Celebrating Women in Supply Chain

RECOGNIZING OUR WOMEN LEADERS, INNOVATORS, AND PARTNERS IN SUPPLY CHAIN & LOGISTICS

While March was Women's History Month, Radiant remains fully committed to championing women year-round in our organization and the logistics and supply chain industry.

So with this year's global theme of "Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories," we felt there was no better time to launch a series highlighting those women who have significantly impacted our industry and network. These forward-thinkers and doers make up the Radiant Network's Women of Impact.

We invite you to continue reading about these women as they share their stories of both navigating and succeeding within our industry, all while trailblazing a path for future women leaders in logistics.

ISABEAU CORRIGAN, RADIANT CANADA

Team Lead, 3PL Customer Service, Radiant Canada

Isabeau has been in the industry for 7 years and is currently the Team Leader of 3PL Customer Service for Radiant Canada.

What do you love about your job? What is rewarding about what you do?

There are two parts to my job: I’m a customer service representative, but I’m also a team lead, and there are rewarding aspects of both. I really enjoy listening to our team and hearing their concerns and their ideas, and helping out in any way that I can. I’m a big believer in fostering a self-reliant team, so that they feel confident enough to come to me with anything big or small. I think this job fits so well with my personality because my favorite thing is helping people personally and professionally.
What are your hopes for the next generation of women in the industry?

I would like to see more peer-to-peer support and mentorship. Women in senior positions could mentor and build relationships with more junior women or junior members of their company. It goes both ways– women should feel empowered or comfortable enough to seek out these mentorship opportunities.
Who is a woman from history that you admire and why?

Catherine the Great. She led a revolution, championed the arts and reorganized the Russian law, during a time when it was unheard of for a Russian Tsar to be female. She was a big proponent of education, and she founded the country's first state-funded school for women when it was frowned upon for women to even be educated at all.
Something you might not know about Isabeau:

I’m intuitive, I’m a great listener, and I give great advice, which is why I enjoy my job so much. People in my circle come to me first when they have a big problem that they need help solving, be it professional or personal, and I enjoy helping them solve that problem.

CAROL RUNNELS, SBA EL PASO

District Manager, SBA El Paso

Carol is the District Manager at SBA ELP in El Paso, Texas.

What is your role in the industry?

I've been in the industry for a long time. I began my career in the LA area in airfreight sales, and I later moved to El Paso and opened up an office here, taking on a dual position of outside sales along with management. My current role is District Manager.

What does the phrase "embrace equity" mean to you?

I think it means fairness, justice, and inclusivity, which helps overcome discrimination. It means creating a more level playing field, and it ensures everyone has equal access to resources and opportunities. Equitable hiring is on the rise, due in part to more women on corporate boards who have a lot to do with who become CEOs, and I think those women are pushing for diversity, and it's paying off slowly but surely.
Do you have advice for the next generation of women in the industry?

Show people your talent by bringing results to the table. That's an attention-getter, and it breaks boundaries in the male-dominated industry. I hope that young women today and in the future will set the bar higher by striving harder for industry knowledge. I think that we should all foster teamwork and mentorship among all employees, not just in your department, but we should be mentors to all departments.
Who is a woman that has had an impact on your life?

My mother, Anne Richardson, was the backbone of our family. My father worked two jobs to help us get ahead, so she took on both parenting roles. She worked hard, was selfless, and sacrificed for us children to have a better life. I believe she supported my dreams and my wishes. She wasn't just a stay-at-home mom; she was the epitome of a woman of impact. My daughter is also someone I admire and a woman of impact. She started her own jewelry business that has exceeded a million dollars.
Something you might not know about Carol:

When I began my career with Saber Air Freight in Los Angeles, they only hired women, which I thought was really odd. The good old boy competitors were always talking about us. There were 5 of us women, so they started calling us "Charlie's Angels." Then, when I landed the Nielsen Clearinghouse account, it was a large number of business shipping coupons, and they started calling me the Coupon Queen. Those were my industry nicknames!

DEBBIE SANFORD, RADIANT ROAD & RAIL

VP of Sales for Temp Control Assets, Radiant Road & Rail

Debbie is the Vice President of Sales for Temp Control Assets at Radiant Road & Rail, and has been in the industry for 38 years.

How long have you been in the industry? What is your role?

I've been in the industry and with the company for 38 years. I started part-time in ’84 as a Punch Operator, and then from there I went full-time into operations. My career has progressed over time, through operation into general management and then into sales, and now I am the Vice President of Sales for Temp Control Assets.

What are your hopes for the next generation of women in the industry? What advice would you give them?

I hope there’s more women in the industry, and that veterans like myself have blazed some trails for them so they have an easier way. It’s never going to be a cakewalk, but perhaps it will be less of a challenge.

The advice I would give is to believe in yourself, be confident, and listen. You can respond as needed to situations. Be honest, be yourself, don’t try to be one of the guys and you’ll gain a lot of respect.

How would you suggest embracing equity and inclusion?

Learn to check bias at the door. It’s hard to lose preconceived notions, but we all need to learn to look at people for the good versus what your perceptions of them are, and give them the benefit of the doubt before preconceived judgment.
Who is a woman from history that you admire and why?

This is hard because there’s so many women in the world, past and present, that have done significant things to make changes and cut a path for those behind, and there are so many women in the world who have done the same thing who won’t get recognition. I can’t name just one. I respect any woman who can have a career and raise a family.

Something you might not know about Debbie:

I am a grandma, and I absolutely love being a grandma. I have 3 grandkids aged 7, 5, and a brand new baby girl.

DAWNE ALERY, DISTRIBUTION BY AIR ATL

Account Manager, DBA ATL

Dawne has been in the Industry since 1985, and is an Account Manager with DBA Atlanta.

What is something you wish you would have known early on in your career?

The 2023 me talking to the 1985 me would say that work ethic is the biggest key. Plant your feet and stay strong to your core values. There will be challenges, but learn from them and apply what you’ve learned. I also wish I knew back then how rewarding this career was going to be. I would tell myself that I have this incredible opportunity and to enjoy the reward of your hard work.
What advice do you have for the next generation of women in the transportation industry?

Don’t settle. Continue your education, learn from role models in the industry, and try new ideas. Always do what's best for you and your company.

Earn respect and do what you say you're going to do. Encourage and be the example for others.
Who is a woman that you admire and why?

I can name many women of history who have paved the road for women in 2023. Each one has contributed something you can apply professionally and personally. One person I consider a role model is Lissa Versteegh, former President and CEO Sandler Sales Training Atlanta (Georgia Sales Development) and present SVP Sales and Development for Randstad USA. She's an amazing role model and such an incredible person, and a wonderful teacher of how to balance and thrive in both your career and personal life.
Something you might not know about me is…

I have a wonderful husband of 20 years and am a mother of an incredible 15 year old. I'm crazy in love with my toy poodle, standard poodle and beautiful doodle.

GERALDINE SWATKO, RADIANT EWR

General Manager, Radiant EWR

Geraldine has been in the industry 26 years, and is currently the general manager at Radiant EWR in Edison, New Jersey.

What do you find rewarding about working in the supply chain industry?

I find it very challenging and demanding. As a GM, I’m overseeing the entire operation of the station. I love the competitive edge of the of the industry that we're in, and we have a good team here, and we work well together. The teamwork is an advantage.

What will growing representation in the transportation industry mean for women moving forward?

I think it's going to be monumental. There’s been huge improvements, and change is happening. It may be slow, but we're getting there, and hopefully moving in a positive direction. I hope women continue to grow in not only this path, but in in other industries to accomplish great things. Hopefully one day we can have a woman President.

I would encourage women to seek roles with more responsibility in any industry, male-driven or not, and to take advantage of all training and education to further their career.

Who is a woman that you admire?

Malala Yousafzai. She fought for girls to get educated and have education available to them, so that they would be given a a better future, and she won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. She's a very incredible woman.
Something unexpected about Geraldine:

I am an Irish immigrant. I came from a small rural village off the west coast of Ireland in County Sligo, and I grew up on a dairy farm. I know how to milk a cow, and I learned to drive on an actual tractor. I also have medals for Irish step dancing!

FION TRAN, RADIANT WORLD TRADE SERVICES

Product Manager, Radiant World Trade Services

Fion has been in the industry for 5 years and is the product manager at Radiant World Trade Services.

What is rewarding about what you do?

I enjoy solving problems, and this role allows me to do that. I get to hear feedback from customers, or some issues that they're having that the software doesn't quite solve, and I get to come up with a solution for it if we don't already have one. It's about really learning what the problem is, and then finding a way to make it easier for them in the software to get that information or to create a new feature or enhance features to help them.

What do you think that growing representation in the supply chain industry will mean for women going forward?

I hope it means that young women growing up today will be able to see themselves as leaders, or strive to be a leader. When I was growing up, it was talked about like, “yeah, you can do it, too,” which is great. But we never really saw that many people like we have now, such as now we have a woman Vice President, and I hope to see that representation continue to increase.

Hopefully the next generation of women in logistics will be able to see themselves as leaders and and strive for leadership roles, and have those aspirations.

Who are you inspired by?

I've always admired Shannon Olson and Amy Burkholder, because they are the women role models at Radiant World Trade Services that I work directly under and learn from.

Something you wouldn’t know about Fion:

My family owns a restaurant, and I’m trilingual: I speak English, Cantonese, and Mandarin.

MAREN SNELL, RADIANT ROAD & RAIL

Business Development Manager, Radiant Road & Rail

Maren has been in the industry for a little over 13 years and is the Business Development Manager at Radiant Road & Rail.

What is rewarding to you about working in the supply chain industry?

Being on the cusp of everything happening in the world and understanding the inner workings of everything that’s going on. We all have a basic understanding of supply chain, but really realizing what that means–for example, when I go to the store, and my shampoo isn’t there. Because of my position I know that it might not be there because there was a container still stuck at the port, or because there's a strike going on. Having all that information, and being “in the know” is something that I love.

What advice do you have for the next generation of women in supply chain and transportation?

Never take no for an answer, and advocate for yourself. Don’t let anyone tell you no who can’t tell you no–you can always escalate or speak with someone else in the division, and they might have what you’re looking for. Personal development and learning are paramount to success. You can't ever stop learning, and the more that you understand and know, the more that you can help out, and the better person you are overall.

I hope that [the next generation of women] sees and understands their value, and everything that they bring to our industry: Their necessity, their brilliance, their strength, and their fortitude in every aspect. My hope is that women continue to saturate the industry and put down our roots. You’ll succeed if you are persistent, resilient and confident.

Who is a woman that you admire?

Fawn Weaver. She started out as a serial entrepreneur at 18, through hard work and being intent on learning was afforded a great deal of success. From running a Special events/PR firm, being a best-selling author, real estate, to creating Uncle Nearest. She was self-made and self-reliable. She basically created the Uncle Nearest brand out of nothing, and it’s now the most successful black owned distillery in the world. As a descendant of Uncle Nearest (who was the master distiller and mentor to Jack Daniel) she founded the distillery in finding her past. For me, as a biracial woman, it's impactful to see that, and I think it's a testament to how you can begin in a position that is “behind the line”– a woman, a minority, forming companies all on your own, financially independently; with all these obstacles, you can still surpass even your own wildest dreams and goals. Dedication and perseverance brought her to surpass other distilleries worldwide. So, I definitely look up to her.

Something you wouldn’t expect from Maren:

My hands are registered as lethal weapons in Kansas, Missouri, and Texas! I'm a third-degree black belt in Taekwondo and second degree in Karate. I’ve done martial arts since I was 9 years old, and I teach self defense to women.

PAT SICARD, RADIANT CANADA

Operations Manager, Radiant Canada

Pat is an industry veteran with 35 years of experience in transportation and is the Operations Manager at Radiant Canada.

What does “embracing equity” mean to you?

Equity ensures that every individual has an equal opportunity to make the most of their life and talents. No one should have subordinate life chances because of how they were born, where they come from, what they believe, or whether they have a disability.

In Jamaica, where I grew up, the motto is “out of many one people.” I believe the first step to embracing equity means facing the truth that we all do not start from a level playing field. So, embracing and working towards equity means working towards each individual getting the support and resources they need to succeed.

As of 2023, more than 10% of Fortune 500 companies' CEOs are women. What do you think this growing representation will mean for women in the transportation industry going forward?

This is positive and powerful. It means women's voices are being heard, and our leadership qualities can make a difference. It means more women should prepare for their desired job with no limitations.

I hope we, as female leaders in the transportation industry, will continue to exude passion for showing that we belong in the industry and realizing that one of the problems for all of us women is not to learn but to unlearn what we knew was the norm and create new [standards].

Who are the women you most look up to and admire?

The person I admire the most is my mom – if I have a fraction of her passion and kind-heartedness, I know I am blessed. Michelle Obama is next: she captivated many of us with her show of warmth, strength, and positivity. I admire her ability to stay true to herself during her reign as first lady, leading with poise and true charisma. Her fight against childhood obesity resonates, as it is truly an epidemic in the world.

The motto that I live by:

I live my life like the turtle: when the going gets tough, I retreat to my shell, process my thoughts, then slowly push my arms and legs out and continue from the lessons I have learned.

LORI DYSON, SBA MSP

Vice President, Domestic Operations SBA MSP

Lori has been with SBA since 2006. She started in a customer service role and became the VP of domestic operations.

What would you say to your younger self now, having been in the supply chain industry for nearly two decades?

I wish I had known how demanding it is and how tough you need to be as a woman in this industry, but I love what I do and all the people I work with. It’s rewarding to help people get to where we need to be as a team.
Do you have some advice for other women looking to enter the transportation industry?

People will say this is a male-dominated industry, but there are more and more women in prominent roles. Don’t let yourself be intimidated. You have to prove that you can do it. This is a challenging, fast-paced industry, and I hope that more women come into the industry.

There have been times when I wanted to hang it up when things got tough, but I’ve been doing this for twenty-some years now, and it’s been rewarding.

You might not know that…

I have a 100lb pitbull named Bando. He is the biggest baby in the world!

RACHEL SCOTT, RADIANT LAX

Assistant General Manager, Radiant LAX

Rachel is the Assistant General Manager at Radiant LAX and has been in the industry for 19 years.

What would you tell other women looking to begin a career in logistics?

Be professional.
Be polite.
Be assertive. If you say something, you mean it. Make sure your voice is understood and that you mean business.

I would also tell them to be confident, walk in their confidence, know they are capable, and go after what they truly want out of life. I'm still working on being assertive and more confident in my work and voice, and it will always be a work in progress.

Have you experienced any barriers or gender bias throughout your career?

Early on, I experienced a lack of support. We're in a male-dominated environment, (and) when men talk, people [tend to] understand and listen, but when a woman says the same thing, it's sometimes received differently.

Who inspires you, in the present and historically?

Oprah Winfrey, for what she's done in media and business. She's taking her bread and getting things done for herself! And historically, I admire Susan B. Anthony, who, of course, had a huge impact on women's rights. Still, she also worked alongside Frederick Douglas for the abolition of slavery. They've both done so much for women in general.

Something that Rachel loves to do…

I love to cook– and in my head, I'm a chef. I like to cook all types of meals, but mostly bistro style! Also, I love to travel, and my favorite place I've been to [visit] is Paris.

AMANDA DAVENPORT, DISTRIBUTION BY AIR MCI

Vice President, Kansas City & Greenville offices

Amanda has been with DBA for 25 years and is the Vice President of the Kansas City and Greenville, South Carolina offices. Working for DBA was her first real job and her first job in the industry.

What do you love about your position?

One of my favorite things about working at DBA is getting to know the clients and seeing, being a part of, and understanding all the different industries we work with. Understanding what they do and how we affect what they do is fascinating to me.

What would you say to the new generation of women entering the industry?

As women, we tend to feel like we must work much harder to prove that we belong here. I hope that this mindset changes in women and they're more confident...I hope you don't need to work as hard to feel like you belong there. I would tell the next generation of women just coming in...Always follow through with what they say you're going to do, no matter how small. Keep your word, have integrity, and be confident.

Who is a woman that you admire and why?
Dolly Parton...always authentic and still killing it at age 77!
Here is a fun fact about Amanda:

I like bird watching. I'm a bit of a bird nerd. The most exciting bird I've seen is the Mandarin duck in a little park in Topeka, Kansas.

VIJAY DEVENDRAN, RADIANT CANADA

Team Leader, International Operations, Radiant Canada

Vijay is the Team Lead for international freight forwarding at Radiant Canada and has been with the company since 2017.

What is rewarding about what you do?

I love my job. In logistics, you must communicate with many people and learn something new daily. I am the kind of person who wants to learn.

How do you think the next generation of women will approach the supply chain industry?

The next generation is very strong. They are very straightforward, have more confidence than ever, are very talented, and know how to handle this industry. I would tell them to deal with kindness in everything, be honest, and have the courage to stand up for themselves.

Who is a woman that you admire and why?

Indra Nooyi, the former PepsiCo CEO. We share the same background. She came from a small middle-class family, and I always watch and listen to her [talk] about her struggles. I am inspired by her and how she managed her situation as the CEO of a worldwide company.
What you might not know about Vijay:

I enjoy planting and communing with nature. I also like doing classical dancing - Bharatnatyam. I speak four languages: Tamil, English, Hindi, and a little bit of Gujarati.

We are exceedingly grateful to our Women of Impact for sharing their stories and the vital work they're doing here within the Radiant Network. We challenge the industry, as a whole, to foster leadership that values equal opportunity and respect for diversity. It's time to Embrace Equity together as we work to achieve a brighter future ahead (for all genders).

CELEBRATING WOMEN IN SUPPLY CHAIN