The wonderful women of Virgin Atlantic Cargo: Cat Van Straaten

^{Posted: 25th February, 2022}

To celebrate International Women's Day 2022, we are championing the women of Virgin Atlantic Cargo; sharing their experiences and what they love about Logistics.

Tell us about your role at Virgin Atlantic Cargo…

In my current role, I manage the Cargo Customer Relations team who are a brilliant team of four that investigate any issues arising from the moment freight arrives to the point of collection. We deal with stakeholders across the entire network and work together to resolve problems and make it right when things go wrong. As part of this role, I also handle all of the cargo claims received worldwide which involves dealing with colleagues and Customers Worldwide, being able to influence Insurers and Solicitors, and making decisions of liability in order to protect the Virgin brand.

During my nearly 24 years at Virgin, I’ve carried out many roles from Admin, to Reservations, Sales, Insurance, and claims, but I can honestly say that this role in the current climate is by far the most challenging and fast paced!

"There is a real adrenaline rush and well, quite frankly it gets under your skin!"

What led you to the cargo industry? And what is it about the industry you enjoy the most?

The completely honest answer to this is that as I was coming up to graduating, and my Mum was sending me adverts out of the local papers, telling me I wasn’t coming home to sit around all Summer – that had very much been my plan! One of those adverts was for a Virgin Cargo Admin Assistant …. and the rest is history!

What I love most is that no one day is ever the same, and that when things go wrong in the world (shall we talk about the last 2 years!), Cargo seems to always step up and save the day. There is a real adrenaline rush and well, it quite frankly gets under your skin!

What do you value most about working for Virgin Atlantic Cargo?

The people. It’s a real cliché, but we really are a cargo family and the last couple of years has really sealed that – we’ve all laughed and cried together and carried each other through, whilst achieving what many would have been considered impossible in the middle of a pandemic! That’s what makes Virgin Cargo what it is….

Tell us about some women who have, or continue to, inspire you in your career or your everyday life…

My inspiration doesn’t really come from anyone in the public eye – its more those women that get through each day, juggling all the balls and keeping them in the air, and those women that fearlessly deal with anything thrown at them! Oh, and any person, man, or woman that managed home learning last year and lived to tell the tale!

What would you say to a female who’s thinking about a career in the logistics industry?

The logistics industry Is a very different place to what it was 24 years ago.

I would say to own it….do you and be you... then you can’t go wrong! “Say Yes... You’ll figure the rest out later”.