We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.
  • INDUSTRY PRESS ROOM
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • MEDIA FILE
  • Create Account
  • Sign In
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Free Newsletters
  • MAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Digital Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletters
    • Mobile Apps
  • TRANSPORTATION
  • MATERIAL HANDLING
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • LIFT TRUCKS
  • PODCAST ETC
    • Podcast
    • Webcasts
    • Blogs
      • One-Off Sound Off
      • Global Logistics and Risk
      • Empowering Your Performance Edge
      • Analytics & Big Data
      • Submit your blog post
    • Events
    • White Papers
    • Industry Press Room
      • Upload Your News
    • New Products
      • Upload Your Product News
    • Conference Guides
    • Conference Reports
    • Newsletters
    • Mobile Apps
  • DCV-TV
    • DCV-TV 1: News
    • DCV-TV 2: Case Studies
    • DCV-TV 3: Webcasts
    • DCV-TV 4: Viewer Contributed
    • DCV-TV 5: Solution Profiles
    • ProMat 2023
    • Upload Your Video
  • MAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Digital Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletters
    • Mobile Apps
  • TRANSPORTATION
  • MATERIAL HANDLING
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • LIFT TRUCKS
  • PODCAST ETC
    • Podcast
    • Webcasts
    • Blogs
      • One-Off Sound Off
      • Global Logistics and Risk
      • Empowering Your Performance Edge
      • Analytics & Big Data
      • Submit your blog post
    • Events
    • White Papers
    • Industry Press Room
      • Upload Your News
    • New Products
      • Upload Your Product News
    • Conference Guides
    • Conference Reports
    • Newsletters
    • Mobile Apps
  • DCV-TV
    • DCV-TV 1: News
    • DCV-TV 2: Case Studies
    • DCV-TV 3: Webcasts
    • DCV-TV 4: Viewer Contributed
    • DCV-TV 5: Solution Profiles
    • ProMat 2023
    • Upload Your Video
Home » RILA show: Businesses do better when women have leadership roles

RILA show: Businesses do better when women have leadership roles

Diverse executive teams are helping supply chain divisions deal with covid, inflation, labor challenges, panel says.

IMG_2205.jpg
February 21, 2023
Ben Ames
No Comments

When supply chain operations burst into newspaper headlines during pandemic business disruptions after years of flying below the radar, that change was only the most public sign that the role of the chief supply chain officer (CSCO) is evolving fast, a panel of women executives said in a keynote session today at the Retail Industry leaders Assoc. (RILA)’s annual conference. 

One of the top takeaways from that change is that “you have to own your story”—CSCOs need to share proof of their accomplishments throughout their companies to help dispel the lingering reputation of supply chain as a cost center or a frequent point of failure, Roxanne Flanagan, SVP and chief supply chain officer for Walgreens, said.

Despite that need, many executives have struggled to communicate their wins, since some of their teams lacked a “coming out of covid plan” at the same time they began to face economic headwinds such as rising inflation and labor shortages, Flanagan said in the session at the LINK2023 show in Orlando. 

One solution for that challenge has been the rising profile of women in logistics. Whereas young female leaders in past years often lacked mentors and role models to guide them into the ranks of directors and vice presidents, that is swiftly shifting, according to Rebecca Wlazlo, SVP for supply chain at Crate & Barrel.

Today, increasing numbers of companies have seen how diverse teams of leaders produce better business results, said panelist Lori Bossmann, EVP and chief supply chain officer for Ace Hardware. In fact, those teams tend to generate not only a fuller representation of genders, but also a wider diversity of thought, experience, and backgrounds, Elizabeth Hemann, retail head of sales at Maersk, said on the “Supply Chain Leadership Insights” panel. 

Asked how corporate cultures and male allies can help to support and grow such teams, the panelists said that men can simply support their female colleagues in the same way they do for their male coworkers; offer help when it’s needed, be an advocate for them, and bring up their names for new roles when jobs open up.

 

 

Labor Supply Chain Strategy
KEYWORDS Ace Hardware Crate and Barrel Maersk RILA Walgreens
    • Related Articles

      Research finds more women in supply chain leadership roles

      RILA show: The best leaders inspire by respecting their teams, Peyton Manning says

      RILA show: Supply chain officers bring fresh approach to the C-suite

    Benames
    Ben Ames has spent 20 years as a journalist since starting out as a daily newspaper reporter in Pennsylvania in 1995. From 1999 forward, he has focused on business and technology reporting for a number of trade journals, beginning when he joined Design News and Modern Materials Handling magazines. Ames is author of the trail guide "Hiking Massachusetts" and is a graduate of the Columbia School of Journalism.

    Recent Articles by Ben Ames

    C.H. Robinson picks former Ford and Amazon executive as next CEO

    Port of Los Angeles re-opens container terminals after work stoppages

    Retail groups renew call for White House to step in to labor talks at West Coast ports

    You must login or register in order to post a comment.

    Report Abusive Comment

    Most Popular Articles

    • Union Pacific agrees to provide more predictable schedules for union rail workers

    • Schneider National opens innovation center at Wisconsin headquarters

    • DHL Supply Chain will expand Locus Robotics fleet to 5,000 AMRs

    • Parcel carriers, shippers steer into choppy waters as a perfect storm of challenges approaches

    • Trucking companies face “modestly unfavorable” outlook heading into 2024

    Now Playing on DCV-TV

    Dematic flexible automation vs

    Why Warehouses Need Flexible Automation

    DCV-TV 4: Viewer Contributed
    Tackling big automation investments isn’t the answer to today’s warehouse challenges. Creating a future-proof supply chain starts with automating processes. Watch the first video in this Masterclass series on Noble Trade’s installation of an AutoStoreTM system. Working with general merchandise and industrial parts,...

    FEATURED WHITE PAPERS

    • How to Use Economic Uncertainty to Gain Competitive Ground with Automation

    • Exploring Customized Forklift Solutions

    • Exploring the Future of Labor Management With Capacity Planning

    • Three layers of forklift safety: Promoting operating best practices

    View More

    Subscribe to DC Velocity Magazine

    GET YOUR FREE SUBSCRIPTION
    • SUBSCRIBE
    • NEWSLETTERS
    • ADVERTISING
    • CUSTOMER CARE
    • CONTACT
    • ABOUT
    • STAFF
    • PRIVACY POLICY

    Copyright ©2023. All Rights ReservedDesign, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing