Women in Supply Chain: Why Access, Not Talent, Is the Real Career Gap with Ladies Who Logistic

riverside final cut lwl supply chain revolu: Welcome to the Supply Chain Revolution Podcast. I'm your host, Sheri Heinisch, also called the Supply Chain Queen. And today we're gonna talk with the founder of Ladies Who Logistic, who saw a gap in our supply chain community to move from networking to infrastructure. Ladies Who Logistic was built to solve a simple problem or opportunity.

Women in logistics and supply chain need more than occasional networking moments. They need a trusted community. Where career growth, practical learning, candid conversation, mentorship, and visibility compound over time. They're also a new community partner on the Supply Chain Queen and Supply Chain Revolution platform.

Welcome, Harshida. Thank you so much for having me, Sheri. It's an absolute honor and a privilege to be on the podcast and especially giving me the space to talk about something that's very near and dear to my heart. Incredible.

We met in person physically almost a year ago during New York Climate Week, at the Harvard Club event. And I was just so taken by your authenticity, your brilliance. Also the founder of an incredible community partner, Ladies Who Logistics. So let's start with an origin story.

Thank you so much. for those of you who don't know me, my name is Hashida Acharya. I am partner and chief strategy officer here at Fulfillment IQ. My day job is To work at the intersection of innovation strategy and technology execution.

And I started out in enterprise innovation, helping complex organizations adopt new technology. And that experience has helped me continue to solve very complex and interesting problems within supply chain and logistics. One of the things I always find myself gravitating towards is. Building authentic communities.

And one of the ways that I've been able to do that is the Ecom Logistics Podcast and Ladies of Logistics community as well. And I know these are two different expressions of the same belief, but I truly believe that big change can only happen if the people who are passionate about something and have the relationships and have the ability actually make the moves no matter how scary it is for them to try and do something about it. So that's a a very high level background on myself.

I'd love to tell you a little bit about Ladies Who Logistic as well. Ladies Who Logistic is a community that I co-founded with Tori Deems and Amy Dye. The reason why we founded this community about two and a half years ago now is because we kept running into these situations where we found ourselves to be amongst the only women in the room, especially in decision-making rooms or rooms that had high visibility. And it sometimes makes you feel a little isolated, but it also makes you wonder If there should be a space where women just feel more supported.

I personally have also had countless interactions with women, especially in early career, mid-career, that are just they've either stumbled into supply chain and just don't know if they belong here. And I I wanted to make sure that if it's in my power, I create a space for them where they can have that belonging, they can have that connection and learn from each other and kind of go beyond networking to how How can I feel confident that I'm supported and I can grow within this industry?

Because we all know there's a massive need for diverse voices to be part of decision making within supply chain, a space that is so complex and has so many far-reaching impacts throughout our our economy. So that was we decided let's just we think this should exist. We don't know if it should exist. So let's just put it out there in the world.

And what we saw was we we just made an announcement on LinkedIn saying, We think this community should exist. Does anybody want to join? And I think within a few hours we had hundred and more than a hundred and th thirty women who requested to join. And the message was really clear to us that there's a real need for a platform where women truly feel like they can belong and have access no matter which, you know, stage of their career they're in right now.

Absolutely. I'd like to talk about the gap that women were feeling because you mentioned that in your in your last response. So when we talk about the real human and belonging and professional gap, that's not really diversity language. What do you think was missing for women in supply chain and logistics, whether it was mentorship, confidence, technical learning, access to the right people in rooms, all of those things, maybe it is all of them, but specific from your vantage point, now that you're a couple years into your community.

Absolutely. I think in general, and because I've been in technology space for a really long time and in logistics for about eight years now, one of the the observations I've had is the constraint is not that there's a lack of capable women in our space. There's just an uneven distribution of social capital that we have. So we generally don't get access to those trusted relationships, the the backroom deals that happen, the sponsorships that tend to come, ability to have visible proof of leadership, the permission to to ask questions that can change a career.

These are things that are really difficult for for most women, especially in in our industry. So to me, creating this infrastructure, platform community that made that available is the gap that I was trying to fill, that we were trying to fill together. I think Having women network is just the first step, but it's reducing the friction or the cost of access in an industry where access is often, informal or opaque or uneven, is what we were trying to create. You've been an an incredible supporter of the community.

You've been a guest in in one of the monthly meetings that we have. And you've seen we try to create a space where women feel comfortable. We have Chatham House rules when we do these. Sessions because we want these spaces where women feel comfortable to ask questions that they we know they cannot safely ask in a status heavy work setting, for instance.

But having a bunch of women who are coming in with the intention of learning, of relying on each other, of building this community and having a network that goes beyond just their immediate surrounding, it gives them that capability to do that and the ability to practice and learn from again. An industry that is so wide and there are so many specializations that the goal has been can we learn something? Can we can we grow together? Can we be one percent smarter, better through these events that we do on a monthly basis?

And over the last two and a half years or so, we've had thirty-one of these events, a lot of them virtual. so we try to meet at least once a month and interact with each other and check in on each other. I've seen a ton of women find friendships. find jobs, get through some really difficult times in their career or in their lives.

And it's just really beautiful to see how amazing it is to see women supporting each other and what that can truly turn into. So yeah, I think lots more work to be done, but we've we've taken a few steps to help us on that direction. Yeah. And it's incredible what you've done because it is not traditional networking.

I think an authentic community in practice encompasses everything that you just unpacked for people listening, but also just from my own lived experience interacting with the community, the egos are checked at the door. And really what you've described as social capital and equity and access on your status in an organization, whether it's a door being opened, whether it's an introduction that you didn't know that you had right at your fingertips. So really incredible. The other thing that I want to highlight for folks listening is a lot of these communities that are women-based or functionally based, they center on a specific stage in the career life cycle.

So it might be early career, mid-career, or very senior. The thing that's really unique about yours is that it's a community across all career stages. And I love that. Toying with the idea of a podcast called Generations.

Because it's when you bridge, early, mid and late career that you really get this, I'm getting goosebumps talking about. You get this flywheel. I see it in my own role when I have people from all different ages working together on an idea and innovation. So tell me a little bit what that what that means to you.

Different stages of the career, women supporting each other inside a community like Ladies Who Logistic. Such a great question, Sheri. And This is something that I actually learned learned through observation of my own kids. So they go to a Montessori school and they actually Montessori system believes in learning through real life, practice and and by doing things at a very young age, which is very non-traditional to normal school school curriculum, which I always thought very fascinating.

But the other concept they have is they will have classes together. So for instance, kids in grades one, two, and three are in one class. And I thought that was weird. because my son was going into grade one and I thought it would be really good for him to be surrounded by little kids his age and not have these older ones around.

But over time I realized there's a massive benefit to having that kind of setup where you are actually getting younger, less experienced individuals paired up with someone who is slightly more experienced as well as way more experienced. in this case it was just grades one, two and three. But very quickly I started seeing him being. comfortable going and asking questions to not just his peers, but kids who are older than him.

And I this is something that I see in Ladies Who Logistic as well, which is the students and early career profession professionals usually feel a little shy in their own work setting to be able to ask questions that might make them feel like I might sound as if I'm less than or I don't know something. But when you give them the opportunity to have this safe space, now they have access to experiences and just knowledge, connections that they wouldn't have otherwise. I the the women who are in the middle of their careers, it gives them a perspective on things don't always have to go a certain way and having getting to see women who are coming into this community from all different walks of life if they're early career, and women who are senior leaders.

And we have CEOs of logistics organizations and CSEOs who have been so kind to be a part of this community. And I think the same way that you and I feel about wanting to pass that ladder down, that's what they're doing. And by being in this community, now they are inspiring this, the the younger generation of women that are part of this community. I've seen a number of them make an introduction or even answer some questions in in these meetings that we have on things that matter, things you shouldn't stress about or How do you say no?

I know these things sound so simple, but these are things that we all struggle with in a day-to-day basis. And having having someone who has the authority, has that senior leadership experience, come and give you that grooming, come and give you that guidance means the world to a lot of women. So that's what we've been able to create from it. And I love the ability for all of the different experiences to be cross-functionally applicable.

applied to each other. I love the idea of the the generational podcast as well for the same reason because I think there's just so much transferable knowledge that is helpful no matter which stage of the journey you're in, as long as you come in with the right intention, there's so much that women can learn. Yeah, I like that it's tools, that it is skills building. And as supply chain and logistics become more technology driven, we're in an age of AI automation, the future of work.

From your perspective, let's talk about the skills and mindsets because women in the field also are building new skills to stay relevant, to lead in the future that we have no idea what the next five to ten years is gonna look like. So what do you think women in the field really need to be focusing on? Yeah, I think I I agree with you, by the way. I've been, I wouldn't say totally been part of communities like that, but I I genuinely love the idea that there are lots of new communities popping up for women and I support them fully.

What I do not support is when it becomes more about, men bashing and things like that, because I genuinely feel like we are so lucky to be in a time where we are surrounded by allies and men that support us and sponsor us and are there to help us create amazing careers and experiences for ourselves. So that's always been one of the ethos ethos and I think the community feels the same way. To your point, it's more about how do we sharpen our own acts, so to speak. I think AI and technology is changing at a pace that none of us can keep up.

I mean, I try to keep up every single day and I still feel constantly behind. And it's by design, right? There's just a a a massive revolution in terms of what's happening with AI and technology. And this is going to be our, I don't know, the next five, 10, who knows how many years.

So the thing that's super critical in times like this of uncertainty and change is do you feel grounded in what you know? And do you feel comfortable to learn the next best thing that will make you even better as an individual in your role, as a person? And that's what Ladies Who Logistics tr tries to create. We want to have spaces where we can become more skilled, where we can show up with the confidence to speak about.

Angel investing or a specific robotics technology that you learned about in one of the sessions, or sustainability, or leadership. And there are so many silos and rabbit holes that we've gone into in in these ladies who logistic sessions. I think that's what's really needed. There's a book that I'm reading right now called Range.

And it's about how can you get a wide breadth of experiences that just makes you so well-rounded that no matter what comes at you, you can perform really well because you have that that that breath and not just the depth, right? So I think those are some really critical things and the reasons why the community is based the way that it is. And I I think it it helps women learn things like AI and technology and how do you how do you keep up with it, but also all of the other things that make them successful.

Absolutely. Absolutely. So we're gonna do a lightning round. This is where I'm gonna ask you rapid fire questions.

And you're gonna just give me the first word that comes to mind. Don't overthink it. Just the first word that comes to mind. Are you ready?

Yes. Okay. Let's do it. What's what's the one fair what's the one phrase?

Hold on. What's the one phrase that women in supply chain and logistics should stop apologizing for? Ooh, phrase. I would say no.

Just be okay with saying no. Okay. Next question. What's the one skill that will matter more in fulfillment over the next five years?

The ability to connect technology decisions to operational reality. Okay. Okay. Next question.

What makes a community useful instead of performative? Oof. I think what makes a community useful instead of performative is if it can change the trajectory of someone's next move. If they can be more skilled, if they can be more connected, if they can be better off than they were in a trusted safe space, that's what makes it truly useful than just performative.

Love it. And last rapid fire question, what gives you the most optimism about the next generation of women in supply chain and logistics? my gosh, so much. I love seeing more and more women showing up.

in our space, taking up space, becoming founders, not waiting for permission to build rooms like Ladies who Logistic and Supply Chain Revolution and building the relationships and, you know, leadership models that they know need to exist. And I think this is gonna set our next generation up really well. And I think the the work that our previous generations have done have enabled us to To have this optimism and have the ability to to to do what we do. Absolutely.

We stand on the backs of many, many giants before us that have given us permission, space, and grace. To be bold women in supply chain and logistics. All right. So if folks want to get involved, they're listening.

How do they find you? What's the first step for folks to find ladies who logistic? Amazing. Thank you.

For you to the first step to find ladies who logistic, find us on LinkedIn and give us a follow. And join the conversation, but I want, I have an ask for your listeners to do something more than just follow. If you are early in your career, I want you to show up and ask the questions. If you're a leader, sponsor someone, make an introduction, recommend a woman for a visible opportunity, or invite her into a decision-making room.

If you are an ally or a partner, help create access rather than just applauding. Our message, I would say, is really simple. Women in logistics should not have to build their careers alone. We are all here to help each other.

And the industry will be so much better off when more women, more diverse voices are helping shape the future of this industry. Wonderful. Thank you so much, my friend. It was such a pleasure to host you on the podcast.

Also, Fulfillment IQ podcast for folks listening. Make sure you check out her podcast. Thank you so much for joining. Thank you, Sheri.