Apollo in the Spotlight takes us to Warsaw, Poland, where we meet Marcin Raczkiewicz of RGW Express—a logistics professional whose career spans more than three decades. What began as an unexpected step into the industry evolved into a long-term journey shaped by curiosity, adaptability, and a deep understanding of people and processes. In this interview, Marcin reflects on the changing face of logistics, the role of technology, and the values that continue to define his work in a truly global industry.
Tell us a bit about how your journey began – was it something you always planned, or did it take you by surprise?
It all started quite by accident.
As a recent graduate with a master’s degree in economics, specializing in marketing and advertising, I was convinced that I would pursue a career in an advertising agency.
However, as a young man with an open mind, I went out of curiosity to an interview at a shipping company where a friend of mine worked.
The company was looking for a sales representative to sell air freight services. My university education required some additional knowledge in the field of air freight forwarding, but I did not see this as a problem and accepted the offer.
It was 1995, the company was called RGW Express, and that is how my more than 30-year adventure in logistics—and my relationship with our company—began.
What trends or technologies are you most excited (or concerned) about in logistics right now?
During my years working in logistics, I have seen many changes that have affected the efficiency and cost of transport processes and various types of business activities.
Starting with telex and fax communication and ending with the internet, mobile phones, online payments, and electronic transport documents.
I am convinced that development is ongoing and will not stop. There will be moments of acceleration and deceleration in the development of new technologies, but this is a process that is only going in one direction: accelerating data exchange, automating processes, eliminating the risk of errors, and reducing logistics costs.
Do you believe AI will replace certain logistics roles, or simply empower them? Why?
AI is another technological tool that supports and facilitates work, including logistics.
It has had—and will continue to have—a significant impact on the logistics industry, just as the introduction of mobile phones has affected many aspects of our lives and work, for example by streamlining and accelerating logistics processes.
This will probably reduce the demand for some tedious, repetitive tasks that have been performed by humans until now. Thus, it will become another support tool, but it will not completely eliminate the human element in planning and, in particular, in making key decisions regarding logistics processes.
What do you enjoy most about the logistics industry, and what makes your role particularly fulfilling?
Variability—that is the key word.
Every order, every shipment, every project we handle is different.
This variability is also influenced by changing product types and market conditions, which we as logisticians must monitor in order to know which mode of transport is optimal for a given type of goods and for a given customer at a given moment. In this job, you can’t get bored or fall into a routine.
The second element is dynamics—we have to make decisions here and now.
This requires knowledge. In order to have this knowledge, we must keep track of global macroeconomic conditions, the political situation, shipping and flight routes, along with any restrictions at ports and airports.
The third element that I really appreciate about working in the logistics industry is the opportunity to work with people all over the world.
It is truly inspiring and gives you the personal experience of living in a global village.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to someone just starting in your line of work?
Keep your eyes open to the market and do not believe anyone who tells you that something cannot be done until you have verified it yourself.
Listen to your customers and empathise with their needs—then it will be easier to find solutions that they will appreciate.
Smile and enjoy the happiness of your customers who are satisfied with the service they receive.
Sorry, it was supposed to be one piece of advice, but I couldn’t help myself… 😉
What do you value most about being a member of our logistics network?
Membership in shipping networks has many aspects.
The first and most important is the business element—relationships and access to global professionals in the field of logistics in the broadest sense.
In our industry, this is necessary for the effective and efficient provision of international services—you need to have a proven and trusted partner to support your customers in every corner of the globe.
The second aspect is the educational one—meetings, discussions, and conferences are an invaluable source of up-to-date knowledge for logistics practitioners.
The third element, which may often be ignored from a business perspective but which I consider to be just as important as the first two, is camaraderie and often friendship.
This is an important point, and we should not ignore it when assessing the value of belonging to a given network.
It is nice to work with people whom you not only respect and appreciate professionally, but also like on a personal level.
Can you share a specific example of collaboration or connection within the network that led to a successful project or partnership?
I am still waiting for that one spectacular project that can be cited as a shining example of successful network cooperation.
As soon as it appears, I will be happy to let you know, but in the meantime, I will focus on ordinary, everyday shipments—each of which is different, but none of which has been worth mentioning in an interview like this 😉.
What’s a surprising skill, passion or hobby you have outside work?
I don’t have one main passion. I like reading historical and autobiographical books, exploring forests and country side on my bicycle, or wandering around city streets, occasionally stopping at small cafés for my favorite espresso and a chat with the locals. I think there are so many things I enjoy that I can safely say I am simply passionate about life 🙂
Thank you, Marcin, for sharing your experience, insights, and personal perspective with us.