When Charlotte Gotfredsen Scheuerstarted her career as a student freight forwarder in 2012, she had no idea she was stepping into what would become a long-term professional journey. What she did know was that she had joined a team that welcomed her with openness, support and a strong sense of collaboration.

“That exceptional team is what I remember most,” Charlotte says. “They helped me learn the fundamentals of the profession and showed me how essential teamwork is to delivering great results.”

Curiosity and eagerness defined those early days. Everything felt new, and Charlotte approached each day with a strong motivation to learn. More than a decade later, that mindset remains unchanged.

“I still go to work with the same enthusiasm and drive – eager to learn something new and contribute to the success of the team and the business.”

When a student job becomes a career

For Charlotte, it didn’t take long to realize that freight forwarding could become much more than a temporary student role.

“As I gained responsibility and started to understand the complexity of the work, I became genuinely engaged in the industry,” she explains. “The dynamic environment and the satisfaction of solving operational challenges made it clear that this was something I wanted to grow in long term.”

The challenge of stepping into leadership

Over the years, Charlotte has taken on several roles. The most challenging transition, she says, was stepping into her first leadership position.

“Although it felt like a natural progression, I was very determined to give my team the same strong guidance and support that I had been fortunate to receive from my own leaders.”

Moving into leadership required a shift in perspective. Instead of focusing primarily on her own tasks, Charlotte had to focus on enabling others to succeed.

“It challenged me in the best possible way. It also confirmed how much I value people development and leading by example.”

Building something from the ground up

One of the most memorable chapters in Charlotte’s career was being part of opening a new office – an experience she describes as both exciting and rewarding.

“It’s not something you get to experience often in a career. I really appreciated the opportunity to help shape the setup from day one.”

In fact, the first day was as hands-on as it gets.

“Erik, the Managing Director in Denmark, and I were literally assembling the furniture ourselves,” Charlotte says. “It set the tone for a collaborative environment where everyone contributes, no matter their role.”

Starting from scratch meant building both structure and culture simultaneously. Culture played a central role in that process. The team focused on living the company’s core values in their daily work: commitment, involvement, humour and joy.

“And honestly, culture only works when you have the right people – and we do,” Charlotte says.

What an Operations Manager really does

Today, Charlotte works as Operations Manager. Behind the title lies a role that combines leadership, coordination and people development.

“I see myself as someone who ensures that the operational foundation is solid – that structures, processes and priorities are aligned so the team can perform at their best.”

But people remain at the center of her work.

“I focus on creating clarity, removing obstacles and being accessible so the team feels supported and equipped to succeed.”

What keeps the motivation alive

After more than a decade in freight forwarding, Charlotte’s motivation still comes from the same source: people.

“The relationships with colleagues, partners and customers are what make the work meaningful,” she says. “Seeing my team grow and creating an environment where they can succeed is genuinely the biggest driver for me.”

At the same time, the ever-changing nature of the industry keeps things exciting.

“There are always new challenges, new technologies and new ways of working. Freight forwarding never stands still.”

Advice for the next generation

For students starting out in freight forwarding today, Charlotte has a simple piece of advice:

“Stay curious and keep your eagerness to learn. You will face challenges along the way, but every situation is an opportunity to grow.”

And perhaps most importantly:

“Not all answers can be found in textbooks. Much of your knowledge will come from practical experience and collaboration with your colleagues.”

Interested in working at Hecksher? Check out our career opportunities.