We are thrilled to share this article from Onder nemers magazine in Belgium featuring our dedicated Co-Director Tamara Tanghe, who talks about what it takes to succeed as a leading female in the traditionally male dominated world of logistics, transport, warehousing and shipping.
To read the original Dutch version of the article CLICK HERE
Antwerp-Waasland ENTREPRENEURS 2025 #2 CLICK HERE
Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association CLICK HERE
Onder nemers Article (English translation)
In today’s global economy, the port of Antwerp is an important shipping location upon which Commodity Centre Belgium has positioned itself since 2013. At the head of this specialist logistics services and storage provider is Tamara Tanghe, together with her co-director, Wim Jacobs. With more than two decades of experience in supply chain, logistics and distribution, she has found her way in this complex world that is still dominated by men.
In 2013, Tamara Tanghe took on the role of co-director at Commodity Centre Belgium. It’s not an obvious move in a sector in which women are rarely seen in leadership positions.
‘When I was together with Wim Jacobs, people often saw me as a kind of assistant or righthand person to the director. It took a while before I was recognised as an equal partner. But through a combination of perseverance, hard work and expertise, I have earned my place as co-director. The quayside is probably a rougher world than elsewhere, but I feel at home there. It’s a man’s world. I think I have risen to the challenge of proving myself.
I’ve always been fascinated with the port. The volumes that you move in Antwerp, the immense containers, the trans shipments: that’s huge to see. It’s a nice feeling to be part of the port world. And saying you have a port authority sounds good, doesn’t it?’
With 24 years of experience in the logistics sector, Tamara has a lot to offer.
‘The COVID pandemic was a crucial moment for Commodity Centre Belgium. The demand for storage space in our warehouses exploded and the large amount of activity in the port was unprecedented. But that also meant that we were motivated at a time in which everything was uncertain and there were a lot of expectations. The younger generation of workers has different expectations and requirements. This has forced us to create a fresh, innovative approach to personnel management. Finding suitable administrative staff remains one of my biggest challenges today. Working from home is not always as easy for us. We need to find a balance between maintaining team spirit while improving the maximum operational efficiency.’
ACTIVE AT FOUR ANTWERP LOCATIONS
Commodity Centre Belgium specialises in in the storage and handling of goods such as coffee, cocoa and metals, spread over four different locations in the Antwerp port area. The company started small, with Tamara and Wim as the first two employees. Over the past decade, it has grown into a company with eighteen permanent employees. In addition, they support another 20 to 25 dockers and operations run smoothly. Although that growth is impressive, Commodity Centre still has a personal and hands-on approach.
‘In a small business, you are involved in everything, from commercial decisions to HR matters. I know all our employees personally and strive to make sure that no one feels like a number. If necessary, I also just stand amongst the workers on the quayside during operations. This personal approach makes a huge difference in the working atmosphere and success of our company.’
Tamara’s long-term vision for Commodity Centre Belgium is focused on further growth, but always retaining its identity as a flexible, customer-centric company.
‘We are not trying to compete with the huge multinationals. That is not our playing field. But we do see opportunities for further expansion, especially by exploring new niche markets. We have our ears to the ground. For us, it’s all about choosing the right opportunities at the right time, and ones that match our core values.’
WAAGNATIE ACQUISITION
An important moment in the recent history of the company was the acquisition of Waagnatie NV in 2021. This strategic step of Commodity Centre Belgium was motivated by the need for more control over its transport operations.
‘We worked for a long time with external carriers. But we realized that we could operate more efficiently if we had our own trucks. The acquisition of Waagnatie means we can manage our own logistics chain and give our customers much more flexibility’.
The logistics sector is undergoing major changes worldwide, mainly due to increasing raw material prices, technological innovations and the impact of climate change in the supply chain. Commodity Centre Belgium has developed its strategy over the years – customisation is key.
‘For example, our approach to the storage of coffee and cocoa has been reviewed. In the past, we had a lot of cocoa and little coffee. That is now flipped. A number of years ago, we stuck to raw materials and kept them longer in our warehouses. Due to the changing market conditions and the higher storage rates, the products now stay longer in the country of origin and we focus more on faster turnaround times. We have optimised our warehouse management and operational processes to keep up with this change.’
Tamara Tanghe strongly believes in men and women complimenting each other in leadership roles.
‘I don’t think that companies now can only be owned by a male or can only be led by a female. It is about bringing together the different qualities of both sexes. Men can sometimes have more focused tunnel vision, while women often look at things in a broader way and have wider perspectives in their decision-making. Employees probably see me as the more empathetic, people-oriented person. But Wim is a better conciliator. That balance between the two makes us stronger as a team and more effective as leaders. Together you achieve more.’
Her belief that diversity in leadership leads to better operating results, is supported by scientific research. This shows that companies with various leadership teams tend to be more innovative and successful. Tamara Tanghe encourages young women therefore to claim their place in sectors traditionally dominated by men.
GREENER LOGISTICS
The parent company of Commodity Centre Belgium is located in the United Kingdom. The challenges posed by Brexit affected many companies in the European Union. But for Tamara Tanghe, this had relatively little impact on Belgian operations.
‘Why? Because we ourselves do not trade goods with the United Kingdom. Our customers are in France, Germany and Eastern Europe. We work with a good customs agent on technical matters and they will provide us with advice and assistance. We don’t have enough knowledge to do that in-house. So we will maintain that loyal partnership.’
Looking to the future, Tamara continues to focus on strengthening Commodity Centre Belgium in an increasingly competitive market. That includes embracing trends in the logistics sector, such as the growing demand for more sustainable operations.
‘We see a clear shift towards greener logistics – we should definitely be responding to that. Only infrastructure can be further developed to respond to this. One of the most important logistical challenges for the port of Antwerp is currently the traffic and the traffic jams. Hopefully, the Oosterweel connection will bring a solution.’
GROWTH THROUGH RESILIENCE
In the story of Commodity Centre Belgium, led by Tamara Tanghe and Wim Jacobs, resilience and perseverance are central to growth in a sector that is constantly moving forward. Tamara’s advice to young entrepreneurs in logistics?
‘Stay true to yourself and your vision, however remain open to the ideas and perspectives of the others. Always look at every perspective; that of your customer, your supplier and your team. It is not just about keeping your clientele. It’s about making sure your employees are in line with company goals and above all want to work for you. They are your greatest asset. Communicate your vision clearly and openly, so that your team understands why you are doing something and what is behind the decisions.’
BUSINESS OPERATIONS PROFESSIONALIZATION VIA MBA
Her busy role as co-director of Commodity Centre Belgium has not stopped Tamara further developing professionally. She will start an MBA later this month with Voka – Chamber of Appeal Commerce Antwerp-Waasland and Antwerp Management School. By doing this, she hopes to gain valuable insights about business management, finance and technology.
‘I have always had a hands-on approach, learning by doing. But this program can provide me with new perspectives and tools to further professionalise our business operations. Especially in the field of artificial intelligence, digitalisation and streamlining of administrative processes. An MBA can provide me with new insights which I can then directly apply to our logistical operations. As the course has participants from different generations, I also look forward to learning from others.’