For many business owners, extended absences trigger concerns about operational control. Motor Surf competitions required Mestroni to spend approximately 12 days abroad for each race, traveling to Italy, Sweden, Croatia, Poland, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and China throughout the season. This cumulative two-month absence represented a significant leadership test. “One of the biggest fears for any business owner is not having your finger on the pulse,” Mestroni reflects.“It was a substantial growth period for me to allow my trusted employees, some with me for over ten years, to run operations. They knew the day-today needs and encouraged me to pursue this dream.” “The staff posted information about my competitions around the office and really encouraged me to go for it,” says Mestroni.“I finished eighth overall in my division, and at the World Games Qualification Race in Fujairah I came in 25th—just one point shy of the top 24 qualification. Regardless of the outcome, the experience was amazing because I got to chase a dream that many people can’t pursue while running a business.” TECHNOLOGY TRANSFORMATION WITH CLOUD-BASED SOLUTIONS North Atlantic International Logistics’ digital transformation began as a strategic initiative but accelerated dramatically when COVID-19 forced businesses to adapt virtually overnight. This pivot to cloud technology not only sustained operations during lockdowns but fundamentally reshaped how the company operates today. “We had a solid game plan after being in business for about 18 years, but I understood that technology was our next improvement area,” Mestroni explains. “When COVID hit, I was returning from a race in Florida as the world shut down. Suddenly, our older system couldn’t support remote work or properly distanced operations.” The logistics industry has seen a significant cloud migration in recent years, with 61% of transportation and logistics companies now operating primarily cloud-based systems. These solutions provide enhanced visibility, scalability, and connectivity, 126 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 06
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