The year 2020 has presented unique challenges and interruptions across all aspects of our lives, but it does not stop us from celebrating the various accomplishments and achievements of women leaders of color! Throughout the month of August, we will spotlight these amazing women and share their unique perspectives, philosophies, and stories.

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Noushin Shamsili is the Founder and CEO of NUCO Logistics, Inc., a FMC-OTI licensed NVOCC (Non-vessel Operating Common Carrier) and Freight Forwarder in the United States. Shamsili established the company in 2008 when she realized there was a niche available in the market. Her experience working with other international logistics companies gave her the insight, confidence, and extensive knowledge she needed to survive in the industry.

NUCO Logistics, Inc. is a woman-owned and operated Freight Forwarder certified by the Women Business Enterprise National Committee (WBENC) and Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), offering new and innovative solutions for international transport by air, ground, and sea. With over 25 years of experience in the logistics industry, Shamsili has propelled her company to great heights, and doesn’t plan to stop any time soon. She has earned a B.A. in English Literature and has continued her education at the Institute of Chartered Ship Brokers in the United Kingdom.

As an innovative leader in the logistics industry, we were excited for Shamsili to share her inspiring leadership story in our Minority Women Lead campaign:

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Throughout your leadership journey, from your first job to your current position, what are some key lessons you’ve learned that have shaped you as a leader?

Noushin Shamsili: Hard work and perseverance pay off. Nothing has ever been handed to me without putting a lot of time and energy and hard work into it.

Having an open mind and willing to make trade-offs between your career and your personal life. Knowing that what’s best for you and able to live with the decisions that you make.

Embracing change. Understanding that the circumstances are subject to change and have the flexibility and resilience to adapt with the new situation.

Knowledge of the fact that the goal post will keep moving forward and so should you.

What do you still want to accomplish?

NS:

• Changing the culture of freight forwarding in the logistics industry, one customer at a time and to raise the bar for the level of customer-service offered by a Freight Forwarders.
• Creating more jobs for women, put them through on-the-job-training processes that will ensure their financial independence and will enhance their self-confidence.

What is the most meaningful part of your job?

NS:

• Knowing that my clients can rely on our expertise and hands-on approach without being worried about the quality of our services.
• The ability to improve the quality of my employees’ lives by providing the opportunity to grow in the company and becoming an SME (Subject Matter Expert) in the industry.

Oftentimes, a fear of failure can prevent us from taking risks to move forward. Can you recall a failure that you were able to pivot into a growth opportunity and/or success?

NS: I was working on a new and very solid client for over a year and a half. This account had multiple locations in US and huge volume of export and import shipments to and from United States. NUCO was short-listed as the last two competing companies for the job. Our competitor was one of the biggest multinational freight forwarders and I was proud and thrilled that NUCO is one of the contenders. We lost this account due to lack of tracking and tracing platform which my competition possessed. This lead me to be determined about acquiring a more robust and advanced software system which offers many on-line and digital features including the tracking and tracing. I knew I had to go through this change but as it was a very time-consuming, difficult process and needed huge investment, I had been postponing it for quite a few years. Because of this failure, I realized that we have outgrown our existing software and although this was a big task to transition from the old software to the new one, it has opened so many doors to NUCO that I can only be thankful to that failure. It made me put my fear aside and pivot that failure into a growth opportunity.

Knowing the unique challenges that you have faced as a professional woman of color, what advice would you give to your younger self?

NS: Stay the course and be focused. Things will happen but only when you are ready!

What advice would you give to women of color who aspire to lead and make change?

NS: Change begins from inside, you need to feel grounded and focused before you can make a change in the outside world.

If you could start a side-hustle, what type of business would you start and why?

NS: Opening a café where you can also buy books. Kind of café that you can spend hours with your good friends and enjoy the ambience and food.

Having a “daily routine for success” has been shown to improve mental, physical, and emotional health. Do you have a daily routine?

NS: Believe it or not, no! I don’t have one. I will take each day as it comes but I will make sure that I include some sort of exercise and fun activities during my day to make a balance between my career and my well-being.