In our ongoing series, The People Behind Relationship Coffee, we’re shining a light on the dedicated folks at Sustainable Harvest who help keep your coffee moving smoothly from origin to your roastery, all while building strong relationships along the way.
Today, we’re excited to introduce you to Daniela León, a key member of our Traceable Logistics team, who helps manage outbound shipments. Daniela comes to us with a strong background in international trade and plenty of hands-on experience in both air and ocean freight. In our chat with Daniela, she shares how she found her way into the coffee industry, what sets this community apart, and why she believes empathy and teamwork are crucial foundations for efficient execution.
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Sustainable Harvest (SH): Daniela, can you tell us about your background and how you got into logistics?
Daniela León (DL): I studied Finance and International Trade at Universidad de La Salle in Bogotá, Colombia, and graduated in 2018. My first job was at an international freight forwarder, where I worked mainly on air cargo from the U.S. to different countries, especially Brazil. We moved everything you can imagine – perishables, clothing, perfumes, hazardous cargo – really all kinds of shipments!
[After three years there], I moved into ocean freight and learned a lot about maritime shipping and transport documentation. That was where my career in logistics really took shape.
SH: How did you end up joining Sustainable Harvest?
DL: After working in logistics for the oil and gas industry, I returned to a freight forwarder focused on ocean shipments. But I realized I preferred working on the client side of logistics, being closer to the decision-making and operations.
I was looking for new opportunities and saw the Logistics Specialist role. I applied and found out the role would be on Angie’s team – we had worked together before. That made the opportunity even more exciting!
It’s funny because I didn’t know anything about coffee at the time (and I still don’t drink it!). But the industry seemed beautiful and meaningful, and I was excited to learn something completely new.
SH: After almost a year in coffee, what stands out compared to other industries you've worked in?
DL: This is the most beautiful industry I’ve worked in. It’s not just about buying and selling a product, it truly goes far beyond that.
What really stands out is the empathy and transparency in the way Sustainable Harvest works. The relationships with clients and suppliers feel more human and collaborative. The work is still challenging and competitive, but there’s more understanding between people.
It’s honestly been the best job I’ve ever had. I love coordinating shipments, supporting clients, and the satisfaction of seeing an operation go smoothly. Plus, I’ve learned so much from Angie, Claudy, Leo, and the whole team. Everyone supports each other, even when delays happen, which is inevitable in logistics.
SH: How would you explain Sustainable Harvest to a roaster or producer who doesn't work with us...yet?
DL: Sustainable Harvest feels like more than a business, it’s a way of helping people. Of course, businesses need to be profitable, but here the focus is also on transparency, empathy, and collaboration.
If there’s a problem, the goal is always to find solutions and help partners grow. It’s about building reciprocal, long-term relationships rather than purely transactional ones.
SH: Logistics is often misunderstood. What do you wish people understood better about your role?
DL: Everything in logistics takes time. Each step has its own process, and delays can happen for reasons outside our control. Bookings, documentation, and shipping timelines all require coordination and patience.
Understanding that timelines can change – even when we do everything right – helps people appreciate the complexity behind each shipment.
SH: Even though you don't drink coffee, what excites you most about learning more about the industry?
DL: I would love to visit coffee farms and experience the entire process firsthand. I’ve never been to Colombia’s coffee regions, and I think seeing how coffee is grown, harvested, and processed would completely change my perspective. During one of our internal sessions, we learned about defects and saw beans affected by insects like coffee borer, and I found that fascinating. Being able to connect those lessons with the real environment where coffee is produced would be incredible.
Another topic that really sparked my interest was pricing and risk management. During a training session, learning how coffee prices are set opened a whole new world for me. It made me realize how complex the industry is and how many factors influence each shipment we handle.
Even though logistics processes can look similar across industries, coffee has unique layer - especially certifications, traceability, and sustainability requirements. Learning why these certifications exist, how they work, and how they affect logistics has been both challenging and exciting.
There is still so much to learn, and that’s what motivates me the most. Coffee is such a big, complex, and people-centered industry, and I feel like every day brings something new to discover.
SH: What will it take to get you to start drinking coffee?!
DL: It is funny because my family loves coffee and has been drinking it their whole lives, and I have tried it a few times and it is delicious, but I feel like as soon as I drink it, it sits heavy in my stomach. It seems I don't have much tolerance for caffeine, but every now and then, I can have a cup brewed by the team at the office! They have taught me a lot and given me the chance to try high-quality coffee, so, with time, hopefully I will be able to enjoy it more regularly!
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