Djordan Papilaya's passion for technology has always been a part of him. His interest was first sparked when he was just a young boy and would dismantle computers with his father on rainy Sundays. Later on, during his high school Information Science classes, this love for tech truly blossomed. But in time Djordan realized that coding and programming alone didn't fulfill him. “Once I embraced my true self, I discovered I’m actually a very social, creative person. In my role as a Tech Consultant at Albert Heijn, I combine my love for technology with social interactions in a way that suits me perfectly.”
When Djordan joined Albert Heijn in June 2023, it wasn't his first stint with the company. He originally joined the organization back in 2011 as a stock associate working in an Albert Heijn supermarket in Amstelveen, where he stayed for five years. “I really enjoyed my time there and liked the company a lot, especially because it was quite active in the tech field. As a stock associate, you're obviously not directly involved in digital innovation, but you do often hear about new systems being implemented. My manager knew I had a passion for tech and often discussed these developments with me – something I really appreciated. That's where my love for Albert Heijn started. After graduating with my master’s degree – and spending some time traveling and working in a café (more on that later) – it was time to find a full-time job. And of course Albert Heijn was at the top of my list of places to work.”
A few years before that, Djordan had earned his bachelor's degree in Media Technology and taken a job as a developer and programmer at a media company. “In that role, I realized what I had already started to feel during my studies: that I didn't quite fit into the hardcore tech world and the somewhat 'nerdy' profile that comes with it.
I love technology, but when it comes down to it, I prefer to be at the table with the creatives designing user interfaces. That job confirmed that I didn’t get enough from coding and programming alone, and I decided I wanted to nurture my creative, social side, too. That's why I pursued further education and chose to focus more on front-end development.”
There were other reasons why Djordan's creative side emerged during those years. "At the age of 18, I came out as gay and also started working at the café that I mentioned earlier – it was my first job in hospitality. Both experiences had a huge impact on who I am and, more importantly, who I dared to be. I used to be quite an introvert, but as a barista, I had to constantly interact with customers. It did wonders for my confidence and social skills. I also worked with an amazing team of people, many of whom were openly queer. We went out together, I built a life in the queer scene, and gradually, I grew into the person I am today. My years as a barista not only gave me a deep-seated passion for coffee but also brought so much more to my life. In fact, I still work at a café one day of every weekend. I just love the craft of coffee and the customer interaction so much that I find it hard to let go.”
Fortunately, in his role as a Tech Consultant, Djordan also enjoys plenty of interaction with other people and teams. He works closely with the three other colleagues in his own Support team within the Business Support department. “We're unfortunately not exactly a model of gender diversity yet. However, the department as a whole is more diverse, with more women working in other teams. Tech has traditionally been a male-dominated field, but thankfully, we're seeing positive shifts away from that.”
Ahold Delhaize Pride
Diversity is a key focus area for Djordan. "You might think it’s only important to me because I'm also 'diverse’, but it's about much more than that. I believe that a more diverse workforce enhances a company's culture, leading to better performance and overall success. When you can be your true self at work, you excel in what you do. Since last January, I've been a board member of Ahold Delhaize Pride (AD Pride), the Pride Business Resource Group (BRG) for Albert Heijn, Etos, Gall & Gall, and Ahold Delhaize. This group also collaborates closely with other BRGs, such as Queer bol, the Pride BRG at bol. “In my early days at the company, I attended an event hosted by AD Pride. A few months later, when a role opened up to handle the group's media and communications, I jumped at the opportunity to get involved. Our goal is to create an environment where all LGBTQI+ individuals feel welcome, represented, and valued, and we achieve this by organizing fun and interesting events for our queer community. We're pushing the diversity agenda with the aim of making it a top priority for senior management. We’ll only consider our job done when Ahold Delhaize is not just a fully queer-inclusive workplace for assoiates, but also a place where all customers feel respected and safe. In short, everyone who engages with Ahold Delhaize – including all our brands – should feel included and valued.”
Over the past three years, significant progress has been made on the diversity front. Last year saw the implementation of the Gender Transition Policy, designed to support associates undergoing a gender transition. “What's particularly encouraging is that we're increasingly sitting at the table with key decision-makers within the global organization, and even with members of the management team. They're really starting to look at us as the experts and turn to us for advice on how to handle diversity-related topics. We're thrilled about this as it helps us to achieve the goals we’ve envisioned. To be honest, though, even though we've made significant strides, we're still not quite there yet. I'm happy that my role within Ahold Delhaize Pride allows me to make a critical contribution to creating the inclusive, diverse workplace of the future.”
Name: Djordan Papilaya (1996)
Started working at Albert Heijn: June 2023
Studied: MSc Information Science, University of Amsterdam (2021)
Living with: My flatmate, Josephine
Hobbies: Making and drinking coffee, and traveling
Wake me up in the middle of the night for: To be honest, sleep is sacred to me, so you can only wake me up for an emergency.
Favorite holiday destination: Latin America. I’ve backpacked there several times and I just love the culture, the people, and the overall vibe.
Life-changing event: The cliched answer would be my coming out as gay, but I must mention it as it obviously was a life-changer. Similarly, my travels and time spent working at the Coffee Company also greatly impacted how I developed as a (queer) person
Biggest source of inspiration: My friends and immersing myself in a different culture while traveling.
Best advice I’ve ever received: “Don't worry too much about what others think – most of the time, they've already forgotten what you said or did anyway.” I used to stress about things I had said or done, but when a friend shared this advice, it really put my mind at ease. Another great piece of advice was to sometimes just let things go and adopt a bit of a "fuck it" attitude, if you'll pardon my French. Sometimes you’ve just got to go for it!
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