A Day in the Life of Rima Vardanyan
Meet Rima Vardanyan, Account Manager at Ahlers Kazakhstan. She joined our Almaty team in September 2024, and since then, she’s been the friendly face behind many of our long-standing tobacco industry partnerships. In this interview, Rima shares how she found her way into logistics, what it’s like to manage global clients, and how rock music helps her unwind.
How did you end up in logistics?
Like it often happens − by accident! I actually studied to become a primary school foreign language teacher. Maybe that’s where my patience comes from 😊.
After university, I worked in Sales for a company organizing international trade shows in Kazakhstan. Eight years later, I joined a large logistics company as a Sales Manager and had to learn logistics from scratch. Then I took a brief detour into digital advertising, but logistics just pulls you back in! Eventually, I returned − this time as an Account Manager in one of the major logistics companies. That was my first experience in this role, and I immediately knew − it was my thing.
How did you join Ahlers? Did you adapt quickly?
Funny enough, I originally applied for a Hunter Sales position. But during the interviews, it became clear my background was a better fit for Account Management – and now I’m actually really glad it worked out that way.
When I started in September 2024, adapting wasn’t easy. On one side, I had the local operations team here in Almaty. On the other side, my manager and most of the commercial team were based in Belgium or other countries. Add to that a big time difference, and it was a lot to juggle at first.
Everyone was extremely supportive, but it took some time to find my way − especially since some of our clients have been with Ahlers for decades. Building trust and close customer relationships doesn’t happen overnight. If I could give my past self one piece of advice? Ask more questions right away. Don’t hesitate. But I also believe that onboarding should have its bumps. It’s how you grow and build real experience.
What does your role involve?
In a nutshell, it’s about keeping our existing clients happy. I work mainly with tobacco industry clients, which means staying constantly connected, understanding their needs, and looking for opportunities to grow our business together. I handle tenders, solve daily operational issues, follow up on routes… basically, I make sure things keep moving smoothly.
What’s a typical day like for you?
I start with Salesforce − checking for new contacts or updates. Then it’s all about communication: client calls, operational updates, new requests, new routes.
I try to keep things as transparent as possible. Clients need to know we’re on top of things. Depending on the client, we also have regular calls − some weekly, some monthly. It’s not just about reacting to issues. I also try to be proactive − whether it’s offering ideas for improvement or anticipating challenges before they arise. And when it comes to global tenders or corporate meetings, I support our HQ team with on-the-ground insights from Kazakhstan too.
Is there anything unique about working with tobacco clients?
Oh, transporting excise goods is a world of its own. Every shipment comes with a ton of checks, especially around safety and customs. And if we’re talking Silk Road routes, each country has its quirks. For example, Azerbaijan requires a deposit for every truck carrying excise goods. Thankfully, our operations team is a rock. They’ve got everything running like clockwork and are always there to support me.
What excites you the most about being an Account Manager?
Customer relationships! I love when it’s not just transactional − when you’ve built that warm, professional connection and you see the impact of your work. That’s the real reward.
Any memorable client challenges?
This is logistics − there’s always something. New routes bring new surprises. Every border and port has its own delays and issues. But the goal is always the same: fix it together with the client and make sure it doesn’t happen again. Sometimes, we even have to sync their production schedules with our new routes. It’s tricky, but when it works − it’s super satisfying.
And finally − tell us something your colleagues might not expect!
Well… I’m really into rock music. That’s how I relax after a busy day. Give me Metallica, System of a Down, Rammstein or Linkin Park – and I’m good 😎.
