When Lionel van der Walt departed IATA CNS a couple of years ago, our industry lost a great leader, although we got lucky again right away, when Mike White stepped up to take the presidency. Mike has carried forward admirably, assembling and hosting a huge Annual Partnership Conference about to take off in Miami on May 5.
     A very cool way to get it on Latino in Miami and celebrate Cinco de Mayo, while networking with some old friends and making new ones, we say. www.cnsc.net
     But this is about Lionel who, after jumping from CNS, assumed command of RCI, Inc., recently rebranded as the International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC), an international nonprofit association of professionals who specialize in roofing, waterproofing, and exterior wall specification and design.

Keeps Pulling Me Back

     But guess what? Air cargo has also pulled Lionel back.
     In addition to his duties at IIBEC, Mr. van der Walt also serves as a member of the Board of Directors at fast growing PayCargo.
     PayCargo CEO Eduardo Del Riego cited van der Walt’s “passionate leadership and one-of-a-kind international business acumen,” as factors in the decision to want Lionel on the Board.

All About Relationships

     But some things that Lionel had to say about relationships caught our attention.
     As we continue to gather at various points around the world, Lionel van der Walt shares some words worth considering.

Air Cargo Is About People

     “People are the most important resource we have in a world of constant and fast-paced change.
     “Helping them to grow, learn and be successful means a lot to me, and in my experience, is an approach that always leads to outstanding results.
     “My philosophy is to encourage team members and colleagues to be bold and always challenge the status quo.
     “This naturally leads to taking calculated risks, and failures at times.
     “However, my experience has also been that many short-term failures have led to long-term successes.
     “So I support innovation and making mistakes, as long as we make informed decisions, learn from those experiences, and most importantly, not repeat the mistakes.

Military Formations

     “One of the defining moments in my career was when I completed my officer’s training in the South African Air Force.
     “Many of the principles I apply, both at work and in my day-to-day life, were developed there.
     “This included an affinity for character traits such as integrity, team-work, loyalty, respect, self-discipline and a strong results focus.
     “But my background also includes some intolerance though, as I do not abide deceit, selfish, self-centered behavior, gossip and other similarly destructive behavior.
     “At the start of my career, I considered myself to be an operations manager. However, over time I realized that my passion and strengths are strategy and general management.

Growth Ever Evolving

     “I never thought of myself as a sales person, but soon came to realize that almost every action in my day-to-day activity is a sell, be it the sale of a product or service, or the selling of my thoughts and ideas.”
Geoffrey Arend