CargoForwarder Global’s ‘Spotlight On…’ series makes a point of illustrating the many different functions involved in air cargo. Many individuals all have their part to play in ensuring that shipments get to their destinations on time, in one piece, and without posing a security risk to anyone. Each week, CargoForwarder Global invites an air cargo personality to the fore and asks them to explain what they do, what brings them to our industry and why, and what advice do they would give to anyone considering a career in air cargo. This week, we hear from Kristin Beck (KB), Management Advisor at BeCon Projects GmbH.
CFG: What is your current function? And what are your responsibilities?
KB: My role is Management Advisor at BeCon Projects (BC), one of the top global Air Cargo consulting firms which revolutionizes the industry by providing integrated consulting solutions: Our products reach from facility (pre-) design & Material Handling System (MHS) design for cargo warehouses, to e-commerce readiness checks, cargo operation’s optimization and IT consulting. Hence, we deliver one-stop shop solutions to our worldwide clients in Europe, the US, and the UAE. My responsibility is to advise BC’s management in strategy, HR, and marketing-related topics, and to support in IT-related projects at client side.
CFG: What does a normal day look like for you? Or is there such a thing?
KB: In short: lots of calls, lots of alignment, coordination, and problem-solving. My normal day consists of diverse tasks such as moderating remote coordination calls with clients, managing the timeline of an implementation project, and coaching our management in regard to a specific topic, 1:1.
Working as a Management Advisor for BC is fun because I also get to travel for sales pitches and onsite workshops with clients in cities such as Paris or Amsterdam. TIACA or IATA events are also highlights of mine as I get to connect with industry insiders, there.
CFG: How long have you been in the air cargo industry, and what brought you to it?
KB: Since June 2023! When I was a little girl, I used to witness my father have all these calls which sounded important. He was always busy solving people’s problems and connecting stakeholders in the industry. I got to know how passionate he always seemed for his founded business. It was thus a natural thing to do: first go to university, then work in a different industry to gain experience, and then join his company. Knowing from an early age on that it is a people’s business, is precisely the fact that fascinated me to switch from the software to the Air Cargo industry.
CFG: What do you enjoy most about your job?
KB: Stakeholder management, the commercial side of the job and the diverse facets of my job ranging from recruiting the right people, to being involved in the operational work, too.
CFG: Where do you see the greatest challenges in our industry?
KB: The mid management in Air Cargo giants will retire at some point and new, fresh talents must be attracted via digital social media marketing and recruited through modern tools.
CFG: What advice would you give to people looking to get into the air cargo industry? Any particular training they should aim for?
KB: I would advise anyone who joins the industry to first start with familiarizing themselves with the industry’s supply chain and how it works. Then, speak to your manager on how to get really good at your job fast, and show up each day with a hands-on mentality. Meeting with different industry experts on a regular basis has shown me how important an open mindset is, as well as having the courage to try new ways of doing things and implement new technologies, for instance. Be authentic and use the training offered by industry communities such as TIACA.
So: open mindset, hands-on mentality, courage!
CFG: If the air cargo industry were a film/book, what would its title be?
KB: It’s a people’s business.
Thank you, Kristin, for sharing your points.
If you would like to share your personal air cargo story with our CargoForwarder Global readers, feel free to send your answers to the above questions to cargoforwarderglobal@kopfpilot.at We look forward to shining a spotlight on your job area, views, and experiences.
