We gave featured business leaders of the issue the final word in answering “What qualities are needed to succeed as a businessperson in your field?”
Jens Romer Sode, COO, Girteka Logistics
“The logistics space is an international sector, so speaking multiple languages can be really helpful. At the end of the day, you are signing contracts with people, so being able to meet them and speak in their own language can prove worthwhile.
“It is also very difficult to do something alone, so teamwork is very important. Lastly, on the financial side you must be able to understand the cost of your drivers at every transactional stage; we drive around the world 75 times a day – if we lost one cent per kilometre, we would be bankrupt within a few weeks!
“It is critical to understand the international nature the supply chain and logistics sector, the importance of teamwork, and how to make your operations efficient.”
Stefano Scainelli, CEO, Scame Parre S.p.A
“You must have curiosity to always do something new and the desire to compete and compare with the market. To do so, I take inspiration from our founders and above all the figure of my father, who established these qualities in our corporate imprinting from the beginning.”
Axel Pieters, CEO, Geocycle
“With the global organisation that we have, you need cultural adaptation. My corporate team in Switzerland includes nine different nationalities, and we work with people in countries such as India, Bangladesh and Nigeria, so I think that adaptation towards local cultures is absolutely necessary.”
Freddie Roe, Director of Aerospace and Defence, Astute Group
“From a personal point of view, having been in the business for 20 years, if you do this without passion and no focus on what you’re trying to achieve, then you’ll just exist and quite honestly, you’ll fail. You need to align passion and focus with an element of patience and diligence in the defence sector since nothing happens very fast. The ability to build solid relationships is crucial because these relationships will ultimately underpin your level of success.
“Secondly, as a business you must have a willingness to change, evolve, and do things differently. If you stand still, opportunities will pass you by and your customers will soon follow them.”
