She Supply Chains

28: Beyond the Bio: Courtney & Katie Unscripted Answers to Your Questions

In this episode, we answer listener questions. We reflect on our self-descriptions, career aspirations, and the challenges faced as women in a male-dominated field. The discussion also touches on the importance of mentorship, finding one's voice, and the advice we would give to future generations of women in supply chain. We explore various aspects of leadership, including the importance of clarity in communication, the influence of past leaders on our styles, and the challenges faced in difficult situations. We discuss the significance of being relatable and staying connected with team members, as well as the value of learning from both positive and negative experiences. 
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27: The Art and Science of Supply Chain: Inspiring the Next Generation with Stephanie Thomas

This week, we welcome Stephanie Thomas, Associate Professor of Practice & Executive Director of WISE at the University of Arkansas. Stephanie has also had experience at giants like Lowe's, IBM, and Stanley Tools. With degrees from the University of Tennessee and a Ph.D. focused on the fascinating intersection of logistics, supply chain management, and even marketing, Stephanie brings a truly unique perspective. She's passionate about everything from buyer-supplier dynamics and supply chain negotiations to understanding the human element, even the psychology of truck drivers! Beyond the classroom, Stephanie is a driving force as the Executive Director for Women Impacting Supply Chain Excellence (WISE) and the founder of the WISE Future Leaders Symposium. Her dedication to empowering women in our industry has earned her global recognition as one of the most influential women in supply chain. 
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26: Looking Around Corners with Michelle Tartalio: Strategic Thinking in Today's Supply Chains

This week, we welcome Michelle Tartalio, the head of marketing and corporate strategy for Clarkston Consulting. She has an impressive background in supply chain and consulting. Michelle has advised a variety of Fortune 500 executives and board directors in industries including consumer products, life sciences, retail, and internet software and services. Michelle is passionate about helping companies enhance strategic decision-making, improve operational efficiency, implement new technologies, and promote business growth and market diversification.
The conversation delves into the skills necessary for strategic thinking and the nuances of different industries in shaping corporate strategies. Michelle discusses the significance of industry expertise in supply chain management, the journey to securing board positions, and the challenges boards face today. She also shares insights on the value of nonprofit board experience and the importance of networking for board opportunities.
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25: The Human Side of Supply Chain Transformation with Wanda Johnson

This week, we welcome Wanda Johnson, a Supply Chain Technology Fellow at Deloitte Consulting. We discuss Wanda's extensive background in supply chain and the importance of mentorship and community among women in the industry. The conversation delves into misconceptions about supply chain transformation, the challenges faced during implementation, and the critical role of people in technology adoption. Wanda shares valuable lessons learned from her experiences and offers insights on engaging with consultants for successful supply chain projects. She discusses the importance of clearly defining problems in supply chain management, the need for effective communication and stakeholder involvement, and the significance of preparing the workforce for future technological advancements. She emphasizes the value of mentorship and community engagement, sharing personal experiences and insights on leadership and personal growth.
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Join us on April 25th for our Networking Masterclass!
You will get the inside scoop on networking that actually works and the advantages of building connections as women in traditionally male-dominated fields. 

24: Chicago Roots & Global Routes: Cindy Cochovity's Supply Chain Journey

This week, we welcome Cindy Cochovity, Chief Commercial Officer at FreightPath. She shares her journey from growing up in Chicago to becoming a leader in the supply chain industry. She discusses her educational experiences, career transitions, and the challenges faced in both large and tech-first companies. Cindy emphasizes the importance of adapting education for the next generation and reflects on the significant changes in the industry, particularly due to COVID-19. In this conversation, Cindy discusses the transformative impact of technology on work dynamics, particularly in the logistics industry. She emphasizes the importance of innovative business strategies and the integration of AI in future initiatives. Cindy shares valuable leadership lessons from her career, highlighting the significance of kindness and networking for upcoming supply chain leaders. 
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Join us on April 25th for our Networking Masterclass!
You will get the inside scoop on networking that actually works and the advantages of building connections as women in traditionally male-dominated fields. 

23: Solving Real-World Problems: The Co-Founders Journey with Sarah Hamer and Elle Smith

This week, we welcome Sarah and Elle, co-founders of Retail Ready, to discuss their journey from corporate careers to launching their own startup in the supply chain space. They share insights on their backgrounds, the challenges they faced, and the innovative solutions they are developing to streamline retail compliance. The discussion highlights the importance of collaboration, creativity, and the evolving landscape of supply chain management. Elle and Sarah discuss their innovative approach to supply chain management using AI, their transformative experience at Y Combinator, and the importance of community and support in entrepreneurship. They reflect on their growth, the challenges they face in the retail supply chain, and the inspiration that drives them as co-founders. Their journey highlights the significance of following one's intuition and the unexpected discoveries made in their partnership.
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22: Building Bridges: Cross-Functional Collaboration in the Supply Chain with Jaimie Hortsman

This week, we welcome Jaimie Horstman, a Senior Supply Chain Planning and Operations leader with 24 years of end-to-end experience at Procter & Gamble. Jaimie shares her journey as a supply chain leader at P&G, discussing her personal and professional life, the importance of data visualization tools like Tableau and Power BI, and the role of AI in modern supply chain management. She emphasizes the significance of cross-functional collaboration and building relationships within teams to drive success in the supply chain industry. She shares her insights on building competitive advantages in supply chain management, the importance of effective communication in a global workforce, and the strategies she employed to reinvent communication platforms. She discusses the significance of grit in overcoming challenges, adapting leadership styles, and the lessons learned from personal hardships. 
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Jaimie reached out to be a guest via our website. If you would like to be a guest, please fill out this form!

21: From Idea to Shelf: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Product Launches with Deidra Willis

This week we welcome, Deidra Willis, Senior Program Manager at Kings Hawaiian.  Deidra shares her background in engineering and business, her career path, and insights into the challenges and opportunities in product innovation. She emphasizes balancing creativity with structured project management to foster successful product launches while maintaining operational efficiency. Deidra shares her insights on building high-performing diverse teams, the role of project management offices (PMOs), and the impact of automation in manufacturing. She discusses the importance of leadership buy-in for PMOs, the challenges of workforce rescaling, and the value of an MBA in enhancing leadership skills. Deidra also offers advice for women entering the supply chain field and emphasizes the significance of personal interests and travel in her life.
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20: Beyond the Metrics: Building Customer-Centric Supply Chains with Elsy Ocejo

This week, we welcome Elsy Ocejo, Vice President of Supply Chain at ILLES Foods. Elsy discusses her current role overseeing end-to-end supply chain processes and the unique challenges and opportunities she faces in a family-owned business. She highlights the importance of innovation, internal partnerships, and customer-centric strategies in supply chain management. Elsy discusses the importance of leveraging technology in supply chain operations, emphasizing the need for good data and the role of AI. She shares insights from her experience in global trade compliance, highlighting the necessity of being globally aware.
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19: Dana Craven's Four A's of Demand Planning: Accuracy, Alignment, Accountability, and Actionability

This week, we welcome Dana Craven, the Senior Director of Demand Planning at Post Consumer Brands. With a background in Supply Chain and Marketing from Iowa State University, she's built an impressive career across the CPG and Electronics industries. Her career spans manufacturing and category management to product development, demand planning, and supply planning. Dana emphasizes the need for integrated teams and a contingency planning mindset to adapt to rapid changes in demand and supply. In this engaging conversation, Dana Craven shares her insights on the future of demand planning, the importance of adapting to new company cultures, and the unexpected turns in her career.
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