In our special column, we are glad to host an interview with Johanna Kull, Loss Prevention Executive at ALANDIA, who enjoys her role as she is able to learn a lot about the whole shipping industry and at the same time to share her knowledge in behaviour/ social science and psychology to the industry. Mrs Kull advises us to focus on things that bring benefit to ourselves; although it takes training to refocus, it is worth spending that time and energy.
SAFETY4SEA: How did it come about that you joined shipping industry and your field of expertise specifically?
Johanna Kull: The advertisement as a Loss Prevention Executive at Alandia was focused on problem solving, analysing and human factor – all my core competence and interest areas. There was over 70 + applications to the job, and I went through two interviews and additional analysing task, presentation, logical thinking test and personality test. I was very grateful when I passed and got the job!
S4S: What about your current job/ role most excites you and why?
J.K.: I love to learn, and in this role, I get to learn a lot about the whole shipping industry. I also like to share my knowledge in behaviour/ social science and psychology to the industry. I am driven to contribute to make shipping industry the best industry for people to be both safe, sustainable and that companies use the full human potential.
S4S: When you think of the word successful who’s the first person who comes to mind and why?
J.K.: What a funny question, nobody in particular came to my mind. I am a firm believer that everybody has their own success. To somebody it can be to get up in the morning, for somebody else it could be to reach a long-wanted goal.
S4S: Who is/was the most influential person/mentor to you & why?
J.K.: I have had a lot of mentors throughout my (young) life. Right now, I think I can say (I promise I don’t get extra pay for this!) it is my manager at Alandia Loss Prevention. He has got me interested in the shipping industry and has a clear vision how he thinks the industry can and should develop further. I learned a lot during this one and a half year I have worked here!
S4S: What is the best and what was the worst piece of advice you’ve ever been given and why?
J.K.: “Don’t waste energy on what you can’t change – spend it on where you can make a difference” A lot of people spend their energy to focus on things that is not benefitting them and other. It takes training to refocus – but it is worth spending that time and energy.
Worst advice is maybe “you have to eat more porridge to grow taller” – I am still quite short.
S4S: What is the most worthwhile career investment (in energy, time, money) you’ve ever made?
J.K.: I think career investments are the small steps you take every day that eventually become your life path and career. Nevertheless, I am grateful that I finished my MSc in Psychology, parallel to my studies I had two small children, and my own company. Even if I am really interested in the subject it required great tenacity to go through with it.
S4S: If you could give a piece of advice to your 18-year-old-self one thing, what would it be and why? What piece of advice should you ignore?
J.K.: I think every mistake I did then has developed me to who I am today, and I don’t want to change anything. But if I must give some advice it would be to appreciate what you got.
S4S: In the last five years, what new belief, behaviour, or habit has most improved your business life?
J.K.: I think the habit of regularity/ consistency, that small steps make a huge difference, and making everything sustainable in the long-term have been the best wisdom for business I have learned in the last few years.
S4S: What would you like to change in the current maritime landscape and your area of expertise specifically and why?
J.K.: I really want to contribute to the understanding of how humans function individually and in groups and how it affects risks, business, and the whole industry. I think many people underestimate that to manage your business, risks, and profitability it is beneficial to know what affects the people and how the resulting behaviour affects your company.
S4S: What is your personal motto?
J.K.: “The greatness of humanity is not in being human, but in being humane.”
The views presented hereabove are only those of the author and do not necessarily those of SAFETY4SEA and are for information sharing and discussion purposes only.
Johanna Kull works as a Loss Prevention Executive at Alandia. Alandia is a Nordic marine insurance company that is expanding internationally. Her educational background is a B.Sc. in Behavioural and Social Sciences and a M.Sc. in Psychology. Her work experience is broad; she has had her own company and worked as a counsellor and project manager for youth groups. Johanna is a dedicated mother of two bright boys and live with my family on the beautiful Aland Islands. During her one and a half years within the shipping industry her goals, specifically, in marine insurance business is to learn about this interesting and multi-faceted field and contribute with her knowledge in human sciences to make shipping safer, sustainable, and long-term value-creating
