Coach. Player. Coach.
3 MIN
Nacho Zaldivar found ways to make meaningful contributions, whether as a supervisor or as an individual contributor.
Nacho Zaldivar has always been motivated to play in the position where he can contribute the most — whether that’s as a semi-professional athlete on one of Europe’s football (soccer) teams or with Koch. While this attitude is applauded in the sports world, translating it into a business can be hard — especially for those who value career ladders and titles over meaningful work.
“I learned it was complicated to have a future in sports. So, I came back to my city in Spain to study administration and finance and explore a different career — I learned a lot and I enjoyed learning,” Nacho said.
By all accounts, Nacho’s career shift was successful. For about five years, he was a supervisor at Guardian’s Valencia Distribution Center, responsible for overseeing warehouse operations and a team of nine.
“I really enjoy connecting with people and understanding how we can work better together. I always take time to learn more about my team,” Nacho said.
When Koch acquired Guardian, a new opportunity arose. The business needed someone to help transform operations across all its European distribution centers, introducing new technology and digitizing processes.
The role was a great fit for Nacho’s aptitudes and interests, but it was not a supervisor role. Should he stay in his current role for the sake of a title, or should he transition into this individual contributor role where he could add significant value for the company? For Nacho, the answer was clear.
“Most importantly, I want to see my work help people,” Nacho shared. “That’s how I approached my role change. I saw every day as an opportunity to contribute and do more.”
"Most importantly, I want to see my work help people. That’s how I approached my role change."
The change was not without challenges. Nacho had to learn new skills and a new language (English) to communicate more effectively. Rather than viewing these as obstacles, he saw them as opportunities to grow. He began by watching videos to improve his language skills and relied on his supervisor, Alessandro Tonelli, when he needed extra help. "I felt confident trying new things because I knew I had a supportive supervisor," said Nacho.
Nacho also quickly realized that applying PBM and prioritizing Koch’s Vision was his best way forward. He worked with Alessandro to better understand principles, so that he could better explain and connect employees to PBM. In this way, he believed he could better unify teams, streamline processes and contribute to meaningful change across the business.
One of the biggest challenges Nacho had to overcome was the perception of others that he had moved “down” because he was now in an individual contributor role.
“Most people didn’t understand why I would even consider transitioning into a non-supervisory role,” Nacho reflected. “But changing roles isn’t a bad thing; in fact, it’s usually because you have the skills to contribute even more.”
This was the case for Nacho. During his time as an individual contributor, he worked closely with operators, leadmen and supervisors. He spent time at the different distribution centers, conducting audits and understanding how the business works. This gave him valuable insight regarding potential growth for the company. As the needs of the business continued to transform, this experience prepared him for an unexpected new role.
"Nacho did an excellent job transforming our processes in his individual contributor role," said Alessandro. “It was time for him to continue growing and support the business in a different way." He encouraged Nacho to try something new again — contributing as a supervisor of supervisors.
As manager of Guardian’s European distribution centers, Nacho develops leaders and aligns those facilities with Koch’s philosophy, utilizing the knowledge and skills he learned as an individual contributor.
“When I stepped into this role, I made it a goal to identify and nurture potential within my team,” Nacho shared. “One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is that people can exceed expectations when given the proper development and opportunities.”
Unconstrained by titles or career path, Nacho enjoys meaningful work and contributing where he’s needed most — just like he did on the football field.
"If I hadn’t been willing to explore new opportunities, I wouldn't have learned as much. Now, I use that knowledge to help even more people. And if an opportunity arises to create greater value as an individual contributor again, I would be open to it.”
Give It a Try
The power of these principles happens through application. There’s no substitute for learning as you apply.
- Click here to review the Motivations and Behaviors for Individual and Organizational Success tool. Pick two areas you’d like to work on improving and tell your supervisor.
- Identify and explore opportunities where your areas of strength could enable you to contribute more.
- How do skills or knowledge you gained in the past help you in your current role?
- Supervisors: How are you encouraging employees to expand their contributions rather than "moving up the ladder"?
- Nacho lists three ways PBM can help improve business results. How would you use PBM to improve your team or business results?