I am Syed Ershad Ahmed, I am associated with the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Bangladesh Council. I am working for the company called Expeditors which is the Global company having chapters all over the world and listed in NASDAQ and headquartered in Washington D.C. I have more than 30 years of experience in the field of Transport & Logistics. I am heading the Bangladesh branch as a Country Manager of my company.
When and why did you decide to become a member of CILT?
I am associated with CILT Bangladesh for quite some time. However, I became a Chartered Fellow only in 2018. I previously attended lot of courses and training sessions of the Council as guest Speaker and definitely I have enjoyed a lot and I still I am enjoying. It’s a really great professional Organization and it helps me to enhance my knowledge.
What are the benefits of being a member of CILT?
Being a member of CILT, an individual can get a lot of benefits. The major benefit is that he or she can get access to a bigger network of professionals and we all know that now the Supply Chain Business is leading the world, but it’s a very complex task to manage the Supply Chain of our customers. Because, each and every customer is different and they have different demand and also our competitions are very stiff. So it’s not so easy to compete in this competitive world. Therefore, a person who is providing the logistics services must have a very good knowledge, so that he can provide the adequate service and can satisfy his or her customer.
Besides this every year CILT is holding conferences in different parts of the world, so a member can attend these conference, build up his own network and can learn from his fellow professionals and can provide adequate services to the customer. As I mentioned earlier, it is very important to keep customers satisfied, all the time.
Knowledge is power. When you have the knowledge you can manage your business in much better way, you can fulfill the demands of your customers and you can keep your customers satisfied.
What difference has being a member of CILT made to your career?
CILT made a very big difference in my life. As I mentioned earlier, previously I faced lot of challenges in collecting information, but nowadays after being a member of CILT, as CILT has a information bank now these information are in my fingertips, and for proper management especially for managing in logistics, we need proper information.
I can also get information very quickly, I can take proper decision in a timely manner, I can solve my problems, thus I can keep my customers happy. So, it’s really adding value in my career.
What do you think the future holds for you and CILT?
CILT is a vast field of knowledge. CILT started in 1919 and this year CILT is going to celebrate its 100 years. So, it’s a growing Organization and globally they have activities and I believe CILT has a very bright future, because after Globalization, logistics transportation management became a very vital component of any business of the world. Therefore, no doubt that CILT future is very bright.
What message would you give to someone just starting out with CILT?
The people who are joining CILT as a member, I will request them, please utilise this professional network and enhance your knowledge. Because, knowledge is power. When you have the knowledge you can manage your business in much better way, you can fulfill the demands of your customers and you can keep your customers satisfied. Thus, you can through your business. So, my message is to the professionals who just joined the CILT, please also attend the training courses of CILT. CILT is offering different daily courses including International Diploma that will help you to keep yourself updated and to make you more knowledgeable, so that you can manage your business in a better way.
