Entering a new field can be daunting, especially for women and other diverse groups. But fostering supply chain opportunities for everyone is vital to carry the industry forward, according to Michelle Livingstone, the guest on Episode 33 of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast. Michelle is a worthy example to follow, as during her more than 30-year career, she served in leadership roles with notable companies including Kraft Foods, JC Penney and, most recently, Home Depot.
We talk with Michelle about her career, and the work she continues to do to cultivate future leaders, particularly to help women find their way to executive-level supply chain positions. She tells us that diversity overall has improved, but in leadership, it could stand to improve more. We discuss how having examples in those positions can help others see themselves doing the same, and how there is no one single path to get there in freight and logistics.
Michelle highlights the University of Denver Transportation and Supply Chain Institute (where she both teaches and serves on the board) as a place that develops those leaders. She also calls out the Indiana University Transportation Board and its master’s program. And Michelle discusses organizations (and her involvement with them) that are helping women at various career levels connect and move their paths forward, including AWESOME, Women Impacting Supply Chain Excellence (WISE) for college students, and her new venture, WISE-Beyond, which covers women already into their careers.
To hear more from Michelle, you can message her on LinkedIn, or watch/listen to her Transportation Talks interviews with other supply chain leaders.
Watch this episode to see Michelle talk to hosts Shelli Austin and Kevin Baxter on YouTube where you can also check out our playlist for our 32 previous podcasts.
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