Alumni Story with Maryna Kordon: Where Passion Meets Precision in the World of Logistics
Some people find joy in art, others in sports — for Maryna Kordon, it has always been logistics. What began as a fascination with the seamless movement of goods and information evolved into a decade-long career spanning production, warehousing, demand planning, and transportation across sectors like e-commerce and FMCG. Today, as a Consultant in Retail Consultancy at Edeka Digital GmbH, Maryna combines her operational expertise with a focus on IT and Supply Chain Management, driving digital transformation in one of Germany’s largest retail organizations. With two KLU degrees — an MSc in Global Logistics (2013) and an MBA in Leadership and SCM (2023) — she embodies the spirit of lifelong learning and purposeful growth that define the KLU community.
Name: Maryna Kordon (LinkedIn)
Position & Company: Consultant, Retail Consultancy, Edeka Digital GmbH
Degree program(s): MSc Global Logistics (2013) & MBA in Leadership and SCM (2023)
Best about my degree program:
While completing my Bachelor’s degree in Ukraine, I began considering my next steps and decided to pursue a Master’s degree in Logistics. I created a checklist to guide my decision: the program should be in English, offer relevant subjects, and combine theory with practical experience. What truly attracted me to KLU was its international and intercultural focus, which I believe is key for both personal and professional growth. While academic knowledge can be learned through books or online resources, the real value comes from experiencing different cultures and perspectives. KLU offers a unique platform to live these experiences. I have to mention that the main benefit of the Master program, which was pivotal for me, was the small class sizes at KLU. They foster close relationships between students and professors, allowing for more personalized learning and a deeper connection to the material. This approach to education, emphasizing individual attention, was a crucial factor.
Best about my job:
After graduating, I’ve gained experience in various aspects of logistics, including production, warehouse management, demand planning, transportation, and customer service. I’ve also worked across different sectors, such as e-commerce and FMCG retail. I must say, the lectures by Professor Sandra Transchel were incredibly helpful, especially when it came to planning and budgeting processes. I still refer to my notes from those classes after 10 years! Logistics is my true passion. I thrive on the challenges, fast pace, constant changes, and even the occasional stress. I truly love what I do. My advice is simple: never turn down an opportunity to learn something new. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, but pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone is where growth happens. When you face challenges head-on, you develop resilience, acquire new skills, and become more capable in your career.
How KLU helped me get there:
After ten years in logistics, I decided to seize a new opportunity and transition into IT international projects. The intercultural experience and the strong network I built at KLU played a key role in making this shift possible. KLU not only provided me with the skills to adapt to new environments but also connected me with a global network that opened doors to diverse career paths.
During my MBA studies at KLU, I learned alongside peers from a wide range of industries and cultural backgrounds. They brought fresh perspectives to every discussion, often challenging my own views and pushing me outside my comfort zone. Those intense, thought-provoking conversations with them and our professors helped us grow, both personally and professionally. Over time, they also built the foundation for lasting friendships that have become a vital part of my career network long after graduation. This foundation has been essential as I move forward in my career, tackling new challenges in the IT sector.
How I incorporate an "operations mindset" into my daily work:
Logistics today is highly data-driven. We use analytics in every area of logistics, but especially in demand forecasting and planning. Understanding what the customer wants, when they want it, and how they expect to receive it is essential to any company’s success. Data analytics guide our decisions on future projects, new solutions, and operational improvements. For example, at my previous company, Lamoda, we used data-driven insights to open our first warehouse in Ukraine. By analyzing key metrics, such as order patterns, preferred delivery times, return rates, and the relationship between delivery speed and returns, we discovered a clear trend: shorter delivery times significantly reduced the likelihood of returns.
With this insight, we made a strategic decision to open a warehouse closer to our customers. The plan was approved, implemented, and ultimately validated by improved performance. This process perfectly illustrates what an operations mindset means to me: using data to understand customer behavior, identify opportunities, and execute solutions that make a measurable impact.
