Future Retail Managers kick-off their careers
District Managers Jenni Mikkonen and Nicolai Frisk are two of the new Retail Manager Trainees in JYSK.
The journey to becoming Retail Manager begins with a two-day kick-off programme at JYSK’s head office in Denmark.
Retail Manager Trainee
- The Retail Manager Trainee Programme lasts about 18 months.
- Retail Managers are responsible for securing optimal JYSK store operations in the individual regions.
Two of the people taking part in the introduction at the end of February were Jenni Mikkonen from Finland and Nicolai Frisk from Denmark. Both are currently working as District Managers.
In 18 months, they will finish their training and be ready to become Retail Managers.
Retail Manager role models
“I am very excited to be part of the Retail Manager Trainee programme, and it is an honour to be involved with this great group of people. My personal goal was to be here in 2019, so I am already one year ahead of schedule,” says Jenni, who is 41 years old and has worked in JYSK for the past 14 years.
It was in her current role as District Manager for nine stores in northern Finland that she discovered the next possible step in her career.
“When I started as District Manager three years ago, Ville Velin, our current Country Manager, was Retail Manager in Finland. Then Roni Tuominen became Retail Manager, and they are both amazing, so I have had very good examples to look up to,” explains Jenni, who has also been inspired by her colleague Tiina Palosaari, who finished the traineeship together with Roni and is now Retail Manager.
Colleagues make it possible
32-year-old Nicolai Frisk, who is currently District Manager for ten stores in eastern Denmark, was also inspired by his colleagues to apply for the Retail Manager Trainee programme.
“Two years ago, I did a workshop with Country Manager Bo Andersen and Retail Managers Torben Degn and Stephan Jacobsen. That really made me aware of the exciting opportunities in being Retail Manager,” says Nicolai.
He looks forward to putting his 11 years of experience from JYSK stores to work on a strategic level as Retail Manager Trainee.
“I feel ready to take the next step in my career. I have this fire burning inside of me, and I really want to contribute with all of my knowledge from the practical side of our business. It is going to be hard work, but I have great colleagues who are ready to make this possible,” explains Nicolai.
