Dr Juanita Maree, CEO of the South African Association of Freight Forwarders (Saaff), is undeniably recognised as a formidable and passionate 'Captain of Industry' within the logistics field. Her dedication and expertise have made her an influential figure at every level of the freight forwarding sector. Freight Newsfeatures editor Liesl Venter sat down with her to find out more about her career.What inspired you to pursue a career in the freight forwarding industry, and how did you rise to the position of Saaff CEO? Looking back at my career it was not a deliberate decision to become part of the logistics network; it was a migration from cost accounting, with involvement in sourcing products from Finland for the South African market that opened my mind to the exciting journey in logistics. As a female CEO in a traditionally male-dominated industry, what challenges have you faced, and how have you overcome them? To be honest, I have never thought about the obstacles. Maybe my upbringing on a farm allowed me to take the challenges, evaluate them, and reprogramme them into opportunities. We are created to be game-changers, planters, and builders and obtain excellence in delivery. Look at nature, it is all so perfect, so beautiful. Now we are in winter and want to bring summer about quicker into our current environment. However, if we could do this, we would disturb the rhythm of our planet and its perfectly balanced structure. The same is true for lives, gender, and the way we are formed. We need to excel in who we are.Obstacles, for me, are a part of life and they shape us in many different forms. I view life in a different way; because I am a woman, I do not have more challenges, instead I am more blessed and more versatile. I canbe fragile, I canbe weak, ask forassistance, handlecomplexitiesdifferently, create a different structure, as “stress” is not making us lame, but creates a survival mindset and a drive to excel, be excellent. All these characteristics can assist us to be what we are made for, claiming our rightful space in the current trading environment.In your opinion, what are some of the key qualities or skills that have contributed to your success as a female leader in this industry? Gender does not make a difference in how I view my career or the world. We have specific talents, and we need to be clear on our talents and know our identity. Identify your talents, create self-awareness to know what you love doing and in which activities you can excel, develop yourself in the talents given to you, and more importantly, enjoy having the skill sets you have developed. For me it is more “what are your core values” and how can you excel and create a better tomorrow for all. Once you combine your unique skill sets with your core values, it brings an automatic enjoyment in what you do and you become content, an incredible individual. I never view myself as a female leader, but instead I am driven by the love for the logistics network and the want to deliver excellence in all that I do. This brings immense satisfaction and allows me to kick off my shoes after a day’s work – filled with gratitude for a good life lived. What strategies do you believe are necessary to encourage more women to pursue careers in freight forwarding, both at entry level and in leadership positions? Mentorship is very important. In today’s life, we think success comes easily and it is a “ticket” you can buy. We can’t all be a CEO, CFO etc, but we can make a difference in our country and in our environment by being planted, nurtured, and looked after where we are. We must mature in our skill sets and become the best, and the next round of opportunities will open; in fact, the opportunities will come to you. Are there any initiatives or programmes your association has implemented to support the professional development and advancement of women in the freight forwarding sector? Yes, Saaff has put its weight behind the ICFF, a professional body for the customs brokers and the freight forwarding sector. We are currently testing the designations and will start with prior recognition in our industry. With this, we believe we will create a new landscape and professionalism in our industry. What do you see as the biggest opportunities for women in this industry, and how can aspiring female professionals leverage these opportunities? Women are made for the logistics network. Its characteristics fit women perfectly. We multitask, listen to different voices, excel in planning, prioritise, allow a pragmatic approach, work with different layers at the same time, combine activities in a cohesive structure and de-risk .... I can go on and on. We need to create awareness and insights from a broader uptake of designations in our industry.What advice would you give to young women who aspire to leadership roles in traditionally male-dominated industries like freight forwarding? Know your identity, don’t compare. Bring your unique characteristics and core values and skill sets to the logistics network. We need you!
