Kuehne+Nagel celebrates our extraordinary women in honour of International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day (IWD), held officially on March 8, is a time to celebrate the invaluable contributions of women to the modern world. Every day, here at Kuehne+Nagel we are reminded of the challenging journey women have been on towards making progress in achieving gender equity and draw inspiration from the legacy of those who came before. 

This year, globally, there are two inextricably linked themes for IWD. First, the theme from the United Nations, is "For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment." Kuehne+Nagel is a participant in the United Nation’s Global Compact. This theme emphasises the need for actions that promote equal rights and opportunities for everyone, focusing on empowering future generations to become catalysts for lasting change.  

The second theme we are aligned to is the theme for IWD for 2025, “Accelerate Action.” According to the World Economic Forum, at the current rate of progress, it will take until 2158 to achieve full gender parity. IWD emphasises the urgency of taking swift action to address systemic barriers and biases women face in both personal and professional spheres. 

At Kuehne+Nagel, we take great pride in celebrating women in the workplace and are deeply committed to empowering women to thrive in their careers.  

Today, we hear from some of these amazing women from across the globe, in a Q&A style interview, about how their careers at Kuehne+Nagel have been more than they ever could have imagined, offering them the opportunity to make an impact that goes beyond moving goods.  

What are you responsible for in your current role and what achievements are you most proud of?   
 

“In my current role at Kuehne+Nagel, I am responsible for customer onboarding in Contract Logistics as part of the global team. Our mission is to launch new operations for our customers. This involves a high level of teamwork and collaboration. We work closely with various departments to ensure that every aspect of the launch is meticulously planned and executed. One of the achievements I am most proud of at Kuehne+Nagel is leading the hyper care team for adidas Italy. Every effort from the team had a significant positive impact on the operation, and none of this would have been possible without the dedication and collaboration of our excellent team. We've grown and succeeded together, and we are now planning the go-live of our e-commerce platform.” -- Carina Rojas, Global Head of Customer Onboarding, Kuehne+Nagel  

Learn more about our work with adidas to open Kuehne+Nagel’s largest-ever logistics hub here.   

“Currently, I am the Contract Logistics Site Manager at a warehouse in Zaragoza, which has 36,000 sqm and Seveso certification, and I am responsible for more than 80 people. I joined the Zaragoza site at a turbulent time due to the drastic growth in business volume, having just moved to new and complex facilities. But thanks to the effort of the entire team, since 2023, we have received the company’s highest internal recognition for excellence and continuous improvement. We closed the year with a result that almost doubled the profit of the previous year, and the client rates us as the best warehouse and supplier within their EMEA network. Throughout my 12 years at Kuehne+Nagel, I have had the luck and opportunity to work on projects that I am proud of, both for the achievements and the human value that accompanied me – particularly the work with our aerospace customer, which was undoubtedly a great challenge with undeniable success, in addition to the restructuring of their Operations Hub.” -- Aurora Martin, Site Manager, Zaragoza, Spain, Kuehne+Nagel Contract Logistics 

“I serve as the National Manager of Kuehne+Nagel Canada, and I have held this position since June 1, 2022. Fun fact: I have a trailblasing spirit, and I am proud to share that I am the first female for Canada in the company's history.  

Under my leadership, Kuehne+Nagel Canada has been awarded the 2023- 2024 and 2024-2025 Great Place to Work® (GPTW) certification and our executive team has been awarded two years in a row by GPTW Best Workplaces with the Most Trustworthy Executive Team. Kuehne+Nagel in Canada has also been awarded the Best Workplaces for Transportation + Logistics. Being recognised through direct feedback from our colleagues makes these honours priceless as these achievements are a glowing reflection of the commitment and trust our team embodies every day. I am passionate about creating extraordinary experiences and nurturing a culture built on trust. As I reflect, I am filled with a sense of pride and accomplishment for building and executing on a legacy that is unique for Canada. These accomplishments are creating a new standard for Canada, and I am excited to continue this journey to inspire and create a special place for all employees.   

I’m also deeply passionate about championing women's leadership in logistics and proudly serve as the Executive Sponsor of the Kuehne+Nagel Canada’s, Women in Logistics Leadership (WILL).” -- Dianna M. Fioravanti-Ashikwe, National Manager, Kuehne+Nagel Canada  

What steps do you think need to be made to accelerate getting to a world with gender equity? What advice might you have for women at Kuehne+Nagel? 
 

“We need to start by actively encouraging women to apply for roles traditionally seen as ‘male positions.’ At our company, we are lucky to have access to mentorship programmes and leadership training opportunities. However, the real change begins with us. As women, we must step up, and challenge stereotypes. Along the way, we'll find many allies who will support us. 

For my female colleagues at Kuehne+Nagel, don't hesitate to step out of your comfort zone and take on new challenges. Your voice is valuable, so speak up and share your ideas confidently. Most importantly, believe in yourself and your abilities; you can make a significant impact.” -- Carina Rojas, Global Head of Customer Onboarding, Kuehne+Nagel

“I sincerely believe that there is no accelerated formula to achieve a sustainable result in gender equity. We must accept that the path is inevitably slow, but it is important to maintain the focus on promoting diverse representation, especially in a highly male-dominated sectors, where bias is still a reality. We all must be part of the change, feel that we are the change, and act within our sphere of influence, no matter how small the impact we generate may seem.  

For my Kuehne+Nagel female colleagues, I would say that there is no easy path, nor is there an ideal way to do things, nor certainty of achieving success through effort. However, we must keep fighting, because we are not only doing it for ourselves, but we are also doing it for her: maybe a sister, a daughter, a friend, a neighbour, a colleague...and although we still have a long road ahead, we are in a favourable environment to continue building a more diverse and inclusive future. For this reason, today I am proud to be part of an organisation like Kuehne+Nagel.” -- Aurora Martin, Site Manager, Zaragoza, Spain, Kuehne+Nagel Contract Logistics 

“I am incredibly passionate about seeing talented women rise in this amazing field. This is why I am immensely proud to share that we have achieved gender parity on our Canadian leadership team. How did we achieve this?  It's not because I have handed picked women, it's because we created a safe space for someone to raise their hand. When I took the helm, I made the intentional effort to create a connected culture that is built on a culture of collaboration, openness, and psychological safety -- an environment where teams can thrive and grow. My advice to anyone at Kuehne+Nagel is to shift your mindset, a technique I refer to as “flipping the switch.” I encourage you to turn negative thoughts, obstacles and challenges into opportunities to learn, to grow and unleash your full potential. How? Think differently and envision bold, new possibilities. Turn ambiguity into positive action and approach challenges with resilience and a spirit of curiosity. Take on every challenge with a resounding “YES!” attitude.   

Some key pieces of advice:  
1. Dig deeper in your mindset. Think big, dream big and define for yourself a big scary dream!  
2. Live your odyssey. Find your inner voice, believe and trust your authentic self so that every day you are “more” than ok with who you are becoming.  
3. Shift gears within your odyssey to bring your dream to life. This means taking big steps towards that big dream; this is not about making a "change" this is about shifting gears by making big decisions to move in the direction of your big dream.  
4. Lastly, visualise your future self and think about who you want to become for 90 seconds every day. Your subconscious is very powerful and will get you there faster! If you can become the best version of you, you will always be the best for others. Ultimately, I believe the greatest “unfinished” project you will ever work on is YOU!” -- Dianna M. Fioravanti-Ashikwe, National Manager, Kuehne+Nagel Canada 

We also take the opportunity to share the story of Marjorie Wolff, Truck Driver.  Marjorie has been a heavy truck driver at Kuehne+Nagel in Strasbourg, France, since 2006. 

Marjorie starts her days with deliveries to various clients, maneuvering frequently due to the short distances between stops. In the afternoon, she moves on to "pickups," collecting goods from clients. Her job requires a great deal of autonomy. 

For Marjorie, trucking is much more than just "turning a wheel." It requires strong organisational skills, knowledge of driving and rest regulations, and the ability to adapt to ever-changing situations. Despite persistent stereotypes, she believes that gender or age should never be a barrier to pursuing this profession. Her advice? "If you want to do this job, don’t hesitate—go for it! It’s incredibly diverse and truly rewarding." 

One moment that particularly made an impact on her was when an older woman stopped to watch her expertly maneuver her truck. Afterward, the woman approached Marjorie to congratulate her, admitting that she had always dreamed of becoming a truck driver but was discouraged by societal norms of her time.  And seeing women in the profession today gave her hope. 

Watch our video interview with Marjorie to hear her full story: