Nick Gavos turned 21 the day we recorded this episode.

He's already a national award winner, an IFCBAA Young Professionals panellist, and an aspiring licensed customs broker at his family business, Gavos Freight Solutions.

Nick grew up in the industry, learning from his father while competing as a national karate athlete through high school. In

this episode, he shares how he went from sweeping up around the office to handling complex customs scenarios, including clearing 13 returned air containers of meat from the UAE during the Middle East conflict.

We cover:

• Working in a family business and why the clashes are worth it
• Why young customs professionals need to get dirty in the books before relying on technology
• His take on remote work and why he believes young people should be in the office
• How martial arts discipline translates into freight forwarding
• Winning the IFCBAA Young Professional Award in 2025

Nick's message to the next generation: age and experience don't always equal knowledge. Put in the work, aim high, and give it a crack.