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Jean-Luc from AB InBev Tells us about his career as CX Lead

Category: Dependency (Parenting & Carers)

Diversity and inclusion

We’re AB InBev, brewer of some of the world’s best beers, like Stella Artois, Corona and our American brand Budweiser. Read the interview with Jean-Luc and his experience working in various roles across Europe working at AB InBev. 
 

Tell us about your career at AB InBev. Where did you start and what do you do now?

It all began in Prague where I started as an intern as part of my studies at the Artevelde University College in Gent. After the internship, I got offered my first full-time job in the credit collections team for export. During that role, I’ve been involved in the knowledge transfer to our GCC spending 6 weeks in India before joining the on-trade sales team in London, where I’ve learned the most about our brands spending my days selling to bars, pubs, restaurants and clubs in central London. I then joined the e-commerce team in ZX Ventures as a Junior Marketing Manager for the UK and Dutch market, leading the online launch of Bud in the Netherlands before coming into my most recent PMO and commercial account management role which I will refer to in question 4. I’m now looking forward to my next challenge as the CX lead for on-trade and B2B in Belgium.

 

How different was your experience working in different countries?

Very different. Our company culture is mainly the same in all our offices as it’s guided by our 10 principles but in every country, you have the embedded national culture which overarches your work and private life - especially in functions where you deal with external stakeholders (customers, consumers, marketing agencies, data companies, etc). Yet it’s these different experiences that are really enriching, broaden your horizon, give you new perspectives in terms of how you look at things and face new challenges.

 

What was the biggest challenge that you overcame?

The Business development representative role (or M1 as we call it in AB InBev) is one of the purest sales jobs. You are constantly trying to win new businesses and to get your brands listed in new or existing partner venues. Doing this as a non-native English speaker in London, a city with many accents and dialects from many different nationalities (English, Welsh, Scottish, Irish, Aussies, New-Zealanders, or Kiwis as they call themselves, Indians and many more – let alone Scouse and other British accents) was a challenge and hurdle I needed to overcome. You meet all these nationalities when dealing with business owners and bar managers. When I moved to London I was so focused on my job and sales-related gaps but then got surprised by this other factor. So, I quickly had to find a way to get acquainted with it and get comfortable in both understanding the accents, dialects and cultures as communicating properly with them and gaining credibility. This became my priority, which has then allowed me to build relationships and the trust needed to sell and create strong partnerships. 

 

Most important part of AB InBev culture

Principle nr.4 which highlights our culture of ownership and leading by example is my favourite, but I would like to highlight another principle that is close to my heart and that is principle 6. This principle says that the customer is the boss and thus emphasizes customer-centricity. Therefore, it might be the most important one since our business is in consumer goods. As I do believe we still have room for improvement in being customer-centric I very much look forward to my next challenge in the CX team.

 

Advice for new employees?

Ask questions, don’t hold back. Be curious. Wise people might know a lot and speak a lot but will not remain wise if they don’t ask the right questions. Lastly, at AB InBev you’re surrounded by so many talented people. Learn from them, learn from your peers both formally and informally and continue to enrich each other.  

 

Career Development,

"I do believe we still have room for improvement in being customer-centric and I very much look forward to my next challenge in the cx team"

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Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I

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FMCG, Consumer, Food, Beverages Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I

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