Just as some space fliers from that big international air cargo station in the sky arrived in Florida, USA recently, earlier in the day it felt somewhat like an arrival from a parallel universe as the FIATA Headquarters Session turned futuristic, hosting a panel of older and younger people in conversation about the future.
     Everyone who is looking forward, one way or another with hopes and dreams of logisticians in coming times can take a deep breath.
     FIATA has seen the future and is talking about it!
     Talk about an hour of power.
     Here at Geneva, in the overall scheme of things for about five minutes, perhaps only a whisper of the word, but it was word up from the next generation that stands out here.
     Check us if we are wrong, but Gen Z on the half shell is a fairly rare happening at most other, if not all industry cargo gatherings.
     Kudos to Stéphane Graber, FIATA DG  and Team FIATA for encouraging all our tomorrows.
     When it comes to contact with the next generation, FIATA and its aggressive young people’s program accented by its annual outreach called Young Logistics Professionals Awards YLPA) occupies a hallowed, almost legendary and unique place of all organized transportation organizations.
     So little wonder that at HQ Meeting FIATA would also include some smart younger people mixed in with seasoned veterans, both groups spit-balling (if you will allow) some topics that we are lucky enough to capture. It’s what’s up front that counts as much as anything here.
     In the interest of staying on point dear reader, while you are pouring over these comments, imagine you  are listening in on an exchange from the next room.
     The Beatles lyrically described this type of action:
                         “She was just 17.
                         “You know what I mean!”

Gen Z:   
      “I really appreciate when value is accorded soft skills because I can't know everything and maybe I'm never going to know all of the ways that things operate at the company within a short time.
     “So I think appreciating soft skills is important.
     “For me I focus when it comes to retention and application,
     “I think a work-life balance is very important.
     “So I try and find that balance between, not putting in sixty hours a week but also making the effort to make sure that management respects what I'm trying to accomplish whilst also on a fast track of learning.
     “At the same time, it's kind of the balance that I try to find.
     “I don't expect a lot if I'm a new hire. I know that I'm going to be working a lot.
     “I just want to be appreciated and also have willingness from management to help me learn.”
     A final thought here puts it on the line:
     “My expectation in a few words:
     “Be open, ask for help and also get the help when I don’t know something, right away when I need it!”

Seasoned Logistician No. 1:   
     “I think, during these few early years, you’ve got to learn all you can.
     “Our company has offices around the world. We have an academy. So, for those who are interested, we have opportunities for our employees to live and work abroad.
     “This kind of international exposure, culture, religion, is in play and I think that is important because when you are young, you are enthused and everything is interesting.
And as you grow in the job your character development will also be there as a person. Most important is, you grow as a person. Traditionally, in our youth, there weren’t any conversations regarding work-life balance. Now it’s a give and take . . . it’s always a balance.”

Gen Z No. 2:   
     “The main difference is we, as a generation, have a lot of choices. When we work in a place, what we are looking for, is as much exposure as we can get Sending people overseas to work and learn is a very attractive benefit.
     “Of course once you join the industry, you understand what's required, and adapt accordingly.”

Seasoned Logistician No. 2:
     “I am one for empowerment and flexibility. What I’m saying is, there will be times when I don’t want you to leave at the assigned time because we are up to here (gesturing towards his head) moving freight, but there are other days when you can say I’m coming in late because it’s a light day. What you’ll learn and understand once you join the industry is that flexibility and communication are key. Ultimately you have ownership of what’s going on.”

Gen Z No. 3:    
     “I have had some experience in the supply chain industry and the expectation from the company has always been about how much value a person is adding to the business.
     “What was most important for me was that employers should understand that every person is very unique and they have their right to work as per their own terms.
     “Referring to flexibility, it works both ways. I prefer working for a company that recognizes my abilities and then allows me to work accordingly and not enforce strict company policy. Bottomline is whether I’m performing to my best proficiency.
     “Recognizing that there are different personalities in the workforce, some people function better with strict company policy. So a company that sees employees as individuals with different strengths is very appealing to me.
     “That kind of flexibility was there when I chose between two job offerings recently. I preferred to work with the employer who trusted me on my time-management skills, that yeah, this guy will get the job done, whether he is working from home or working in office.”

Seasoned Logistician No. 3:
     “Since Covid 19 changed the landscape yes, company HR departments are recognizing the human factor and are investing the time in understanding the patterns of different kinds of personalities that they are potentially going to hire. Yes, there are policy rules, those are necessary, but more and more companies are incorporating the flexibility that is required in this environment to have a successful business with happy productive employees.”
      Good going, FIATA. This session was unique and enlightening.
GDA/SSA