Leaders

The Transportation, Logistics, Supply Chain, and Storage industry is essential to the global economy, enabling efficient movement of goods, materials, and services across borders, driving trade, and connecting producers to consumers. Industry leaders in logistics drive innovation with technology like AI, automation, and blockchain while advancing sustainability through green logistics.

May Ma, Director of Allport Cargo Services USA, is a seasoned industry leader who has been instrumental in the organization’s growth and success since its inception. Allport Cargo Services USA operates as a global network of supply chain professionals dedicated to continuously enhancing and optimizing supply chains through the adoption of world-class solutions.

In a close interview with us, May shared her journey, its challenges and milestones.

What are some important facets of your life and professional journey that you wish to highlight through the article?

After graduating in 1997, I started my career at United States Consolidation, a small company with just 10 employees. We managed shipments for major clients like Toys “R” Us, focusing on outbound from Asia to the international market. At the time, operations were manual, relying on paper processes and outdated tools like dot matrix printers.

Despite the market's heavy workload and speculative nature, we achieved great success, eventually selling the company to Exel, a UK-based firm later acquired by DHL. After 11 years, I transitioned to CEVA Logistics, where I played a key role in establishing their Purchase Order (PO) management system in Asia.

Unlike traditional freight management, PO management was customer-centric, offering full supply chain visibility. We tracked every order milestone, vendor acceptance, and price change, providing real-time insights. Although educating teams and clients was challenging, the service’s transparency and streamlined operations added immense value and became a core offering at CEVA.

Take us through your professional journey in the logistics and supply chain industry. What were some of the most crucial junctures throughout your journey?

Transitioning from DHL to CEVA was a pivotal experience, where I sharpened my entrepreneurial skills by building operations from the ground up. However, joining Allport Cargo Services presented a greater challenge. While Allport had a strong presence in China, its footprint in key origin ports like Vietnam, Thailand, India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka was less mature.

I was tasked with strengthening operations in these regions, which involved team development, systems training, fostering customer relationships, ensuring effective supplier communications, all focused on delivering value and building trust. Through leadership and operations excellence, I am proud to say the team is now well on its way to achieving a major milestone of handling 500,000 ocean containers this coming year.

This success reflects the strength of our systems, the resilience of our teams, and the relationships we nurtured, making it one of the most rewarding experiences of my career and prepares Allport Cargo Services for future success having now been acquired by DP World.

Introduce us to Allport Cargo Services USA. As the company’s director, what are the key roles and responsibilities that you shoulder?

As the leader of the Asia Pacific region, my primary responsibility is overseeing the orchestration of the Allport Cargo Services Asia Pacific Control Tower, and in-country operations, to deliver on our customer promises.

My role involves developing tailored Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to meet each customer’s unique requirements. I work closely with origin offices across multiple countries, aligning them with established processes, and collaborating with suppliers to ensure smooth operations.

By leveraging our advanced system and portal, I provide customers with real-time visibility into their shipments. They can track orders, monitor milestones, and confirm customs clearance at both origin and destination.

In your opinion what are some of the most critical challenges you encounter as a leader in logistics? What steps do you undertake to overcome these roadblocks?

The logistics industry is traditionally male-dominated, with key roles like truck drivers and warehouse operators typically managed by men. In certain regions, it can be especially challenging for a woman to lead or offer guidance due to cultural norms and established practices. Many workers have ingrained ways of working, which require patience and effort to foster collaboration.

Building trust and demonstrating the value of new approaches are essential for success. It takes time to break down barriers, earn respect, and align teams with company objectives. Once relationships are established and the benefits of change are understood, collaboration becomes smoother and more productive. This experience underscores the importance of resilience, cultural sensitivity, and effective communication in overcoming challenges and meeting customer expectations.

At Allport Cargo Services, we have achieved a great diversity with more than 50 percent of our global leadership team being female.

Throw light on the most significant profession­al milestones you have achieved through­out your professional journey. What has your success mantra been over the years?

One of the significant milestones in our journey was achieving what we call a "site assessment" certification. This certification requires meeting stringent criteria, with different levels such as one star, two stars, and the highest level, three stars. To reach the three-star status, we had to fulfill ten different requirements across various aspects of the business. Achieving this within eight months was a remarkable accomplishment.

A key factor in our success has been the strong, long-standing relationships within my team. Five of my team members have been with me for over 20 years in Asia, and some have been with me for more than a decade.

Building these relationships over time has been crucial. It's not just about knowing each other but also understanding how to work together effectively. I consider it a significant achievement to have built such a cohesive team, working together from the ground up, which has played a vital role in our success today.

May Ma, Director, Allport Cargo Services USA

May Ma is the Director of Allport Cargo Services USA and a seasoned leader in the logistics and supply chain industry. With over two decades of experience, she has played a pivotal role in transforming supply chain operations through innovative solutions and strategic leadership.