Kunal Maheshwari, Chief Growth Officer at Softlink Global, drives strategic growth across global markets. With a finance background from the University of Exeter, he leads business development, sales, and marketing. Known for building high-performing teams, Kunal aligns talent with business goals, encouraging innovation and a future-ready culture in global logistics.
What was your dream job as a child?
I wanted to become an F1 driver.
What’s the biggest change you’ve seen in the industry?
Technology is set to shape the future of logistics, and its acceptance is now becoming more prominent. People are ready to accept change and bring in more technology-friendly solutions to their logistics businesses.
What’s one buzzword you secretly dislike?
Blockchain, as it is misunderstood and loosely used.
Window or aisle seat?
Window, always, nothing beats a city’s aerial views.
What’s the best business lesson you’ve learned the hard way?
Don’t try to oversell. Be patient, focus on helping your prospect make the right decision—instead of just trying to sell. Help them buy.
If you could swap jobs with anyone for a day, who would it be?
Jeff Bezos.
Which three items would you bring to a desert island?
Swimming trunks, a laptop and an ice box full of beers.
Tea or coffee?
Coffee always.
What’s your guilty pleasure TV show or movie?
Succession, and Entourage.
What’s the most exciting place you’ve visited for work?
Marrakech, Morocco.
If you could introduce one new regulation in air cargo, what would it be?
I would introduce stricter sustainability regulations to ensure the air cargo industry actively reduces its environmental impact and adopts greener practices.
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
Hotel California by Eagles.
Describe your job in three words.
Close more deals.
What’s your hidden talent?
Base guitarist.
If you could instantly master one skill, what would it be?
Learn how to fly a plane.
What’s something on your bucket list?
Buying a private jet.
What’s the best airport in the world, and why?
Qatar Airport is the best. It has everything you need, even during a delay, there’s always something to do. It’s spacious, modern, and designed to keep you engaged. you’ll never get bored there.
If air cargo had a mascot, what would it be?
Superman.
How did you get into airfreight/logistics?
I saw a great opportunity to bring technology into the freight forwarding and logistics sector. The idea of introducing new-age tech to an industry ready for transformation was exciting and that’s what excited me.
What quote has most resonated with you?
Stay hungry, stay foolish.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Don’t rush, be patient.
What is the most adventurous thing you have ever done?
Skydiving from 15,000 feet.
If you could have dinner with any three people, living or dead, who would it be and why?
I’d choose Elon Musk – to understand what drives his bold decision-making.
Steve Jobs – for his visionary mindset and how he built a revolutionary tech company without being an engineer himself, simply by sharing a strong vision with the right team. And India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi – for his leadership, strategic thinking, and impact on a global scale.
What’s something we wouldn’t know about you from your CV?
I did a food tech startup, Super Bowl, and sold it at a really good valuation.
