Growing through challenge: My life as a global trainee in sales

My name is Shamama Mehdi, and I’m a Global Trainee at FrieslandCampina Pakistan. I have a background in Finance and am currently placed in Sales as an Area Sales Manager in Karachi. I look after part of the city and manage the on‑ground execution for our brands like Olper’s, Tarang, and Olper’s Flavoured Milk. No two days look the same. Some mornings start at the distribution center, some in the regional office, and many out in the market where everything comes alive. It’s fast‑paced, high‑energy, and never predictable. And that’s exactly what I enjoy about it.

With marketing experience, it is refreshing to finally see how theory meets real‑world behavior: how shopkeepers make decisions, how consumers respond, and how the “big picture” turns into daily actions.

Before applying for the Global Traineeship, I already knew FrieslandCampina, but I didn’t know much about the program. I thought it was a normal management trainee role. It was only when I started preparing for interviews and then went to the assessment center in Karachi that I realised how different the program is. The whole process made me feel that the company puts a lot of thought into how they bring trainees on board, and that made me more excited.

Right now, I’m working on a couple of projects that I’m really excited about. One is a full review and redesign of how our distribution operates: figuring out where the inefficiencies are and how we can fix them so that our frontline teams can work better. The second project is about building capability among our order bookers. They’re the people who meet shopkeepers every day, so helping them strengthen their pitch and communication can make a huge difference. I’m hoping this starts in Karachi but can eventually help other cities too.

Looking ahead, I’m excited for the rest of my sales rotation. Now that I understand the role better, I’m looking forward to contributing more and maybe trying out new ideas. For my second rotation, I’d love to move into Marketing or Trade Marketing. I feel strongly that you can’t excel in those areas unless you’ve had proper field exposure, so the time I’m spending in Sales now will definitely help me later on.

For anyone thinking about applying to the Global Traineeship, I’d really encourage them to do it. It gives you a lot of real responsibility from the beginning, but also the kind of support that helps you grow. Among my friends and peers, there’s already a lot of interest in it, and I’m always happy to share my experience: especially when I go back to my university and students ask me how it’s been. Being part of this first cohort is exciting, and I’m really looking forward to seeing how the programme grows in the years ahead.