Investing in Future Leaders: An Intern’s Journey at Gapuma

2nd July 2025

At Gapuma, we believe that investing in young talent is not only part of our long-term vision, but also a core pillar of our Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) commitment. Over the years, we’ve been proud to host a growing number of bright, driven interns who gain hands-on experience across our global operations.

One such intern is Phume Mazibuko, currently completing a seven-week internship at our London head office. With four weeks behind her, Phume has already made an impact and gained invaluable insight into international trade, procurement, and logistics.

Here’s Phume’s account in her own words:

“With four weeks completed and only three more weeks to go, I have already gained an extensive amount of knowledge while being at Gapuma. I have worked with both the Procurement and Logistics departments, splitting my time equally between the two.

In procurement, I was responsible for carrying through enquiries. I was tasked with researching chemical suppliers and contacting the requisite suppliers based on client specifications. This task improved my communication and problem-solving skills. Furthermore, the procurement team ensured that I gained technical knowledge of the forward freight industry by learning Incoterms, organising Certificates of Analysis and more.

Another key task was conducting a regional freight market check. This was significant for my understanding of market patterns and would provide both the Procurement and Logistics teams with up-to-date information, vital for drafting client quotes and planning agreements between clients and suppliers.

While working with Logistics, I was required to update a Know Your Client Excel sheet and ensure that the relevant information is correctly and thoroughly logged for future reference when the team needs to carry through a shipment. This improved my attention to detail, my risk assessment skills, and my deeper understanding of company and industry standards.

Through all of this, the team environments at Gapuma remained supportive and collaborative, and thus, I have been able to learn a great deal from my supervisors and colleagues when given regular and in-depth feedback on tasks.

This experience has affirmed my interest in the transportation of bulk liquids but has especially opened me up to a world of freight forwarding and given me the confidence to pursue a role in this field.

Although my experience is not yet over, I am grateful to have worked with such a dedicated and positive team, so I would highly recommend this internship to others interested in international trade.”

We’re proud to play a small part in the journeys of emerging professionals like Phume — and we look forward to welcoming many more.