Technology and Operations Management

Interview with Robin Doran

Robin Doran. Women in Supply Chain. Learning from Industry Leaders

April 2021

Twenty years ago, I launched into the Supply Chain Arena. It all started with the Director of Operations for the world’s largest toy manufacturer saying, “you’ll need steel toed shoes, a safety vest, eye protection, ear plugs and a hard hat to enter my facility.” In all my years in the temporary staffing field I had never been on an appointment or tour that required me to wear ALL THAT GEAR! So, as requested by the Director I suited up and followed him to the warehouse. The moment the door opened to the massive facility in front of me another door in my career closed. From that day forward I focused my entire professional future on understanding and supporting the vast world of supply chain.

Here I am today, 25 years later telling my story and offering my advice. It has been an incredible journey and one that many of you might find rewarding as well. I cannot say the road has been easy. When I started, the supply chain industry was predominantly a man’s world. Very few females held leadership positions, and the ones who did were often part of the family ownership. I do not believe women were pushed out or passed over for leadership positions, I just think women weren’t as interested in the industry. Today is a quite different story. Companies are engaging women in all kinds of diverse positions, including floor staff, customer service representatives, business development, analyst, production supervisors, directors, and senior management.

So, where do you start? How do you prepare yourself? Becoming a leader in supply chain is much like joining management of a multitude of industries and businesses. All leaders started out as workers. They just had the drive, aptitude, and support to create advancement opportunities for themselves. The support for me came from my network of mentors. It is critical that you engage in finding mentors and find a lot of them! Mentors are people you can trust to help carry you through your journey. They can be teachers, friends, parents of friends, church members, leaders in the community or someone you reach out to on social media… the list is endless. Having the drive to succeed and go the extra mile will never let you down so, show up large, be visible, be engaging and don’t be afraid. Leaders are willing to take risks. Also, your proficiency and ingenuity for learning is key to advancement opportunities. As a woman, I didn’t always have to be smarter than the next “guy,” but I did need to be curious, know the subject matter, create collaboration opportunities, offer solutions, continuously learn my trade, and always be respectful of other colleagues’ ideas.

In my opinion, we need more woman in the Supply Chain Arena. Even though Supply Chain is defined as: the sequence of processes involved in the production and distribution of a commodity, it’s also about PEOPLE. Women tend to be more equipped to manage the soft skills, such as the communication and team building needed in today’s work environment. The variety of positions available to women in supply chain is boundless. Finding your passion and aligning that passion with the opportunities in this field is a great start. If you love working with people, apply for positions that put you in the center of all the action. If you are an analytical person, look for opportunities that have you tracking production and analyzing numbers and budgets. Or, if you are looking to broadcast your creative juices the marketing, packaging and design departments can be your avenue. Be open to all opportunities, the more you learn the better prepared you are to lead.

Advice

Below are some helpful hints that I believe will set you apart from others interviewing for the same position:

  • Be early to the interview and turn your phone off.
  • Dress to impress – be professional but not flashy. Wear closed toed shoes, ironed pants or a pant suit and little jewelry.
  • Bring writing materials and a pen that works. I cannot tell you how many times an applicant has shown up for an interview completely unprepared. That is never a good first impression!
  • Know the company you are interviewing with. What do they do? How big are they? What is the latest news on them? What awards have they won and who is in leadership. All this research will help you to be more comfortable and confident during the interview and you will make an impression on your audience.
  • LinkedIn the person/persons you are interviewing with. Know their story.
  • Have a few general questions in your mind to ask. Most of time you will be asked if you have any questions so, have some ready. 
  • Smile and BE YOURSELF. When you get the position remember it was YOU they picked!
    Send a follow-up thank you note to those you met with.

The Supply Chain Arena is one of the fastest growing industries in the nation. Your possibilities are endless. Keep learning all you can, know what the future in supply chain looks like, stay ahead of the game, and find joy in the journey. And ladies… hot off the press… companies that make steel toed shoes and boots are now designing them with heels, for a more flattering look. The future is very bright for women!

Cheers,

Robin Lee Doran