set and personal qualities will be valued and nurtured.

Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world’s largest brewer and a major employer with over 800 people working at its Prague center, is offering those embarking on their career a chance to realize their potential. Applications are now open for the company’s Fast Track Leadership program, designed to find future leaders of the business.

The 12-month program offers the chance to join a multicultural environment at AB InBev, with over 60 nationalities present in the Prague office. Program participants gain a sweeping overview of the company’s operations and sample a wide variety of work in different departments.

AB InBev’s Fast Track Leadership program is based on the belief that the best way to develop talent is to set it free, by providing a range of experiences and activities. Program participants undergo two rotations of six months, working in two out of six possible departments: Customer & Consumer Experience, Digital Employee Experience, Supply Chain Planning, Import and Export Operations, Finance, and People Business Services.

Manu Helsen, a recent graduate who always dared to dream big and who now applies her boundless ambition at AB InBev as a Consumer Data Product Owner, describes the varied nature of the work assigned to her during the program.

“I moved to Prague right after finishing university to join AB InBev through the Fast Track Leadership program. I spent my first six months in the reporting team in the International Logistics department. I then moved to the finance department for the last six months of the program, where I joined the credit collections team with a Dutch scope,” Manu says.

“I also participated in two projects: the first aimed to enhance the digital employee experience through designing user personas, identifying pain points, and suggesting possible improvements. The other saw us organize an end-to-end League of Legends tournament in an e-sports bar in Leeds, United Kingdom, including event marketing.”

The program isn’t just about experiencing the AB InBev workplace. It’s also about self-development; hands-on experience provides 70% of learning, while mentorships and interactive feedback account for 20%, and training makes up the remaining 10%.

“It’s hard to pin down one ‘best thing’ about the FTL program, but for me it would be the opportunity to meet so many inspiring people across the company,” says Manu.

“By moving around at a fast pace, I had the opportunity to work with different managers, stakeholders, and team members, which taught me to adapt my working style to the environment. It also brought a lot of valuable learning and development. Many of the people I met along the way still play a big part in both my professional and personal development.”

“The most demanding aspect of the program is being continuously pushed outside your comfort zone,” she adds. “This presents opportunities for significant personal and professional growth, but it comes with the expectation that you will stretch your abilities and adapt quickly. You have to be ready to learn at a rapid pace, dream big, and embrace the challenge.”

The skills learned by Fast Track Leadership program participants are useful in any walk of life, but the program is intended as the first step into a career at AB InBev. Successful graduates of the program go on to leadership positions, and the wealth of opportunities open to young people at AB InBev results in an average age of 32 in the company’s Prague center.

“After completing the program, I was promoted to Team Lead in the Digital Employee Experience team. This was the department where I had worked on my first FTL project. While I knew the team and its dynamics, the technical and operational aspects of the role were new to me, but I received support from fellow team leads and team members as well as from my mentor, which made the transition smooth,” Manu explains.

The learning doesn’t stop once participants go full-time, and workshops and training sessions are provided in the final months of the program to prepare them for leadership. This can facilitate rapid career progression and the chance to take on even more responsibility.

“My previous experience in the FTL program has definitely helped, as moving through two roles in one year teaches you to adapt quickly to changing environments and responsibilities, even if they are completely out of your comfort zone,” Manu says.

Applications are open for this year’s Fast Track Leadership program, starting in August 2024. Those interested should possess fluent English proficiency, while a proficient level in Dutch, French, German, Italian, or Spanish is considered an advantage.

Applicants should also have the right to work in Czechia and be willing to relocate to Prague. They must have graduated with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree (or equivalent) not more than two years before starting the course, and they should have no more than two years of professional work experience under their belt (not including internships, volunteering, or student jobs).

Assistance with relocation to Prague is provided if needed, along with support for housing costs. Other perks include performance-related bonuses, wellbeing initiatives, and vouchers to taste AB InBev’s famous beers at a discount.

Places on the program are expected to fill up quickly, so those interested are encouraged to waste no time in submitting their application.