Nevena Djakovic began her career within Ahold Delhaize in 2019, joining Maxi in Serbia as a Diversity & Inclusion expert. Since then, her journey has taken her far. Today, she is Manager of Organizational Development and DE&I for Europe and Indonesia, collaborating with the regional team at Ahold Delhaize’s HQ in Zaandam, the Netherlands. While Nevena hasn’t relocated full-time, she frequently travels between Belgrade and Zaandam. Her suitcase is never far away, ready for each journey that adds a new chapter to her 2-2-2 experience.
cultural differences
New scope, new perspectives I had been with Maxi, one of Ahold Delhaize’s local supermarket brands in Serbia, for four years when I applied for the role in Zaandam. Although I had a fantastic time at Maxi, I was ready for the next step in my career. The idea of moving beyond a single brand had always appealed to me, as I could collaborate across multiple brands and see the bigger HR picture. I was looking forward to gaining new perspectives and collaborating with people across various functions. The topics were more or less the same, but the wider scope opened up so many new angles on DE&I, my area of focus.
Belgrade-Zaandam The fact that full relocation wasn’t a requirement for the role was a plus. It wouldn’t have been a showstopper, but I prefer it as it is now: I still work from the same office in Belgrade, at the same desk, with the same colleagues I had at Maxi. Every quarter, I spend a week at Ahold Delhaize’s HQ in Zaandam to connect with my team and stakeholders. Those weeks are intense – packed with meetings – but I love them. Our core team is just three people, but we’re part of a wider European HR network. When I’m in Holland, I make a point of meeting as many colleagues as I can.
Direct communication Culturally, there are quite a few differences between Serbia and the Netherlands. Of course, you can’t generalize, but Dutch people tend to communicate somewhat more directly than Serbians. I won’t lie: it took a little while to get used to, but I’ve come to appreciate it and see the benefits. It showed me that I could benefit from being a bit more direct myself, as it helps avoid misunderstandings. I won’t drastically change my personal communication style, but I do try to be a little bit more direct in conversations with Dutch colleagues from time to time.
private life
Always on the move Even though I haven’t relocated full-time, this regional role has definitely shaped my personal life. It means I’m constantly on the go – trips to Zaandam, brand visits in other European countries, or heading off for special projects. Things are a bit more complicated because my partner is based in Berlin. We didn’t set out to have a long-distance relationship, but we’ve been together for twelve years, and his job moved him to Berlin four years ago. In practice, this means I’m often packing and unpacking. I also want to make time for my friends and my parents. Maintaining all these relationships sometimes puts my planning skills to the test.
Confidence boost Some people might find all this travel exhausting, but I actually really enjoy this lifestyle. Traveling has taught me a lot about myself. It’s a huge confidence boost to travel alone, meet people from different cultures, and build meaningful connections with them. It’s also made me even more open as a person. I’ve always been open-minded, which makes sense given my work in DE&I, but meeting people from so many backgrounds and understanding their perspectives has broadened my horizons even further.
Cozy coffee culture In Serbia, we have a vibrant coffee culture. Belgrade is full of lovely cafés where people go every day to sit down and enjoy their coffee. It’s one of my favorite parts of the day. Partly it’s a social ritual, but it’s also a cherished daily routine. When I’m in Zaandam, I struggle to find a place that gives me the same feeling. Berlin is similar – many coffee spots are geared toward takeaway. I prefer cafés with cozy seating areas, where you can just sit and relax for a while. It’s one of the things I miss most when I’m away from Belgrade.
biggest challenge(s)
Building connections across distance Choosing to stay in Serbia while joining a team in Zaandam made the transition to this role somewhat more challenging. When you’re not physically present, you miss out on casual coffee chats and those spontaneous moments that help relationships grow. Being open about this and finding a rhythm for working together made all the difference. It’s also about managing expectations – relationships take time and can’t be forced. Being intentional and transparent about what works and what doesn’t has been key. Virtual coffees during check-ins became a small but meaningful ritual for us. Sharing a coffee during a meeting adds a layer of connection, even across distance. You can tell where I am by the cup I’m holding: my work-from-home cup, one for the Belgrade office, and one for Zaandam.
A great fit I definitely stepped out of my comfort zone, but it was just really a great fit from day one. The main shift was moving from an end-to-end, brand-focused mindset to a regional perspective. It wasn’t a huge challenge, just a different way of looking at things. Working across multiple brands, regions, and the group as a whole gives you a better understanding of how everything fits together into our strategy and purpose from multiple angles. Personally, I think it’s a huge benefit to have worked for a brand before taking on regional responsibilities.
words of wisdom
If you want to grow within this organization, be open and speak up about your ambitions. Share your interests during development conversations – if no one knows what excites you, it’s hard for opportunities to come your way. Ahold Delhaize has a great internal career website with interesting roles all over the globe, so be curious and courageous. Explore new areas, try different things, voice your aspirations, and act on them. Opportunities can come to you, but it’s just as important to be proactive and make your goals known.
