Logistics Thinking as a Key Leadership Skill
How an operations mindset builds responsible, responsive and future-oriented leaders
One of the most striking ways to reach KLU is by walking along the River Elbe – past cranes, warehouses, and container ships. For me, this setting symbolizes what logistics is all about: stability in the midst of constant movement. And this ability to remain steady through change is precisely what leadership requires today – in a world shaped by multiple overlapping crises. It's about whether you are prepared to learn, take responsibility and work with others.
Staying Effective When Others Falter
Throughout four decades of research and applied work, I’ve seen one thing repeatedly: People with a solid understanding of supply chains remain capable when others freeze. During the pandemic, amid trade disputes or supply shortages, it was often logistics professionals who stayed calm and found viable solutions. They understand networks, recognize dependencies, and think in scenarios rather than rigid plans. They see opportunities where others only perceive risk.
In global humanitarian projects with partners like UNICEF and the Norwegian Red Cross, I’ve seen just how essential operational competence becomes in times of crisis. Resilience isn’t just about plans or procedures – it’s about perception, communication, and the ability to act sensibly under pressure. People with an operations mindset are trained to do exactly that: take responsibility and navigate complexity with clarity.
Logistics Belongs at the Top
For too long, logistics was considered a technical support function. Today, it’s clear that supply chain management is a strategic leadership issue. Those who understand operations understand the organization. I’m convinced we’ll see more leaders with logistics backgrounds at the executive level – not only because they are efficient, but because they know how to create value and manage risk in a complex, fast-changing world.
My conclusion: An operations mindset empowers leaders to act decisively, manage complexity, and take responsibility – especially in uncertain times. These are the leadership qualities our world urgently needs. That’s why we champion them – and cultivate them – at KLU.
Prof. Dr. Marianne Jahre
Prof. Dr. Marianne Jahre is Dean of Research and Professor in Operations Management at Kühne Logistics University. Prof. Jahre’s research has always had a clear link to sustainability and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Her research rests on an interdisciplinary and mixed methods approach, at present cooperating with researchers in global health, pharmacy, risk engineering, political science, and medicine, and has formed the basis for developing research-based teaching in humanitarian logistics, supply chain risk management, crisis management and medicine supply chains.
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