Samantha Akello – Marketing Officer, Koudijs Uganda

Samantha was drawn to Koudijs because of the organization's strong values and its focus on entrepreneurship, independence, and continuous development. She was particularly excited by the prospect of working in a fast-paced multinational environment. “The opportunity to put my marketing skillset to the test, learn new tools, and serve a larger purpose in supporting economic development and solving global hunger was too appealing to ignore,” she shares.

With an entrepreneurial spirit, Samantha is dedicated to building connections between organizations and their target markets. “I am equally passionate about empowering women in business and supporting their entrepreneurial journeys,” she says. In her role as Marketing Officer, Samantha is responsible for creating tailored marketing strategies that drive growth, enhance brand visibility, and strengthen relationships with farmers. “Our brand values, with focus on supporting entrepreneurs, resonate deeply with me. I’m excited by the challenge of reaching new and existing farmers through both digital and offline experiences.” 

Samantha’s day begins with reviewing engagement numbers on digital platforms and gathering feedback from customers. As the day progresses, her tasks evolve, including meetings with supervisors and visits to farms with the sales team. “I enjoy the dynamic nature of my work, which combines developing customized marketing plans, localising global strategies, optimising digital platforms, and executing customer-facing activities,” she explains.

The cross-cultural dynamics between the Ugandan and Dutch work cultures make her work uniquely stimulating. “Working with both the global marketing/export office team and my Ugandan colleagues offers a dynamic synergy that keeps me intrigued and excited to merge these different worlds to deliver marketing objectives and support sales,” she states. The challenge of navigating the world of animal nutrition and sharing valuable insights globally is what makes her role rewarding. Samantha finds the most joy in seeing the direct impact of Koudijs and De Heus on farmers in Uganda. “The work we do truly makes a difference in farmers’ lives, and that makes every day feel worthwhile,” she reflects.

Among the projects Samantha is most proud of is the Koudijs farmer engagement dinner event, which brought together loyal farmers to appreciate their years of brand commitment. “It was an incredible moment to connect with our farmers and acknowledge their support over more than eight years,” Samantha shares. Another proud achievement was the Harvest Money Expo, which allowed Koudijs to directly interact with farmers. “Hearing our customers' feedback and feeling their enthusiasm reassured us that we’re on the right track as a brand,” she says.