From Classroom to Global Impact: KLU Alumnus Joep Janssen Drives Innovation in Airfreight Logistics

Name: Joep Janssen
Position, Company: Global Airfreight Business Process Manager, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics
Program, year: MSc Global Logistics, 2017

Best about my degree program: 

While the coursework at KLU provided a strong academic foundation and opened doors in my professional life, the most valuable aspect of my degree—and something I still draw on every day—was the experience of working with people from diverse cultural backgrounds. My time at KLU was the first time I had extended exposure to so many different perspectives and ways of thinking. Learning to navigate cultural nuances, adapt my communication style, and find common ground in international teams has been invaluable. These experiences not only enhanced my ability to collaborate effectively across borders but also shaped how I approach global challenges with empathy and openness.

Best about my job:

What I enjoy most about my job is driving global process improvement through technology. For example, I recently helped integrate a new rate management database, enabling our pricing teams to generate more competitive rates. I’m currently also working on a project where we utilize agentic AI to boost productivity. Working on this scale gives me the chance to make a real global impact. 

When speaking of challenges in the airfreight industry, I believe the current global economy presents the largest challenge. This forces us to continuously innovate and think of new ways to increase efficiency. Agentic AI will play a key role in how we approach these challenges and is already reshaping the way airfreight logistics is taking place.

How KLU helped me get there:

KLU supported me on both a personal and professional level. Personally, it helped me settle in Hamburg, is the place where I met my now wife, and connect with great people many of whom are now my close friends. Seeing them succeed after KLU has been a constant motivation. 

Professionally, the program gave me the tools to structure complex problems and find practical solutions. Learning how to break large challenges into manageable parts has enabled me to lead global projects that bring measurable productivity improvements to our company. Looking back, KLU provided both the foundation and the network that continue to shape my journey today.

How do you incorporate an "operations mindset" in your current job/field: 

For me, an operations mindset means combining analytical thinking with practical execution. In my current role, I apply systematic and data-driven problem solving every day. To make effective decisions, we rely on facts and analysis rather than gut feeling. Within my team, this culture of data-driven discussions helps us focus on areas with the largest measurable impact rather than where the loudest complaints are. Additionally, we take a holistic approach to solution design to avoid creating bottlenecks elsewhere in the process. This mindset not only ensures efficiency but also supports scalable and sustainable improvements across the company.