How the Positive Workplace Activism program is empowering colleagues in our European brands to drive change
October 25, 2024 – At Ahold Delhaize we want to create a caring place to work that inspires growth and collaboration while ensuring people are heard, valued and can find purpose in their daily job. As part of this ambition, we are offering young professionals within Ahold Delhaize and our brands in Europe the opportunity to participate in a Positive Workplace Activism program.
The annual program aims to empower people to use their daily roles for good. For example, helping them make the connection to topics that they are passionate about and see how they can use their daily work to create impact and positive change. Paulette van Ommen, Ahold Delhaize Director Health & Sustainability for Europe & Indonesia comments: “A growing group of colleagues are passionate about making a difference in areas like climate, health, nature, circularity or social impact. I approached Tessa Wernink about her Positive Workplace Activism Program three years ago, as she is a world class inspirator and educator with an impressive entrepreneurial track record herself. Her guidance really helps our aspiring (and existing) impact professionals, to turn their passion into constructive and contagiously positive activism.”
“Our Positive Workplace Activism training empowers associates to become proactive changemakers, driving sustainable, inclusive practices.” said Ruben Santos, HR Strategy & Program Lead for HR Europe & Indonesia. “Participants have had great learning experiences, feeling connected and inspired. This 9-week program equips our team to lead projects that foster innovation and equity. As we invest in change, we invest in our people’s growth!”
Amongst the cohort were Lieke Verstoep-Swinkels, European Sourcing Analyst at Ahold Delhaize; Cosmin Sova, Brand Manager at Mega Image in Romania; Milica Mirković, CSE Sustainable Sourcing Specialist at Delhaize Serbia; and Sophie de Boer, former Packaging Expert at Ahold Delhaize Coffee Company.
Lieke Verstoep-Swinkels, turning passion to action
For Lieke, who is European Sourcing Analyst at Ahold Delhaize, participating in the Positive Workplace Activism course was an opportunity to challenge herself and deepen her contribution to sustainability efforts. “I want to challenge myself through my job. A large company's vision comes with responsibility. I want to contribute to that. In the training, I learned how to turn my passion for sustainability into action.”
One of the most valuable lessons Lieke learned was the power of action. Through the Ikigai model, which helps individuals discover their purpose, she was able to identify what truly motivates her. Lieke’s action plan is ambitious but grounded in practical steps. Lieke's goal is to encourage the inclusion of beans—rich in protein and beneficial to soil fertility—on more plates. She sees opportunities to collaborate with farmers and other supply chain partners to promote this shift and expand the product offer.
When asked what advice she would offer her colleagues to help their work shape a better future, she said, “discover which Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) resonate with you and surround yourself with people who inspire action. For example, economist Paul Schendeling recently inspired me. He paints a hopeful new story. It shifts the focus from quantitative growth (consumption and GDP growth) to qualitative growth (quality of life).”
Cosmin Sova, redefining system thinking
For Cosmin, Brand Manager at Mega Image in Romania, sustainability is not just a personal passion but a professional priority. He entered the course eager to learn how to make a greater impact in his daily work, and the experience exceeded his expectations. One key takeaway for Cosmin was the importance of system thinking—understanding how different parts of an organization impact each other and how solutions can emerge from unexpected places.
The course also inspired Cosmin to realign his personal purpose (his Ikigai) with his professional projects, providing him with a renewed sense of motivation. His next steps include applying the tools and principles he learned to all his future projects, whether it’s launching a new brand or communicating sustainability initiatives.
His advice for colleagues for a better tomorrow? “Find yourself, find your allies, and do your best in anything you want to do."
Milica Mirković, driving change with patience and persistence
For Milica Mirković, CSE Sustainable Sourcing Specialist at Delhaize Serbia, the Positive Workplace Activism course was a chance to explore new possibilities for professional and personal growth. Starting a new role focused on, amongst others, climate impact at the beginning of 2024, Milica is passionate about rallying her coworkers, customers, and even her family to take action on this important issue.
The program taught her that change is a slow process and that persistence is key. “Change can be made slowly by focusing on stakeholders who can make decisions. To bring impact, be persistent with onboarding coworkers who have influence on suppliers and customers. And remember to celebrate small wins.”
Equipped with new skills, Milica plans to simplify and structure her sustainability initiatives, working closely with peers and suppliers with the aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Her approach is practical and focused on making a tangible impact, and she encourages her colleagues to be consistent and passionate in their efforts.
Milica’s advice to colleagues: “Every positive impact we can make is valuable. We are committed to serving our customers the best we can while improving processes to minimize our environmental impact.”
Sophie de Boer, building allies for sustainability
At Ahold Delhaize Coffee Company, Sophie worked on creating more sustainable plastic packaging. She joined the Positive Workplace Activism course hoping to learn how to better communicate the significance of her work and rally her colleagues behind the cause.
Sophie realized that while she was highly action-oriented, she sometimes overlooked the importance of building allies. " When it comes to sustainability projects, I’ve aways been very action oriented, but tend to forget the importance of finding allies and encouraging others to participate. Within the program I have learned how to identify these allies and encourage them to take action.”
Sophie continues to be a sounding board for her colleagues, offering guidance and brainstorming solutions to keep the project moving forward. “Sometimes just encouraging a colleague to take action or pitch their idea can make a world of difference,” she says.
Her advice for colleagues is to recognize the impact of their choices. “By aligning our decisions with values like sustainability and inclusivity, we can all contribute to a better tomorrow.”