People in Focus

30/09/2026

We tend to think about career progression as moving up.

A more senior title. More responsibility. A management role.

But is moving up always the same as moving forward?

It’s something I’ve been thinking about recently, particularly how often we follow the career path in front of us without stopping to ask whether it’s actually the path we want.

Sometimes progression might mean learning something completely different, moving sideways, taking on a challenge that stretches you or simply becoming better at something you already enjoy.

And sometimes staying exactly where you are is a conscious choice too.

Perhaps the question shouldn't always be “What’s my next step?”

Maybe it should be “Why do I want to take it?”

In the latest edition of Freight Unpacked, I explore what career progression can look like when we take job titles out of the equation.

What does career progression mean to you?

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/next-step-isnt-always-up-sharyn-o-halloran-xxolc

28/09/2026

Recruiting the right freight salesperson is only the beginning.
What happens in the first six months can have just as much impact on whether that person succeeds.

Even an experienced salesperson needs clear direction, a structured onboarding plan, practical training, support from operations and pricing, and regular coaching from their manager.

When a new sales hire isn't delivering the expected results after six months, it's easy to question whether you recruited the wrong person. But I think there's another question worth asking:

Did we give them what they needed to succeed?

In my latest blog, I look at why successful freight sales recruitment shouldn't end on the employee's first day, and how leadership, onboarding and training can help turn a good hire into a successful long-term salesperson.

Link to blog in comments.

Recruiting a freight salesperson is only the first step. Discover how leadership, onboarding, training and coaching during the first six months can improve s...

22/09/2026

We keep talking about how we attract the next generation into freight.

But perhaps we should also be asking what happens when they get here.

During my conversation with Rachel Madden, she made a point that really stayed with me.

Young people are entering the workforce having grown up with technology. They can create, problem-solve and navigate systems in ways many of us had to learn much later.

And then we give them data entry because that's how we started.

Of course they still need to learn the fundamentals of freight. They need to understand how shipments move, how to manage customers, prioritise their day, solve problems and recognise when something doesn't look right.

But does starting at the bottom have to mean doing the least interesting work?

Perhaps instead of simply replicating the way we learned, we should be thinking about how we combine their skills with our experience.

That's what I explore in the latest edition of Freight Unpacked: Are we teaching the next generation the wrong things?

I'd love to hear from people across the industry:

If you were designing an entry-level freight role today, what experiences would you make sure a new person had in their first 12 months?

Read the latest edition below.

For a long time, there was a fairly predictable way to learn freight. You started with the basic tasks.

16/09/2026

The way we communicate in freight has changed enormously.

We email instead of calling. Processes that once involved speaking to someone are now completed online, and there are probably people we deal with regularly whose voices we've never heard.

Technology has made us more efficient, but has it made us more connected?

That was something I kept thinking about after my Freight Unpacked conversation with Jodie Murray from IFCBAA.

Jodie has spent 25 years working with the industry, and much of what she does today is about creating opportunities for people to come together, whether through conferences, training, industry forums or networking events.

During our conversation, she described the annual conference as a bit of a reunion. I think that says a lot about freight.

We may work for different businesses and sometimes compete with each other, but we're also part of the same industry. Those relationships and connections matter.

Perhaps as more of our working lives move online, we need to become more deliberate about creating the connections that once happened naturally.

That's what I explore in the latest edition of Freight Unpacked: The value of being connected.

Do you think we've lost some of the personal connection we used to have in freight, or have we simply found different ways to create it?

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Read the latest edition below.

Freight is an industry built on connection. We move goods between countries, connect businesses with markets and rely on networks of people around the world to make it all happen.

08/09/2026

One of the things I find interesting about freight recruitment is how much importance we place on industry experience.

And there are good reasons for it.

Freight is complicated. Mistakes can be expensive. Training takes time. When a team is already stretched, sometimes you genuinely need someone who can walk in and do the job.

But are we sometimes too quick to dismiss experience gained somewhere else?

My latest edition of Freight Unpacked was inspired by my conversation with Sean Hunter.

Sean didn't start his career in freight forwarding. He spent more than 20 years in marine wholesaling before an opportunity brought him into the industry.

He had plenty to learn about freight forwarding, but he wasn't starting from zero.

He understood importing, warehousing, distribution, customers and freight rates. More importantly, he'd spent years experiencing logistics from the customer's side.

It made me think about something I see regularly in recruitment.

We ask: "Do they have freight forwarding experience?"

Perhaps we should also be asking:

"What experience do they already have that could make them good at freight forwarding?"

As some of the traditional entry-level pathways into our industry disappear, I think that question is going to become increasingly important.

That's what I explore in the latest edition of Freight Unpacked: You don't have to start at the bottom.

What experience from outside freight do you think transfers particularly well into our industry?

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

📖 Read the latest edition below.

One of the things I find interesting about freight is how protective we can be about industry experience. We often look for someone who has already done the exact job, used the same systems and understands the terminology.

12/08/2026

AI is transforming freight forwarding, creating opportunities for greater efficiency and less manual administration.

But there’s another side to the conversation.

Many of the entry-level tasks now being automated were once how people learnt the fundamentals of freight forwarding.

So, if those tasks disappear, how will we develop the next generation of experienced freight professionals?

In her latest blog, People in Focus Director Sharyn O'Halloran explores what AI could mean for entry-level freight roles, the skills employers will increasingly need, and why businesses may need to rethink how they train and develop future talent.

As Sharyn puts it:

“The experienced operator you want to recruit in five or ten years needs somewhere to start today.”

For freight and logistics employers, embracing technology and developing people need to go hand in hand.

Read Sharyn’s latest blog below and let us know what you think. How can our industry embrace AI while continuing to develop the next generation?

Link to blog in comments.

28/07/2026

One of the unexpected things about creating Freight Unpacked is that the conversations don't end when the recording stops.

I often find myself revisiting an episode months later and hearing something completely different.

That happened when I listened back to my very first conversation with Daniel Jovanovic.

At the time, I thought we were talking about customs brokerage.

Looking back, I realised we were talking about something much bigger.

What does experience really look like?

Daniel shared how he was initially unsuccessful in obtaining his Customs Broker licence. Not because he lacked technical knowledge, but because he needed broader industry exposure.

It challenged the way I think about professional growth.

Perhaps experience isn't measured by the number of years we've worked.

Perhaps it's measured by the perspectives we seek, the relationships we build and our willingness to step outside what feels familiar.

That reflection became the inspiration for the latest edition of Freight Unpacked.

I'd love to know whether it resonates with you.

What's one experience that changed the way you think—not just the way you work?

📖 Read the latest edition here:

A lesson from Daniel Jovanovic When I started Freight Unpacked, I thought I was creating a podcast about freight and logistics. What I've discovered is something quite different.

28/07/2026

EPISODE 7 OF FREIGHT UNPACKED IS LIVE

What does it take to build a successful career in freight?

In this episode of Freight Unpacked, I sit down with Sean Hunter, whose career has spanned marine wholesaling, freight forwarding and now a unique wholesale freight model.

What makes Sean's perspective so interesting is that he's experienced the industry from both sides. Before moving into freight forwarding, he was the customer, giving him a unique understanding of what clients really value.

In this conversation we discuss:
• Transitioning into freight from another industry
• Why customer service is still your greatest point of difference
• The impact AI is already having on freight operations
• Building careers through hard work, curiosity and continuous learning
• Leadership, burnout and supporting people in high-pressure environments
• Why regular communication and genuine support create stronger teams

One of my biggest takeaways was Sean's belief that success isn't just about working hard. It's about staying curious, taking ownership, continuing to learn and never losing sight of the people around you.

Thank you, Sean, for sharing your experience and insights so openly.
The full episode is available now.

Link to the episode is in the comments.

30/06/2026

Will AI replace Customs Brokers?

It's a question we're hearing more often as AI and automation continue to gain traction across freight forwarding and customs brokerage.

The reality is that AI is already transforming the industry. Tasks such as document processing, data extraction, and routine compliance checks are becoming increasingly automated.

What AI can't replace is judgement.

When regulations change, classifications are challenged, shipments are held, or clients need strategic advice, businesses still rely on experienced customs professionals to navigate complexity and manage risk.

As technology continues to evolve, the most valuable brokers will be those who combine deep compliance expertise with commercial awareness, problem-solving ability, and a willingness to embrace new tools.

In our latest blog, we explore:

✔ How AI is changing customs brokerage
✔ The skills becoming less critical
✔ The skills growing in importance
✔ What employers should be looking for when hiring
✔ How brokers can future-proof their careers

The future of customs brokerage may not require fewer brokers. It may simply require different skills.

Read the full article here: https://www.peopleinfocus.com.au/blog/2026/06/the-new-skills-customs-brokers-will-need-in-an-ai-powered-industry

29/05/2026

This feels exciting… and honestly, a little uncomfortable.

I have just launched my podcast: Freight Unpacked.

Putting myself out there like this hasn’t come naturally to me.

I have never been someone who enjoys the spotlight.
Recording, sharing my voice, being seen… it has always pushed me well outside my comfort zone.

Even posting on LinkedIn felt like a stretch at first.

But growth rarely happens in comfort.

So here I am.

Why a podcast?

After starting my career in freight and moving into recruitment, I have seen just how much this industry has changed.

But one thing hasn’t.

The people.

There is a strong, often untold community behind freight, and I wanted to create a space where those stories can be shared.

That is what Freight Unpacked is about.

Real conversations. Real experiences. Real people in the industry.

Episode 1 is now live on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube.

Thank you to Daniel Jovanovic (J.P NSW) for being my first guest.

If you give it a listen, I would genuinely love your feedback.

Link to episode in comments.