HOW TO ACE YOUR SUPPLY CHAIN CAREER
Mantras to Live By
Be bold. Do not let one setback or failure lead to more or stop you. If you have a bad day or are told no, start fresh each day, and focus on smaller goals and what you can control. Also, it is essential for women to mentor other women, provide opportunities when appropriate, and lift each other up. The professional direction women receive from other women is critical. My advice is to be bold and take chances in work and in life. –Katerina Jones Vice President of Marketing and Business Development Fleet Advantage
Data solves problems, but people are the solution. Never ask your team to do something you haven’t done or won’t do. I practice these two mantras in every
position I hold. Regardless of occupation, a leader who leverages these concepts when engaging their teams is bound to win. These concepts are something I use to ensure that my team knows that I take the human element into account when making decisions, not just deriving an action from a number. –Gary Harber Distribution Manager, Milgard Strong opinions, loosely held. Approach situations with as much of an informed opinion as possible, prepared to defend it as needed. This allows us to have a bias for action— even in uncertain and ambiguous environments—avoid the mire of analysis paralysis, and stay open to adjusting viewpoints and strategies as new perspectives and data arise. –Katie Martin Sustainability & ESG Principal, Avetta
Burn the ships. To be clear—this is not about today’s maritime transportation industry. It refers to a historical military tactic to destroy one’s boats to not offer the option of retreat for one’s soldiers before the next battle. Today, I continually apply this concept to
current business supply chain challenges from two perspectives. First, it reminds me there’s no going back to any perceived “good old” times or how things were before the pandemic. Second, it reiterates the necessity to commit to the new endeavors ahead with success as the only available result. –Andrew McLoone Executive Director, BDP Transport
First: Empathy is the key to success— only by understanding your customers’ challenges can you deliver solutions. Second: Attitude, energy, and effort are essential to thriving in life and the logistics business.
Be humble, grateful, and pleasantly persistent.
No matter how far we advance in our careers, it is vital to remember we are no better than anyone else. If you forget to be humble, you are in for a reality check.
Next: Cultivate confidence and set yourself up for long-term success by building skills through personal and professional development opportunities. Finally: Anticipate adversity —working proactively instead of reactively keeps you ahead of issues.
Gratitude is also key—we are successful because of the opportunities we are given by others. And lastly, being pleasantly persistent with requests and directions will enable you to accomplish your goals more quickly than by being pushy and demanding. –Cynthia Martinez-Patin Human Resources Director, iGPS Logistics
–Will Diaz Vice President of Business Development, Arrive Logistics
46 Inbound Logistics • December 2022
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