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Samara Pacini | Global Tender Manager
In 2024, Samara Pacini moved from São Paulo to Amsterdam. As Ahrend’s Global Tender Manager, she acts as the central link in international tender processes. Samara talks about her challenging role, the power of thinking out of the box, and working abroad.
How did you end up at Ahrend?
I think the world is too big to spend your whole life living and working in just one country. I come from Brazil, a country so vast that it can feel somewhat cut off from the rest of the world. I have always wanted to explore what lies beyond it. My husband is from Costa Rica and was offered a job in the Netherlands. To be honest, I’d never really thought about the Netherlands, but it turned out to be a very pleasant surprise. No long after, a position also became available at Ahrend. Having worked in the same industry in Brazil, it felt like the right opportunity.
‘I think the world is too big to spend your whole life living and working in just one country.’
You’re a Global Tender Manager. What does that entail?
Together with my team, I support Ahrend’s account managers worldwide in tender processes. We take full ownership of the process: we know all the ins and outs of the tender process and ensure that our customer’s needs are translated into consistent and compelling proposals. Beyond the standard tasks, we focus on thinking outside the box, being creative and finding ways to surprise the client. Furthermore, we serve as the central link between all stakeholders involved, both internal and external.
It sounds like your role fits perfectly with Ahrend’s international ambitions.
Absolutely! We have more than 20 offices across 4 continents. Before I established the Global Tenders department, account managers in all those countries had to connect all the dots themselves, which was quite challenging alongside managing their existing clients. By offering a structured, global approach to profit tender processes through the tender team, we know exactly how the lines of communication work. We take a lot of the workload off the account managers’ shoulders, allowing them to focus on their core tasks.
Do you have an example of a tender where your team made a difference?
A good example is a major tender we won in the US, where reducing CO₂ emissions was a key priority. We were at a disadvantage, as we didn’t have a factory or a physical presence in the US. However, the tender team, together with the Logistics and Sustainability teams, successfully demonstrated that shipping our lighter and more durable products from the Netherlands resulted in lower CO₂ emissions than our competitors’ road transport within the US.
What makes working at Ahrend so enjoyable?
Companies are made up of people, and I’m very happy with the people around me. I feel supported here. When I started working at the Amsterdam office, I was the first international employee. My department didn’t exist yet, and I didn’t speak the language. Now there’s a great international team around me. We often exchange cultural insights and even take the time to learn Dutch together with our Dutch colleagues during lunchtime. Of course, much of the communication at Ahrend still happens in Dutch, giving me plenty of opportunities to practice the language. In meetings, however, everyone switches to English when I’m present.
You have a stressful job. How do you stay energised?
Well, that’s a challenge, because we’ve had a little daughter since last July, and I find the ‘mum job’ pretty tough. In fact, I sometimes feel like I’m relaxing when I’m working. I love the pressure and the adrenaline of a challenging job. On the rare occasions when we have some free time and can arrange a babysitter, my husband and I go out for a bite to eat in town, go for a walk hand in hand at the end of a beautiful day, or simply do nothing and enjoy the sunshine. If there is any!
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