Can you tell us what a typical day in your role of Sea Logistics Trade Specialist for Kuehne+Nagel looks like?
A typical day in my role differs from others in similar positions. I’m fortunate to be based in Mexico City while working for the USA head office in New York. My role revolves around collaborating with the USA Export Trade Managers to improve business processes and find growth opportunities through data analysis.
My day-to-day work is broad but remains highly business- and data-oriented. It can range from analysing the optimal sell rate for US export shipments to assessing how global economic updates will impact USA export shipping volumes.
Was supply chain management an area you always wanted to work in?
Honestly when I started at UC, I was very unsure about the direction I wanted to take. So chose the Bachelor of Commerce with accounting as a starting point as I knew I wanted to do something in business.
Fortunately, early in my studies, I met some people working in supply chain management, which led me to take a supply chain course. There, I met some excellent lecturers, and from that point on, the rest is history.
What have been some of your biggest career highlights to date?
This is a tough question to answer since I’m still early in my career. Ultimately, having the opportunity to work for one of the world’s leading global logistics providers is a highlight in itself. I get to work at a global level, collaborating with people from around the world daily, while also living in countries I never would have imagined. That, in itself, is one of the biggest highlights of my career so far.
At the end of 2024 you moved from Christchurch, New Zealand to Mexico City. What inspired this move?
Two factors inspired this move. Firstly, I was given the opportunity to continue working with the team in New York, with whom I had built a strong bond. This also allowed me to stay in a role at a global level — something that simply doesn’t exist in New Zealand.
Secondly, when I first left New Zealand to move to New York, someone told me I would never see my home country the same way again. That thought has always stuck with me. So, when I was given the chance to live in Mexico City, a place full of energy and chaos — I knew it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. It was something I would have regretted not experiencing.
Having also lived in New York, in 2023, what have been some of your favourite things about living abroad, and what do you miss most from home while away?
While the South Island of New Zealand will always be home, and I will always miss it, I believe there is so much to gain from living overseas, both personally and professionally. Having lived in New York and now Mexico City, my favourite part is immersing myself in diverse cultures — whether it’s experiencing the US sports events or exploring Mexico’s food scene, not to mention the fast-paced lifestyles that simply don’t exist in New Zealand.
At the same time, I will always miss the outdoors — whether it’s tramping in the Southern Alps or boating on the West Coast. Living in such massive cities, I often find myself longing for those moments back home.
Any fond memories of your time at UC that you’d like to share?
Of course! My time at UC was incredible, not only because I got to meet so many great people, but also because I lived in a city where I could go mountain biking after class or tramping on the weekends. Those were a few unforgettable years, and I certainly miss that lifestyle while living in big cities.
At the same time, UC is where I met the lecturers who helped shape the next stage of my life. Honestly, if I hadn’t met and connected with them, I don’t think I would have progressed to where I am today.
Any additional comments/ remarks?
I don’t feel like I’m in any position to be giving advice, but one thing I do believe is extremely important for anyone considering moving overseas, or even to a new city, is to take the opportunity. You will never regret the personal and professional growth that comes with it. And remember, home will always be there whenever you decide to return.
