Bob, 
Field Sales 
Representative
 

 ?  Why did you choose to apply to our CMT Programme at AB InBev?

I applied to the AB InBev CMT programme because I believe gaining hands-on sales and market experience is essential, especially within a leading commercial company like AB InBev. What truly inspired me is AB InBev’s position as the largest beer brewer of the world. This gives the opportunity to make a positive impact on millions of people, which aligns with its mission to create a future with more cheers. Additionally, after attending a career event and seeing a presentation of Company’s people, culture and its 10 principles, I felt an immediate connection. The values and goals of the company resonated deeply with me. Working at the world's largest beer brewer with the chance to grow professionally and contribute to AB InBev's positive impact on the business and the world, felt like the perfect opportunity. 
 
 

 ?  What does a day in the life of a CMT look like?

A typical week as a CMT in off-trade consists of two key areas: Sales: I start by preparing for my sales visits by analysing industry and store data to ensure I can provide the best advice to our customers/partners. Throughout the day, I visit various retailers, discussing strategic plans for the upcoming months to grow our brands and increase their revenue, and creating extra customer experience in the stores.  Project: Every CMT takes on a project designed to make a sustainable impact on the business. My data analytical project focused on enhancing the data-driven advice we offer to our customers. This project was a great way to balance my daily field responsibilities with the opportunity to broaden my business understanding and creating a network with key stakeholders within AB InBev.
 

 ?  How did the capstone sessions and interactions with senior leaders shape your perspective on the company's strategy and influence your professional growth?

The capstone sessions were very inspiring. These sessions provided us with direct access to senior leaders who shared both short-term and long-term strategies across various departments. It was a chance to not only learn about the business and industry but also to engage in open discussions, brainstorm ideas, and solve cases together with top leadership. AB InBev prioritizes the development of its people, and these interactions helped me grow as a professional and as a person by offering valuable perspectives and real-world knowledge that I could immediately apply in my work and day-to-day life.
 
 

 ?  Can you describe a project you worked on where the tasks you completed contributed to both your development and business improvements? What were the key takeaways from this experience?

As briefly mentioned before, during my traineeship I undertook a data analytics project aimed at improving the data-driven approach of our field sales team in off-trade. This project allowed me to develop a deeper understanding of the business, our customers, and the market, while also improving my strategic thinking. I identified opportunities to enhance how we utilize data and how to make it more accessible and easier to use for everyone within our team. The end goal and result were to enhance our team to be better informed, a more effective sales team and to create a stronger partnership with our retailers. My key takeaways from this experience were: Dream Big, continuously develop your skills, and always aim to keep solutions simple and scalable.
 
 

 ?  What personal challenges have you faced throughout your journey, and what helped you overcome them?

I encountered several challenges during my traineeship, from tough days in the field to overcoming difficulties while developing my data model for my project. However, I have learned that challenges are the best opportunities for growth.  What helped me the most was learning from my daily experiences, seeking advice from mentors/managers/senior leaders/etc and always being open to feedback. This network of support combined with a commitment to learning in ABI enabled me to tackle every challenge with confidence.