Janis Balkens is a Latvian national with over Two decades of expertise in leadership, operational and commercial roles in aviation. He has labored widely with airports, airlines, ground handlers and logistics companies, and most currently, he held the distance of Regional Chief Govt Officer for Fresh and Emerging Markets at dnata.
Balkens holds an MBA in Aviation from the Danube College Krems and accomplished govt management programmes at the London Enterprise College and INSEAD.
Balkens joined Unilode in October 2023 as Chief Working Officer.
How did you accumulate into airfreight/logistics?
My dad labored at customs at the airport in the early 90’s and I took a Summer season job there when I used to be 15. Since then I often wished to achieve reduction, and I began with airBaltic in 1996.
What quote has most resonated with you?
Treat others how you’d make a choice to be handled.
What’s the most simple share of advice you’ve ever got?
Don’t lie.
What’s the most adventurous ingredient you’d contain ever achieved?
I will’t teach it…
Within the event you’d contain dinner with any three people, living or lifeless, who would it no longer be and why?
Michael Jordan, my sports activities idol, Robert de Niro, to sight if he’s stress-free or unimaginative, and my Godfather John, who handed away in the center of Covid, and I did no longer contain a raffle to sight him for a few ultimate years.
What’s something we wouldn’t learn about you out of your CV?
I used to be a DJ.
What interest contain you ever often wished to establish out nonetheless by no technique bought around to?
Flying a airplane.
Within the event you’d contain no longer pursued a profession in airfreight, what different field would you’d contain cherished to maneuver into?
Minister of International Affairs.
Within the event you’d contain any superpower, what would it no longer be?
Reside people from getting sick.
What’s your proudest moment and your very very best be apologetic about?
Proudest – My three daughters, absolute self belief. Remorse – I wasn’t there for them adequate.
If there used to be a film made about your lifestyles, who would you make a choice to sight play the lead role?
Brad Pitt, because it might perchance well perchance presumably be so icy.
Having a understand reduction over your profession, what would your message be to anyone eager with a profession in logistics?
It’s an keen industry that enables you to cross all the strategy by the area and be legitimate anywhere, as your skills are acceptable all around the establish. It’s addictive and makes the area certainly feel puny. It’s level-headed one of many industries where which you can commence at the underside and change into CEO.
How stop you inspire your personnel?
Be most modern, make sure on the motive, their role in it and their goal!
What’s the one item which you can’t go with out?
Passport.
Who is your role model?
Arnold Schwarzenegger (he literally beat the percentages).
What would your autobiography be known as?
The Globetrotter from unknown establish of dwelling.
Cats or dogs?
Cats.
Early riser or evening owl?
Night owl, level-headed.
What’s the most simple and worst contain you’ve ever made?
Excellent – First house at the age of 21. Worst – A car that I did no longer need.
Within the event you’d fully eat one meal for the remainder of your lifestyles, what would it no longer be?
Pasta.
What’s your most passe emoji?
Thumbs up!
