For this month’s Apollo member interview, we had a short chat with Jeff Kim from Korea. We discussed his background in Statistics & Data Science, how this affects his approach to logistics and why he loves this industry.
How did you get started in the logistics industry and what has your journey been like so far?
My background was in Statistics & Data Science from University of California, Santa Barbara. I became interested in the industry during logistical crises in Covid crisis. After moving to Korea, I had a chance to enter my current company, which was looking for an international employee, and have since then been handling business with our overseas partners.
If there is one thing that you could change to the logistics industry, what would it be and why?
Personally, I would like to see forwarders make more extensive usage of data to predict trends in freight rates, space availability, predicted volume, etc. with which to better base decisions and advise customers. My understanding is that carriers are already investing into this area to allocate space, move vessel schedules, offer rates, and more – it would be nice to follow suit and modernize to take advantage of the resources we have access to in our place of the supply chain!
What do you like most about the industry and your job in particular?
The greatest feeling to my job is the satisfaction of working out options and finding solutions for shipments. Logistics is the heart of every industry and foundation of the modern economy; to deliver important cargo to where it needs to be is a great day-to-day joy and a source of accomplishment.
What do you like the most about being a member of our logistics network?
Every cargo and request is different! We get to handle a wide range of cargo that have special requirements and conditions. Trying to find solutions for new requests is interesting compared to regular cargo from our normal clients that we have managed for years.
How do you set yourself apart from your competitors?
We try to provide exceptional service and have comprehensive knowledge of the market to advise our customers. Not only do we build a personal relationship with our customers, we try to really understand what our clients want and need in advance and to anticipate their needs to provide the right kind of information with which they can make their plans.
How do you relax in your free time?
I typically watch shows with my girlfriend or play chess and other board games when I have a bit of downtime. I’m also an avid fan of poker and enjoy watching as well as playing.
— Thank you, Jeff !