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If you’ve been thinking about a move to Africa, you’ve probably heard the usual lines. Dynamic markets. High growth. Incredible potential. And while all of that is true, it doesn’t quite prepare you for the reality of what it means to show up here every day, lead a team, and do work that genuinely matters
So we asked the people who know best. Four sales leaders at Maersk, spanning the continent, spoke openly about what this region demands, what it gives back, and what kind of person truly thrives here. This is what they told us
A Continent That Builds You Differently
Africa consists of 54 countries, dozens of economic realities, and a business environment that demands more than a playbook
Africa is a land of opportunities, one of many contrasts (business and markets included) and one where your personal growth can be positively stimulated in an environment of emerging market growth, developing infrastructure and the exciting challenges and learnings that comes with this
Working here also means plan B is not a backup, it’s a habit. In West Africa, Kikelomo Omolara Abiola-Cudjoe, Area Head of L&S Procurement, describes the day-to-day reality with refreshing honesty:
Professional life often requires extreme adaptability. Due to unpredictable supply chains or power outages, there is a deep, inherent, and creative capacity for troubleshooting and ‘making do’ that is rare in more stable, developed economies. This builds resilience in the people
That resilience is not a nice-to-have. It becomes part of who you are
Your work will have real weight here
In many roles, the distance between what you do and the impact it creates is long and hard to see. In Africa, that distance collapses
You don’t sit on the sidelines here, you’re in it. Building, fixing, delivering. You see the impact of your work quickly, which is incredibly energising
Hisham Alfadil, Country Manager for Somalia, takes it further. In a market where trade directly enables livelihoods and stability, every call carries meaning
It’s a powerful reminder that what we do is never just logistics, it’s lifelines. That’s why right decisions at the right times matter here, because they directly enable trade, livelihoods, and stability in ways that are deeply tangible
When you can see what your work enables, it changes how you show up
The culture is something you feel before you can describe it
Ask any of these leaders about the culture of their region and they light up
A culture built for teamwork and hungry for innovation and progress. People in the region are caring and want to deliver quality work while looking out for each other
Kikelomo points to the music, the fashion, the food, the art, and yes, the still very much unresolved debate over whose jollof rice is best: “Let’s not go into the debate of which country has the best jollof rice (it’s between Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal)!”
Beneath all of that warmth is something more foundational. Azim describes it simply as “a culture of respect, humbleness, and family/community which talks to inclusion,” grounded in the spirit of Ubuntu which means “I am, because we are”, where mutual respect, shared humanity, and collective success are not soft values but the foundations on which trust is built and business actually gets done
Skills will get you in the door. Everything else carries you through
Every leader said some version of the same thing when we asked what they look for when hiring
Florence is direct: “Skills can be built, but attitude is everything. If you’re curious, driven, and willing to roll up your sleeves, you’ll thrive here.”
Hisham looks beyond the CV entirely: “The environment doesn’t reward perfection here, but it rewards integrity, ownership, and the instinct to move forward despite ambiguity. Skills get you in the door, but mindset is what carries you through.”
What these leaders are building are not just high-performing teams. They are building environments where people feel genuinely safe to bring their best. As Yerim puts it: “Building an environment where employees feel psychologically safe and where trust prevails is important.”
So, is Africa for you?
The teams at Maersk across this continent are not just moving freight. They are building markets, enabling economies, and doing it alongside some of the most resilient, warm, and purpose-driven people you will ever work with
If you want to see the results of your work and believe that relationships and integrity are what make business real – then yes. Africa is for you
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