395: Women In Supply Chain™, Lisa Dolan
Lisa Dolan is a multi-award-winning Supply Chain Executive and the VP of Supply Chain Strategy at ALOM, where she has been a pivotal leader for 26 years as one of its founding employees. With an initial background in IT and programming, she transitioned into manufacturing and supply chain, gaining experience across nearly every role within her company. Dolan is a passionate advocate for empowering women, believing the industry has a "branding issue" and must better showcase its diverse career paths. She shares her story of taking a risk to join a visionary female leader to start ALOM and discusses her future plans to focus on mentorship and "paying it forward."
In today’s episode of Women In Supply Chain™, I’m joined by Lisa Dolan – a multi-award-winning supply chain professional, board member and speaker, dedicated to empowering women and girls across the industry.
Lisa is an experienced Supply Chain Executive, with a wealth of experience in global supply chain operations and reverse logistics management. With a remarkable 26-year journey at ALOM Technologies, Lisa has been the driving force behind strategic supply chain optimization plans that have substantially reduced costs, elevated service and quality levels, and helped achieve ESG goals.
Today Lisa will be telling me all about that impressive 26 year tenure at ALOM and what she loves so much about the company; how the industry has changed and the emerging trends to look out for; what organizations can do to elevate women in the industry; and why supply chain might just need a re-brand.
SHOW SPONSORS:
GoFreight
GoFreight is proud to sponsor the ‘Women In Supply Chain™ podcast series, recognizing women’s vital role in the industry and the need to highlight their contributions and experiences. We are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in the supply chain field and are honored to support initiatives that empower and inspire women in their professional journeys.
GoFreight is the world’s leading cloud-based freight forwarding management system. In addition to its comprehensive core features, including business quoting, ocean and air freight processes, invoicing and payments, accounting, and finance, customers highly favor it for providing a customer-facing platform that meets the needs of freight forwarders and their clients and agents.
With GoFreight, tasks such as quoting, booking, cargo tracking, and data reporting, which traditionally required email or phone communication, can now be quickly completed through a user-friendly online platform, similar to booking flights or hotels.
For more information, visit GoFreight.
Supply & Demand Chain
This year, we received over 400 submissions for our Women In Supply Chain™ award, the highest amount of applications not only for this award but also for all of our awards. What’s more, 118 of those applications were submitted by male counterparts, nominating their boss, co-worker, or associate. Last year, that figure was just at 75. Also this year, 39 women self-nominated, a tremendous uptick from last year’s award, which just saw 12 self-nominations. This shows progress. This shows hope that one day, we won’t need an award like this because men and women in the supply chain will be equal,” says Marina Mayer, Editor-in-Chief of Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive. “While there’s still more work to be done, what we’re doing is working. That’s why this award is so important to Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executives. From truck drivers to CEOs, what these winners are doing matters to the future of all supply chains. What these female leaders, entrepreneurs, and supply chain professionals are doing continues to push the needle toward excellence, and every year, I feel blessed to celebrate these wonderful women of logistics. And we’re doing just that at this year’s Women In Supply Chain™ Forum, set for Nov. 14-15 in Atlanta. Go to www.WomeninSupplyChainForum to register and learn more. We’re all better together. Collaboration is key to promoting and supporting Women In Supply Chain™.
For more information, vision Supply & Demand Chain.
Lisa’s career journey, and how her spirit of adventure led her from IT to manufacturing and supply chain.
An overview of ALOM and what they do; and the forward-thinking woman in supply chain that led Lisa to becoming one of the founding employees of ALOM 26 years ago.
Lisa’s 26 year career at ALOM, the different ways she’s touched the business, and her current role.
The many and varied ways that the industry has changed over the course of Lisa’s career so far.
From demand planning and inventory to AI, the trends to look out for in 2024.
The varied job roles within supply chain, and why it’s so important to spread the word that there is a place for women in the industry.
Lisa’s advice for women looking to build a career in supply chain.
Lisa’s advice to organizations that claim to struggle when it comes to finding female, or other diverse, voices for events and speaking opportunities.
The personal and professional achievements that have defined Lisa’s life and career.
The future for Lisa.
Resources & Links Mentioned
- You can connect with Lisa over on LinkedIn.
- If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear from other inspirational Women In Supply Chain™, check out 344: Women In Supply Chain™, Sharon Manker or 353: Women In Supply Chain™, Holly Pearce.
- Check out our other podcasts HERE.
