The Junior Talent Programme: How we are supporting interested students in their path to sustainability careers

Our new Junior Talent Programme aims to empower students on their journey towards becoming sustainability stewards through learning and innovations.  

After the successful launch of an innovative pilot internship initiative in Romania, we are excited to announce our new Junior Talent Programme. By offering professional student opportunities, we aim to provide a platform for young talent around the world to actively contribute to building a world where human choices ensure a sustainable future.  

What started our programme?  

In a significant collaboration led by Tudor Serban, Partner Relations Specialist at Preferred by Nature, this year, the pilot internship programme was initiated in Romania.  

“In 2014, I began my journey as an intern with Preferred by Nature, and I witnessed the exceptional capacity of the organisation to foster young talents dedicated to sustainability,” said Tudor.  

The pilot internship programme in Romania was started as a response to Tudor’s experiences at Preferred by Nature and as a means of giving future generations the same opportunities to support the common goal. 

In early 2023, we joined forces with four esteemed universities in Cluj-Napoca and Suceava to partner with faculties closely linked with the work we do. By connecting with these universities, we are directly engaging young talents in forestry, agriculture, and environmental protection under this initiative.  

Later on, in June 2023, we welcomed three talented interns — Dalia Szanto, Naomi Andreea Gordea, and Cezar Paul —to our Romania office.  

“It's exciting to work closely with these three brilliant and vibrant interns. They have enthusiastically taken on tasks in several divisions, and I am also learning from their new outlook on current developments,” added Tudor. 

Initially, their internship tenure began with three months of volunteer experience, where they were provided with meticulously designed training to immerse them in Preferred by Nature's mission, services, and values.  

During this period, they made substantial contributions, actively participating in audits, events, and a diverse range of tasks performed within the organisation. With the successful completion of the initial three months, all three students had been offered a long-term internship opportunity with our Forestry, Tailored Services, and Marketing divisions.  

Meet our interns in Romania   

Paul Cezar started this internship with self-study on Preferred by Nature and evolved into the market and development tasks in Romania. Currently, he is assisting our Market and Development team by looking after email campaigns, client collaboration, reviewing sales records, as well as participating in audits with our Forestry team.  

“Being a part of Preferred by Nature is crucial, as it enables me to advance professionally and learn more about subjects that interest me. Joining the organisation will help me achieve one of my career goals, which was formed during my time at university: becoming an auditor,” said Paul Cezar, Intern at Preferred by Nature.  

Involved in documentation, Dalia has been supporting our Tailored Services team with reviewing and verifying reports, marketing and sales proposals, and presentations.  

“This experience made me more accountable and time-efficient and, of course, helped me adjust to a new work environment, team members, and tasks. It also gave me the confidence to pursue more ambitious career goals. What motivates me each day is realising that my work has a small positive impact on the environment,” said Dalia Szanto, Intern at Preferred by Nature. 

During the internship, Naomi is engaged in diverse activities, including conducting research, reviewing and drafting reports, translating articles, promoting services at conferences and events, and participating in audits. She has now started working closely with our Quality Management team. 

“This experience contributed tremendously to my development, both as a person and career-wise. I have gained more confidence in my people skills, and my innate thirst for knowledge is at its peak,” said Naomi Andreea Gordea, Intern at Preferred by Nature. 

By participating in our Junior Talent Programme, students and young professionals not only gain valuable experience but also make substantial contributions to our ongoing initiatives, helping shape a sustainable future. 

“We recognise the significant contributions that junior talent can make to our mission in diverse ways and look forward to welcoming more students to our Junior Talent Programme,” added Tudor. 

To learn more about the Junior Talent Programme, please contact us. 

Cover photo courtesy Tudor Serban / Preferred by Nature.