A Day in the Life of Julia Melnikova
Meet Julia Melnikova, a dedicated Project Coordinator who has been an integral part of the Ahlers team in Ukraine since 2012. With over a decade of experience, Julia’s journey with Ahlers is filled with insights, challenges, and achievements. Join us as we take a closer look at a day in her life and discover what makes her role so dynamic and impactful.
What are your responsibilities, and what does a typical workday look like for you?
I work in the Industry & Energy team and coordinate projects passing through the seaport in Odessa, Ukraine. Currently, because of the military conflict, the port's activities have been suspended, but I'm not idle. Part of my job now involves organizing air freight for our tobacco clients in Ukraine. This is quite challenging as deliveries are routed through neighboring countries' airports — Poland, Romania, Hungary, Moldova — which are heavily congested with both their own and our Ukrainian cargo.
I also analyze and monitor the business landscape in our market. I gather information on how companies and industries are performing, their plans, and the state of logistics: I collect data, communicate with potential clients and partners. My phone is constantly ringing and buzzing with messages and questions, and some days are so filled with communication and "chatter" that by the end I feel like a squeezed lemon. I hope the results of my work will help us advance further.
What is your educational background? How did you start working in this industry?
My education is not related to logistics; I studied English and German. But Izmail, the city where I lived, is a major transportation hub at the mouth of the Danube. Over 25 years ago, I began working with friends in a freight forwarding company, handling everything needed for shipping sea cargo through our port. I then moved to Odessa and, after several years of coordinating sea freight at another company, interviewed at Ahlers and joined the team in 2012. So, my entire professional career has been in logistics.
Do you have a mentor or someone who helped you reach your current level?
I am extremely grateful to Jeroen De Ryck for his support, help, and for creating a great atmosphere in the team. I can reach out to him for advice anytime. However, I learned to coordinate complex, multi-step projects "from scratch" thanks to Rachel Kellett, my first manager at Ahlers. She believed in me and wasn’t afraid to assign me to a project involving the delivery of factory equipment from Malaysia to Russia via Romania. I spent four months at the Constanta port, gave it my all, and the project was successful.
How has the industry changed since you started working?
First, women have finally started working in logistics. When I began, women in logistics were only secretaries or translators at most. Now, women are captains, senior mechanics on ships, crane operators, and operationists. Second, there's digitalization. For example, previously, ship loading plans were prepared manually on paper with rulers and pencils. Now, there are special programs that visualize the entire process.
How do you see the future development of the industry?
I believe everything will increasingly move into the digital realm. Communication, cargo tracking, and all other operations will be digitalized. I support this trend as it reduces human error and the likelihood of mistakes.
What other changes would you like to see?
Like many Ukrainians, I am waiting for the conflict to end so that everything can recover, and I can return to project logistics as before. I really miss the port atmosphere where everything is working and moving. And yes, more digitalization in logistics. Less paperwork, running around, and time spent on basic operations.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
When you handle cargo shipments, it feels like you're traveling yourself. You learn about new countries, meet new people, often forming friendships. Malaysia, Romania, Belgium, Hungary, Croatia, Poland — these are the countries that come to mind first.
What would you like people to know about your job?
It’s an interesting job. It’s trendy now, like “new” IT. The Izmail University has asked me to give a lecture at the newly opening logistics faculty and talk about "how it really is." I joke that if I told the whole truth, students might run away. Because working in logistics is hard work. You are responsible for everything in front of the client, even if there is hail, borders are closed, or a storm occurs. You are always on call and must be very careful with documents. Many people don’t understand this, as it’s not visible from the outside.
What do you think the industry can do to attract more young people?
Young people are already coming into the industry; it’s popular. But companies need to create conditions for employees to stay. This includes social guarantees and financial conditions. For me personally, it’s about the possibility of flexible working hours, not necessarily according to a set schedule, and support from the team.
