Van Krakau en Bali naar een carrière bij PepsiCo
"The broad programme allowed me to explore different areas of business."
Meet Airlangga Rump, an International Business student whose journey took him from Hotel Management to studying in Krakow, working in Bali and starting his career at PepsiCo.
Finding the right direction
“When I started studying International Business, I mainly knew one thing: I wasn’t ready to start working yet. Before that, I studied Hotel Management. Although I enjoyed hospitality, I wanted to explore more areas of business, from sales and marketing to data and entrepreneurship. After an open day and a trial day at Avans, I knew International Business was the right choice.”
“What appealed to me most was the practical approach. We worked on real challenges for real companies, which pushed me to take initiative, work with others and find solutions.”
Discovering his passion for sales
“The broad programme allowed me to explore different areas of business. My Hotel Management background had already taught me a lot about communication and working with people, while International Business helped me develop new skills in marketing, data and sales. Over time, I realised that sales was the area I enjoyed most.”
“The programme also encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone. I had always assumed I would build my career in hospitality, but International Business made me curious about what else was possible.”
Learning abroad
“For my minor, I moved to Krakow with a close friend to study at the University of Economics. Living and studying in a different country challenged me to adapt and become more independent. During my minor, I participated in a Business Analysis Competition with 94 teams and 468 students. Our team eventually came first. The experience taught me that I don’t need to know everything before I start. If I don’t know something yet, I can learn it."
"After Krakow, I spent six months in Bali for my sales internship at Bvlgari Resort Bali. I worked with private travel agencies, supported the sales team and helped position the resort with the right clients. Living and working in Bali also pushed me personally. Being on the other side of the world taught me to figure things out for myself and take responsibility.”
From Bali to PepsiCo
“After Bali, I wanted to continue challenging myself. For my graduation internship, I joined PepsiCo to learn how a multinational FMCG company operates.”
“I researched how PepsiCo’s portfolio could be better positioned within the Lodging sector across the Benelux and worked with existing and new key accounts. I also gained experience across different areas of Away From Home, including sales, customer contact and projects. I enjoyed the experience so much that I stayed at PepsiCo after graduating.”
Starting my career
“I am now working as a Jr. Account Manager eAFH NL, responsible for the eCommerce and eB2B side of Away From Home in the Netherlands.”
“My work includes driving online activations, improving visibility with wholesalers, and identifying new opportunities and best practices to grow our eCommerce business in the Dutch market. What I enjoy most is the variety: working with customers, colleagues and different parts of the organisation means there is always something new to learn.”
Keep learning
“Looking back, International Business has taught me not to underestimate myself. From Hotel Management to International Business, from Poland to Bali and from student to account manager, every step has taught me something new.”
“My biggest lesson? You don’t have to know exactly where you will end up. Staying curious, asking questions and stepping outside your comfort zone can take you further than you think.”