#SUSTAINABLEMOVES Nurturing young movers What does it mean to be young and part of the moving industry? Why should top management consider young professionals for leadership positions? Are young movers part of the decision-making process of the industry and its continuity? FIDI 39 Club Vice President Juan Guillermo Daz reports W e invited Gabriela Humeniuk from Lift Van Argentina, Namita Sharma from Delight International Movers, and Jonathan Lim from Asian Tigers Singapore to share their views on being young professionals in the moving and relocation business and the challenges and perks of a leadership position. FIDI 39 Club Vice President Juan Guillermo Daz What is the role of a young mover in todays industry? And a young mover in a leadership position? According to Humeniuk being a young mover means being constantly challenged in a very positive way. You get to learn a lot every single day, to explore your own limits, to use your creativity in everything you do and to embrace new ways of learning and teaching others, she says. She adds that it is essential to be open to new experiences to enjoy the many opportunities that the industry has to offer. Sharma says a mover who is not far into their industry career journey presents an opportunity to make a significant impact. As young leaders, we have the responsibility to guide and shape the industrys future direction, she says. Embracing this role opens numerous opportunities for us to contribute at all levels, ensuring sustainable growth and making informed decisions. For Lim, a young mover is more a state of mind than an age it can, for example, simply refer to someone who is new to the moving industry. Bringing these people into leadership positions, shows that the organisation trusts the individual, has an openness to change, and to new ideas. This fuels a drive to improve and innovate to make an organisation better. What advice would you give a young professional starting in the moving industry? I think to have passion, a willingness to learn and embrace challenges, says Lim. Always be a sponge that never stops absorbing. Sharma encourages all young movers to embrace new learning opportunities and dive in. Only then will you truly appreciate the beauty of the moving world and recognise the pivotal role movers play in helping customers relocate their homes, she says. Humeniuk adds: Its such an amazing industry and theres so much to do and so many people to learn from. I would have never imagined that I would have fallen in love so deeply with what I do, or that I would get the chance to put so much of who I am into what I do. This industry opens doors dont forget it. Whats the hardest challenge in terms of the relationship between older and younger movers? Sharma believes the biggest challenge in communicating between generations lies in differing approaches to situations. Older generations often adhere to traditional work methods and philosophies, while young movers display agility and resilience, particularly around changing technologies, work models, and global trends, she says. Humeniuk adds that having people in your group who are not eager to adapt to new ways of doing 56 FF311 Sept-Nov 23 pp56-59 FIDI 39 Club.indd 56 11/09/2023 15:43