Sergey Nesterov, Rijk Zwaan Rossija
"These are interesting times in Russian horticulture"
Teamwork
“My whole childhood was connected to a greenhouse company located in the village where I was raised. My parents used to work there, it was where I did my first holiday job and I completed a research project for that company during my agricultural degree. In the end I became a production manager there and headed up a big team of people. So all in all that company taught me a lot – not only about plants, but also about the importance of teamwork and communication.”
“I can now put all that experience to excellent use at Rijk Zwaan, and working for an international breeding company has broadened my view even more. Through my business trips both nationally and internationally, I come across many different challenges and I work with a wide range of specialists. Within Rijk Zwaan there is a real sense of team spirit. You never face a problem alone; instead, it’s actually a Rijk Zwaan problem.”
Local approach
“These are interesting times in Russian horticulture: new, modern greenhouses are being developed and growers are hungry for our expertise. We can use the knowledge from within our international organisation, but at the same time our climate and culture call for a local and personal approach. This is not always easy, because visiting just one company can involve a full day of travelling. It’s really not a 9-to-5 job.”
“Although the pressure can be high sometimes, I find this a very rewarding job: I meet many different people, I have a lot of freedom and I can use my knowledge to solve other people’s problems. It’s interesting because at Rijk Zwaan you’re more than ‘just’ a salesman. When you speak the same ‘horticultural’ language as the growers, you can earn their trust and have the possibility to develop the market together.”
Go to www.rijkzwaan.com for more information or visit www.rijkzwaancareers.com for career opportunities