Ann Drake, CEO of DSC Logistics and founder of the women’s leadership network AWESOME, participated as a panelist at the Tompkins Supply Chain 2017 Leadership Forum. As part of the discussion on “3PLs: Stepping up to the Talent Challenge,” Ann spoke about leadership development.
The panel topic was introduced with statistics from Tompkins’ studies showing that 60 million employees will exit the supply chain field over the next decade while only 40 million will enter it. Shippers and 3PLs view people as the most important resource when assessing the importance of 3PL capabilities.
Ann suggested developing the leadership potential of women as an effective solution for the talent shortage. Businesses that advance women can gain broader perspectives, better understanding and representation of their customers, and improved business results.
Ann also explained the Five-Point Roadmap developed by Paradigm for Parity, a coalition of business executives working for gender parity in their companies by 2030. She is a charter member and has pledged to implement the five points at DSC Logistics.
Ann was joined on the panel by Tim Brown, Managing Director of the Georgia Tech Supply Chain & Logistics Institute, Brian Devine, Senior Vice President of ProLogistix, and moderator Valerie Bonebrake, Senior Vice President, Tompkins International.
The Tompkins Forum covered the newest supply chain technology, transportation methods, material handling options, supply chain execution, fulfillment strategies, and network optimization. Presenters represented many industries, including Retail, Automotive, Consumer Products, 3PLs, Pharma & Healthcare, and Food & Beverage.
