From customs broker to product leader: Fiona Georgakopoulos on making the leap into tech

When Fiona Georgakopoulos started her career as a doc clerk, running paperwork between depots and shipping lines, she never imagined she’d one day be helping shape the very tech the industry depends on every day to move goods around the world.

Fast forward over two decades, and Fiona now leverages her deep industry knowledge as the Product Manager for BorderWise, a solution designed to streamline border compliance and customs processes for logistics providers.

Her career path hasn’t been linear, but it’s been driven by curiosity, resilience, and a relentless desire to learn. From acing Australia’s toughest customs exams to launching her own consultancy, Fiona has built a reputation as someone who knows the logistics industry inside out. Today, she brings that same passion and expertise to product management, proving you don’t need to know how to code to thrive in tech.

Finding direction in Customs

Fiona’s story begins far from software. After finishing school and trying her hand at hospitality, she quickly realised she was looking for something different, something that would challenge her in new ways. That opportunity came while working as a doc clerk for a Sydney based customs agency.

Surrounded by towering tariffs and legal tomes, it wasn’t long before she was encouraged to formally pursue customs broking. At the time, a mentor handed her a cheque and told her to study, marking the start of a two year journey through TAFE and a gruelling national exam. Passing with flying colours, she embarked on a long and successful broking career.

Facing the unknown: From freight to tech

After more than 20 years in the freight forwarding industry, including leading teams of customs brokers and running her own trade consulting business, Fiona reached a turning point. She had the experience, grit, and a reputation clients sought after, but she was ready for a change and that brought her to WiseTech Global.

With no technical background and some doubts about how she might fit into a software company, Fiona did what she always does – leaned into the unknown. “I was nervous,” she admits, “but once I started, I knew this was exactly where I needed to be.”

“You don't need to be technical,” she says firmly. “You just need deep industry knowledge, a passion for solving problems, and the ability to think laterally.”

In fact, Fiona’s decades of experience are what set her apart in product discussions. She connects the dots between user pain points and the product experience, guiding the product’s development with her wealth of firsthand knowledge, all without coding.

Building global tools, powered by industry knowledge

One of Fiona’s proudest contributions at WiseTech has been helping guide the expansion of BorderWise into China, a project that’s as complex as it is exciting.

“It’s about more than just understanding Chinese regulations,” she explains. “It involves untangling and translating legislation, identifying tariff structures, and making sense of a system where a single character can shift the meaning entirely.”

For Fiona, this is where real industry experience shines. Her years in the field give her the instinct to spot what matters, where the risks are, and how users are likely to engage with the platform, insight that no textbook or codebase can replicate.

Slower today, faster forever: A new way to work

After years of working under pressure and churning through 30–40 customs clearances a day, Fiona now finds space to think, reflect, and solve problems on a deeper level.

“Slower today, faster forever,” she says, quoting one of WiseTech’s mantras. “That stuck with me. Now, I truly understand what it means.”

What she loves most about her role? The freedom to manage herself, the flat structure, and the caliber of her colleagues. “It’s a place where smart people collaborate. I’ve never felt more respected or more heard.”

A message for industry professionals looking to transition

For those eyeing a move into product or tech but feeling hesitant, Fiona has this advice: “Jump. It’s a safe jump, and you’ll be supported every step of the way.”

After decades in the industry, Fiona remains inspired. “I’ve never had goosebumps talking about my job, until now,” she says. “At WiseTech, I’m doing the most important work of my life.”

Join us 

If you’re a problem solver who’s passionate about shaping the future of logistics, WiseTech could be the perfect place for you. Here, your ideas will not only be heard but also turned into real products that have a lasting impact on the global supply chain.  

Explore our current career opportunities and see where your experience could take you.

And if you don’t see a perfect fit just yet but feel drawn to the possibilities, we still want to hear from you. Reach out to our Talent Team at talent@wisetechglobal.com, your next chapter could start with a conversation.