The journey to good work at Albert Heijn: Malgorzata's story

The promise to make good work available for everyone is the common thread in everything we do at Carrière. At one of our largest clients, Albert Heijn, we see every day how much impact we create together. Right there, in the middle of the dynamic workplace, stories emerge that show what meaningful work truly means. Not as a slogan, but as something we bring to life every single day.

With our series Good Work at Albert Heijn, we bring these stories to life. We share growth journeys of colleagues who once started as temporary workers and through dedication, talent and the right guidance, progressed into leadership roles. This time the spotlight is on Malgorzata, branch manager at Albert Heijn Online in Utrecht.

Twelve years ago, Malgorzata moved from Poland to the Netherlands. She had studied economics and worked in Poland after graduating. Her husband served in the army but was given the opportunity to work in the Netherlands for three months. He made the move and eventually stayed longer. After a year, they faced a difficult choice: continue living apart or explore what life in the Netherlands could look like together.

Malgorzata knew little about the Netherlands. “The only thing I knew was that it always rains here,” she laughs. She decided to take the leap for three months. She started working as a housekeeper, thinking it would be temporary. But those three months turned into twelve years  and Malgorzata is still in the Netherlands.

From Order Picker to Branch Manager
Over those twelve years, Malgorzata experienced tremendous growth. When she started at Albert Heijn, she immediately felt at home. She began as a temporary order picker and quickly recognized opportunities and seized them. Step by step, she advanced. From buddy to flex team leader and flex coordinator. Later, she took on roles as planner and recruiter. Today, she is Branch Manager at Albert Heijn Online in Utrecht for Carrière.

Reciprocity as the Foundation for Growth
Some people say that everything came easily to Malgorzata because she is an only child. She sees it differently. “My life has not always been easy,” she says. “I’ve faced loss and health issues. That taught me one important lesson: you have to fight for the things you want to achieve.”

Malgorzata strongly believes in reciprocity. She worked hard to build trust with managers. She took good care of the colleagues around her, took responsibility, and showed that people could rely on her. “If you give, you also receive something in return,” she says. “Because I took ownership, I kept getting opportunities to take the next step.”

This is also the message Malgorzata shares every week during onboarding at Albert Heijn with new colleagues and temporary workers. “It’s all up to you,” she says. “Who you want to become in the future is your choice. If you truly believe in something, work hard, and stay true to yourself, you will succeed.”