Strong leadership is important in all aspects of corporate management, from setting the company’s overall direction to ensuring specific business processes run smoothly. In the logistics industry, successful senior managers and line managers have distinctive leadership skills. For most companies, logistics are a cost of doing business. Understanding how to minimize these costs – in terms of financial and human resources – requires close communication with the industry players themselves.

That’s what AsstrA experts do to help customers gain a competitive advantage. The team thinks through the strategy behind a given set of logistics operations, organizes their execution, and is always looking for innovative ways to do things better. Thorough transport operational know-how, wide multidisciplinary experience, and detailed industry knowledge all help the team add value for customers. Experienced management is a key success factor, as logistics involves a wide range of issues and plays an impoirtant role in a company’s overall profitability.

Let’s discuss personal responsibility and corporate performance with Maksim Dubinin, Trade Lane Manager at AsstrA.

Give advice on where to start a career in logistics.

Maksim Dubinin

Growing and moving up the logistics career ladder requires multiple skill sets. The first is basic competencies such as languages, writing and communication, and qualitative and quantitative analytical abilities. The second set includes specific knowledge about a particular sector. When someone enters logistics straight out of school, they obviously don’t have the professional experience yet. In this case, their desire and ability to learn becomes decisive. It is also worth keeping a close eye on industry trends in order to anticipate changes in the market and, as a result, how one works in it. Industry-specific continuing education is another way to stay competent.

Real business is done by brave people. Do you agree with this statement?

Rather yes than no. Despite fears of failure, it is necessary to take on challenges and get things done. Taking personal initiative and successfully heading up of a project is what true leadership is all about. When at first glance the project seems difficult or impossible, a good leader breaks the "elephant" into parts and moves forward step by step. Responsibility and leadership skills are learned in response to new challenges, and monetary rewards often follow as a pleasant bonus. In a well-coordinated team, risks can be managed better. At every stage of a project you can count on the support of colleagues.

Share your secret of success. Is this the work of one person or a large team?

I would love to share it, but unfortunately there is no magic secret. When I became a member of the team of the AsstrA Central Europe Department, I followed the example of my senior colleagues. I tried to gain their competencies and experience. The Operations Department is one of the company’s oldest business units and is now headed by a team leader with 26 years of experience at AsstrA. Team members encourage each other to excel in their roles; personal aspirations support the overall success of the team. It’s a place where trust, friendships, and partnerships are built.

The turbulent 2020 year is ending. What are your goals for 2021?

To be as competent as my senior colleagues, of course, and to serve as an example for the next generation of my junior colleagues. I am sure that the department will continue to be proud of the results we achieve, and we can finally celebrate them in person at the department meeting!