Last month, Harshida Acharya, the chief marketing officer and partner at Fulfillment IQ, reached out to 30 women working in supply chains to get their insights into how to better empower women in the male-dominated sector.

In 2022, the total percentage of women in the supply chain workforce dipped to 39 percent from 41 percent year over year, according to Gartner’s 2022 Women in Supply Chain Survey. Even more dire, at the vice president and senior director level, women occupied only 21 percent of positions in 2022, and that number is down from 28 percent in 2018.

There’s still a lot of work to be done. While the survey urged chief supply chain officers to solve for attrition among midcareer women in in supply chain, Acharya set out to hear directly from those women in supply chain leadership positions to see what advice they have for the next generation of supply chain leaders. Below are a few of their quotes.

“Women need to lean on each other to move forward. They should advocate for themselves and each other. This means being proactive about pursuing opportunities, negotiating for fair pay and benefits, and speaking up about issues related to diversity and inclusion in the industry. Those in leadership positions can help other women by mentoring them and guiding them in the right direction. Connect them with the right set of resources and training to help them advance their careers. Share your experiences, lessons learnt, advice; it will act as a playbook for countless other women who find themselves in similar situations.” —Harshida Acharya, Chief Marketing Officer and Partner, Fulfillment IQ

“Women in supply chain face obstacles such as lack of self-celebration and opportunities in public speaking. By showcasing our achievements and embracing speaking opportunities, we can overcome these barriers and achieve success in the industry.” –Sarah Barnes-Humphrey, Founder, Let’s Talk Supply Chain

“Embrace every opportunity, even the ones that make you uncomfortable. Travel whenever you can and savor every moment of it. Seek advocates from the start and never stop investing in your growth. Pursue diverse experience, explore all aspects of the business, and keep your  curiosity alive.” — Jennifer Kobus, Vice President of Transportation and Logistics, Ulta Beauty

“Focus on a nimble approach and the ability to combine high-level understanding of the processes and their impact  to the wider organization without losing sight of the details. Seek partnerships with cross-functional teams to elevate awareness of the company’s processes and create more moments to speak up and act as thoughtful leaders.” –Jamin Nieri, Senior Vice President of Operations, Trove

“Be brave; the supply chain is a strategic area for our countries’ economies. Be ambitious and join any women’s professional association that promotes diversity, equity, and gender equality in the sector. Be powerful agents of change.” –Christiane Ohin-Traore, Founder/President, Women in Logistics, Africa 

“Women often battle a self-doubting inner voice that labels us as imposters. Let’s silence that voice by reminding ourselves of our past successes and potential for future achievements. Compassionate and inclusive leadership unleashes our full potential. When we feel accepted for who we are, our true magic is unlocked.” –Maria Pia de Caro, Executive Vice President of Global Operations, Pernod Ricard

“Trust that you’ve earned the opportunity to lead and remind yourself that you are entirely capable of raising the bar. Overcome fear and anxiety by grounding yourself in your capabilities, even on tough days when recognition may be scarce. By existing in a leadership role, you open the door for other women. Let’s continue to rise together!” –Parisa Sadrzadeh, Senior Vice President of Product and Technology, Flexport

“Do not give up on your passion to comply, be brave to shake the status quo, and be super demanding for what you are worth. In general, women tend to diminish their contributions, their value, and their potential. So be conscious about your superpowers. You can create magic by leading the way in supply chain.” –Ilhaan Smaali, Vice President, Global Manufacturing, The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. 

“Life is about evolving and learning by doing. Be curious, ask questions and most importantly, make mistakes! It’s OK to fail! It’s how you learn from them that will make you stronger. Make sure you have a leader that recognizes that and are there to guide and challenge you. Then pay it forward!” — Michaela Wallin, Competence Lead, Customer Fulfillment Americas, H&M