Networking In Logistics

The Power of Referrals... An Aviation Recruiter's Perspective...👩💻 A few weeks ago, I shared that recent studies have shown that across all industries, estimates often show that approximately 40% of new hires come from referrals. Looking back at the 70+ pilots I’ve hired recently, the number who came to us as a referral was almost 60%. That outcome tells a story. Hiring, especially in roles where trust and responsibility matter, is deeply relationship-driven. Knowing that someone we trust has worked with or flown with a candidate gives insight you can’t always get from a resume. It helps to understand how they communicate, how they show up on a tough day, and how they operate as part of a team. And referrals aren’t just about technical skill. There’s value in hearing from someone who has taken the time to get to know a candidate and can speak to professionalism, judgment, client interaction, and culture fit. Those things matter every single day. NOTE: Referrals do not replace qualifications. They help complete the picture. That’s why building genuine relationships matters; in aviation and everywhere else. Foster relationships where you've previously worked...keep in touch Build your digital network... Be visible at local FBO's... Join networking groups... Volunteer flying... Attend a job fair...or a fly-in or pancake breakfast 🥞 ✈️ #PilotJobs #AviationHiring #Recruiting #Referrals #Networking #CareerGrowth #ProfessionalDevelopment #AviationCareers #AviationCommunity

Having been in the freight forwarding industry for over 30 years, I have seen my fair share of "uncertainty." Both personally when I, along with thousands, lost a job during the early days of the financial crisis in 2009 or professionally through countless years of differing struggles and challenges that are notorious in this industry. It is often said that the only certainty in our industry is uncertainty. Moving cargo from faraway lands over the ocean and in the air involving sometimes dozens of entities and touchpoints is much like putting a puzzle together with a constant stopwatch running but not having all the puzzle pieces at your disposal when you begin. Add to all those moving pieces market dynamics and geopolitical pressures and certainty really is a rarity rather than the norm. I agree with much in this article. Most importantly, that people are still the foundation of the many companies that proudly call themselves freight forwarders. So, I would add one additional key to this list and that is analysis and interpretation. Most definitions of a freight forwarder state that we are "intermediaries." An intermediary as defined by Webster is "a mediator, go-between," or even "a medium." It is vital that a good forwarder act if not as a full fledge psychic medium, at least as one that can ingest past, present, and future market trends and dynamics and present a clear, unvarnished and realistic prediction of what might affect a customer's supply chain. We certainly will not always be right. Again, we are not, all jokes aside, able to actually predict the future, but collectively, forwarders have seen and dealt with just about every kind of disruption, problem, oddity, and snafu. And it is our job to solve them. We also must have and constantly build the relationships with so many of those many entities used in moving cargo. Even those shippers that have their own relationships with carriers may not always get an unvarnished view of the market, for instance. Not because carriers are not truthful, but because their view of market dynamics are impacted by different perspectives. As the world continues to be more and more uncertain, having strong partnerships with forwarders continues to be critical to a company's supply chain success. #freightforwarding #forwarder #nvocc #oceanfreight #oceanshipping #carriers #containershipping

Friday advice from an aviation recruiter ✈️ You truly never know who you're going to meet. A friend of mine was recently waiting on his AME to renew his medical when he struck up a conversation with another pilot in the waiting room. They started talking about their backgrounds, career goals, and aspirations of making it to the airlines. During that conversation, my friend mentioned my name and the work I do in recruiting. That simple interaction opened the door for a new connection. We were able to get in touch, answer questions, and help that pilot learn more about opportunities that aligned with his goals. The lesson? Networking doesn't only happen at conferences, job fairs, or formal events. It happens in waiting rooms, grocery stores, coffee shops, local airports, and countless other places we visit every day. Always be kind. Always be genuine. Always be yourself. You never know who is listening, who is watching, or who may play a role in your journey. The person standing next to you today could become a mentor, recommend you for a position, introduce you to your dream company, or simply provide the encouragement you need at exactly the right time. Keep showing up. Keep making connections. Keep having conversations. Because sometimes the opportunities that change your life begin with a simple, "So, what do you fly?" Take a breath. Monday's another departure. 🛫

This happened to me at our last event: I watched a freight forwarder spend 15 minutes pitching their services to everyone they met, closing zero relationships, and wondering why they never get nominated for shipments. They asked me what they were doing wrong, and my answer surprised them: Forwarder: Why am I not getting any business from these events? Me: Before I answer, what do YOU think is happening? Forwarder: I think people just aren't ready to switch partners yet. I'm showing them our rates, our transit times, our track record. Me: How many of those people did you ask about their business challenges? Forwarder: I mean, we're here to do business, right? Me: Actually, no. You're here to build friendships. _________ As someone who runs freight forwarding networks with 2200+ members, I can tell you the biggest mistake I see is forwarders treating networking events like transactions. They show up with rate sheets and service presentations. They pitch within 60 seconds of meeting someone. Then they wonder why their phone never rings. Here's what I've learned: the forwarders who get the most nominations are NOT the ones with the best pitch. They're the ones who genuinely care about the person in front of them. They ask about families, hobbies, and market challenges. They follow up with genuine check-ins, not sales emails. They celebrate wins and offer support during losses. Why does this work? Because freight forwarding is built on trust, and trust comes from emotional connection, not logical arguments. TAKEAWAY: Stop treating networking events like sales meetings. The best freight forwarders succeed because they genuinely care about people before business. Friendship first isn't just philosophy in freight forwarding; it's the only framework that actually works.

Starting out as a young aerospace engineering professional, one major lesson I quickly learned was that technical knowledge alone would not make me stand out in the industry. Yes, I am one of the few women in Aerospace Engineering here in Nigeria. But I believe I need much more than that to stand out and excel in this highly competitive industry. Being technically sound is just a piece of the puzzle. To be successful, you need a variety of additional skills in your toolbox. For me, what has always worked has been — Strategic Networking ‼️ A few weeks ago, I came across a post by Miguel Cabrera Vivas on the importance of networking for aviation professionals. And what struck me the most was how much impact I have had with the right network — ✈ My Aircraft Maintenance Internship ✈ An Aircraft Maintenance Graduate Training ✈ My first International Aviation Writing role ✈ Over $1K worth Aerospace and Aviation Courses ✈ Professional Career Mentorships from accomplished International Professionals And so much more... By now you're probably wondering how best to network here on LinkedIn. And here are the tips that have helped me: ✈ Be genuine and always offer value when connecting with others. ✈ Engage consistently with industry-related content to stay visible and relevant. ✈ Follow up with new connections and continue nurturing relationships over time. ✈ Share your insights and experiences to contribute to conversations in your field. ✈ Attend virtual and physical events to expand your network and industry knowledge. Dearest AeroLovelies, Being connected to the right people at specific periods in my career has given me so many opportunities that has 3X my career development. What networking strategies have worked for you? Share in the comments below. #aerospace #strategicnetworking #mentorshipmonday #theairplanegirl

✈️ How Do You Plan a Cargo Airline Network? Here’s a Strategic Blueprint. Network planning in the cargo aviation world isn’t just about drawing lines on a map — it’s a data-driven, market-sensitive balancing act between demand, capacity, and profitability. Whether you’re optimizing an existing network or launching a new route, here’s how we approach it: 🔍 1. Understand Demand Flows Start with trade data, historical cargo movements, and economic indicators. What commodities are moving? From where to where? Look for underserved lanes, imbalances, and seasonality. 📦 2. Analyze Capacity & Competitors What’s already flying in and out? Consider belly capacity in passenger flights, integrator presence (FedEx, DHL, etc.), and other freighter operators. What’s the competition offering — and what gaps can you fill? 🛫 3. Match Aircraft to Markets The right aircraft for the right mission: widebodies for transcontinental hauls, narrowbodies for regional or feeder routes. Factor in load factors, turnaround times, and airport capabilities. 🔁 4. Build a Hub-and-Spoke or Point-to-Point Strategy Should you concentrate volume through key hubs, or serve major markets directly? This depends on your fleet size, transit times, and operational costs. 📈 5. Model Scenarios & Test Resilience Use route profitability models to simulate yield, volume, fuel burn, and crew costs. Don’t forget to model disruptions — weather, fuel price surges, or geopolitical changes can shift everything overnight. ♻️ 6. Continuously Refine with Data Network planning isn’t static. Regularly revisit assumptions, engage with your commercial teams, and track actual vs. forecasted performance. The best cargo networks solve real customer problems — faster, more reliable, or more cost-effective service. That’s the real north star. 🌍📦 #Aviation #ChallengeGroup #NetworkPlanning #AirCargo #AirFreight #Logistics #RouteDevelopment #AviationStrategy #B747 #B767 #B777 #Boeing #LGG

You might think hunting for a hidden corporate or private flying job means spending hours typing keywords into the LinkedIn search bar: "Part 91." "Gulfstream." "Corporate Pilot." Hoping a boutique flight department or a wealthy aircraft owner left some breadcrumbs to follow. When you don’t find anything, you might assume nobody is hiring… But I'll be honest with you. Small, single-aircraft operators aren't posting on job boards. Most of them don't even have anyone on staff whose job it is to hire a pilot. So LinkedIn is step three for finding these jobs, not step one. Step one is finding the airplane before you find the person who flies it. Here's how to spend an hour this weekend doing exactly that: 1. Watch the ramp, not the job boards. Pull up FlightAware or FlightRadar24 for your local corporate or regional airport. Note the tail numbers of the mid-to-large cabin jets that show up consistently but don't belong to a fractional fleet you recognize. 2. Find out who owns them. Run those tail numbers through the FAA Registry. You'll almost never get a person's name - you'll get an LLC or a holding company. Write that name down. 3. Now bring it to LinkedIn. Search the exact company or LLC name, not "pilot jobs." Look for whoever's attached to it - Chief Pilot, Director of Aviation, or a contract captain flying that airframe. When you reach out to someone you found this way, don't ask if they're hiring. Ask a specific question about their base or their airplane. Sure, it's more work than hitting "Easy Apply." But that's how the seats that never get advertised actually get filled. Happy hunting, and have a great weekend. - James

In logistics, we obsess over the visible components: vessels, aircraft, warehouses, trucks, and technology. Yet after 15+ years navigating this industry across Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, India, and Dubai. I've discovered that the most powerful infrastructure isn't physical at all. It's your network. True networking goes far deeper than exchanging contact information at industry conferences. It's about building an ecosystem of trusted relationships that can be mobilized when standard solutions fail. When a critical shipment was stranded in Jeddah due to unexpected regulatory changes, it wasn't our contingency plans that saved the day. It was a relationship I'd cultivated three years earlier with a customs official who provided crucial guidance at midnight. That's the logistics network effect in action. As one of the relatively few women leaders in logistics, I've found that building authentic connections often comes naturally to many of us. The ability to listen actively, remember personal details, and nurture relationships creates network strength that delivers measurable business results. our robust network has directly contributed to: - Securing preferred rates with carriers - Expediting customs clearance processes - Navigating regulatory complexities across borders In logistics, your service is only as good as your ability to deliver when conventional systems fail. And that's precisely when your network becomes your most valuable asset. What networking strategies have delivered the greatest value in your logistics career? #LogisticsNetworking #WomenInLogistics #SupplyChainLeadership

I'm seeing a dangerous pattern with logistics network memberships, and it's costing forwarders real money. Here's what nobody tells you about joining a freight network: THE ILLUSION: - Pay the membership fee and expect business to flow in - Ignore the member portal and partnership tools - Never follow up with the contacts you made - Add "Member of [Network Name]" to your email signature - Attend the conference, exchange business cards, take photos THE REALITY: - The membership gives you access, not outcomes - Use the tools and platforms the network provides - Invest time in members who align with your strategy - Respond quickly when members reach out with opportunities - Build relationships through consistent communication - Prove your reliability with small shipments before expecting big ones WHAT I'VE LEARNED: At CLN Premier and X2 Logistics Networks, I see this every single year. New members join with high expectations, pay the fee, attend the conference, and then nothing happens. The successful members treat the network like a tool, not a solution. They understand the membership opens doors, but they still need to walk through them. Network memberships are sold as business generators. They're not. They're relationship accelerators. The infrastructure is there, but infrastructure without effort is just expensive overhead. In 2026, your network membership is only as valuable as the relationships you build within it.

High School Students, College Students, and aspiring airport professionals....listen up and (hopefully) take some notes! As many of you know, one of the best things you can do is get involved early. The aviation industry is built on relationships, collaboration, and continuous learning—and there are incredible opportunities out there to help you get started, and people like myself who want to help you get there. Early in my career, I learned the hard way: "You don't know what you don't know." However, I was fortunate to have had someone drag me to a winter board meeting, and that help has grown along the way, getting involved in AAAE, and continued support from my airport leadership to grow within the Association. Just this week, I joined airport professionals from across the country at our Chapter Officer meeting in DC, representing 6 chapters individually, and the key topics were: How do we build a succession plan and pipeline for students (YOU ALL) for future leadership roles, and how do we educate them on all there is to offer? If you are lost, here is a good place to start: ✈️ Join and get involved in local chapters (Mine is GLCAAAE, the Great Lakes Chapter of AAAE-we are a big family) ✈️ Once a member, join committees to gain insight into key industry topics-the first year on the committee is a great learning opportunity. ✈️ Attend conferences to network and learn from professionals- professional development grants can be found on the AAAE website under Professional Development Grants. I will say, as a recipient of one, it propelled my interest in getting involved in my chapter after I attended and met so many great peers, and it helped me with promotions along the way. Look to the amazing Gwen Basaria for questions. ✈️ Don't be afraid to put yourself out there. This is my open invitation to email me to get involved or get a path into leadership! Below are pictures of committees, awards, friends, and my accreditation, to name a few, which I feel so lucky to have received, and you can too! We leave these strategic meetings motivated to help YOU...but we need your participation and the knowledge of where you want to go! Get Involved! #aaae #airportoperations #leadership #glcaaae #airportindustry #aviation