Supply chain students take part in Women Impacting Supply Chain Excellence symposium
Professor, four students make trip to University of Arkansas for annual event
Supply chain students take part in Women Impacting Supply Chain Excellence symposium
For the past several years, Center for Supply Chain Excellence director Monique Murfield has taken students to the Women Impacting Supply Chain Excellence (WISE) Future Leaders Symposium.
“WISE has one main purpose – empower and inspire young women in supply chain, connect them with leaders in the field, and help build community among them, as one day they will be peers leading supply chains all across the world,” Murfield said.
This year, more than 30 schools were involved, making it the biggest event yet, Murfield said. Four junior supply chain majors – Elaine Schaft, Mandy Sackett, Talia Lamm and Elena Hentz – accompanied Murfield to the symposium.
“I wanted to take part in the conference because I've noticed is that supply chain is still a male-dominated field, especially when it comes to upper-level management positions which sometimes makes it feel difficult to fit in,” Hentz said. “I wanted the opportunity to connect with other women in the industry, especially across such a wide variety of industries, and hear about their experiences and words of wisdom.”
“I had heard amazing feedback from the women who attended the previous year, and their enthusiasm pushed me to go. I also wanted to challenge myself by stepping outside of my comfort zone and doing something that would benefit me both personally and professionally,” Lamm said.
The students and Murfield toured a Glad Products distribution facility prior to the symposium, which is hosted each year at the University of Arkansas. Among the events at the symposium were:
- A talk from Shelley Simpson, President and Chief Executive Officer at J.B. Hunt Transport Services, who spoke to students about choosing a company and career that aligns with their values, and where they can make an impact
- A session with supply chain thought leaders Michelle Livingstone and Cesar Ontiveros on challenges and opportunities in retail supply chains
- Mentorship table chats with many different young professionals, where students rotated and visited to gain insights on many different topics
“One of my biggest takeaways from the conference was from our keynote speaker Shelley Simpson, who reminded us to have sweaty palm moments and ask, "is it big yet?" This means to always think bigger and push boundaries even when we experience those challenging, growth-filled experiences that push us beyond our comfort zones,” Hentz said.
“My first takeaway was Simpson’s encouragement to “put yourself in sweaty palm moments.” This really resonated with me, as it’s about pushing yourself into uncomfortable situations that ultimately lead to growth and reward,” Lamm said. “The second was to choose a company that aligns with your values. As we continue to grow personally, it’s important to grow with a company that appreciates and supports us. Working for an organization that values you makes showing up each day so much more fulfilling.”
“My favorite thing about the conference was being in a room filled with some of the most successful women in supply chain from around the country. It was so empowering seeing everyone in one room and being able to connect with professionals who shared copious amounts of wisdom with us,” Hentz said.
“It was exciting to connect not only with mentors but also with women my age from other schools. The atmosphere was so welcoming,” Lamm said. “Everyone was eager to meet, connect, and support one another, which made the experience even more impactful.”
