Kim Mauch is a feisty Queensland country girl with 25 years’ experience in the male dominated freight industry and is the concept designer for recently launched online freight comparison website CargoHound.
Kim has spent her career involved in operations and logistics across a broad range of industries from chilled beef and cotton to tree nuts and most recently the growing sector of aquaculture. As a long term buyer of international freight, Kim is keen to reduce the smoke and mirrors of the industry and wants to share her knowledge with small businesses needing to export from or import to Australia.
Growing up, what kind of career did you want to pursue?
As a kid I was keen to work in travel and tourism, so I could see the world and experience different cultures and people.
Who inspires you?
Children, with their innocence and sense of awe and wonderment.
Who is most surprised by your achievements?
Me.
How have women helped shape your success to date?
Having grown up in the country, my childhood was filled with so many farming women who need to turn their hand to every task, which is always done with competence and grit. They were all true achievers. When I asked one of my dearest friends and most admired female mentors, how I could ever repay her for the knowledge and inspiration she passed to me, she said pass it on to the next generation of women.
What qualities do you most admire in a female colleague?
Resilience.
What’s the key to successfully balancing work and life?
Your loved ones understanding what it is that you do and accepting who you really are.
If you had an afternoon to yourself, how would you spend it?
On the farm with my mum and going for a horse ride.
Who do you regard as your mentor?
There are so many, but in the beginning my mother, she always told me there is a big world out there, it’s not here, go find it. She often offered to pack my bags.
What personal attributes have you used to overcome adversity in your life?
Loyalty, consistency and determination.
If you could make one change to women’s lives, what would it be and why?
Financial Independence would help create emotional freedom and eventually make each generation of women stronger.
What is the hardest part of your job?
Worrying about strategy and timing, it’s the most important thing to get right.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to success in your field?
Be ahead of the game always, think three months ahead on operations and 12 months on strategy and business planning.