Supply Chain Leader Jennifer Karpus-Romain on Shattering Imposter Syndrome

Women In Supply Chain™ are gaining momentum in narrowing the gender gap. They now make up 41% of the supply chain workforce, an almost 40% increase from the year prior. Post-pandemic dynamics and more awareness of supply chains are empowering progress in what was once an overwhelmingly male-dominated industry. According to Gartner, that trend is only increasing. More women are rejoining the supply chain post-pandemic and making gains in the upper echelons in roles as CSCOs, SVPs, EVPs, and CPOs. Women supply chain leaders currently comprise 26% of these roles, a historical 7% annual leap.

Women have increased their presence in supply chain since the start of the decade, backed by business gender equality goals and DEI initiatives. Recent and ongoing disruptions have propelled the need for expanding the strategic logistics workforce with new supply chain programs and strategic roles with fresh opportunities for industry professionals. Gartner’s study shares that having more female representation in the supply chain leadership suite empowers other women to rise to executive leadership.

 At Let’s Talk Supply Chain, we’re dedicated to rallying behind Women In Supply Chain™ to shatter glass ceilings and gender norms across global transportation, manufacturing, and logistics industries. And everyone should because Women In Supply Chain™ fuel greater agility, growth, and business performance. The numbers show that Women In Supply Chain™ proactively collaborate and bring teams together on initiatives to support better outcomes. These female supply chain leaders are breaking boldly outside of the box, and it’s inspiring. These stories motivate other Women In Supply Chain™ to break the mold and move forward. That’s why we highlight their breakthrough achievements and the experiences behind them every month.

Let’s Talk Supply Chain’s Women In Supply Chain™ program, and these blogs about their experiences educate business leaders on the importance of investing in female talent and providing room for advancement. Elevating Women In Supply Chain™ across the ranks propels higher revenue and ROI. More than half of businesses committed to gender equity and diversity have 50% higher profits and 61% more revenue growth than competitors with less female representation in leadership. Over 70% of these organizations that provide women with more opportunities rank the highest in customer satisfaction.

Warfare across the globe, inflation, and an ongoing talent shortage propel supply chain disruptions. Diversity is required to remain competitive in business.

Let’s Talk Supply Chain is dedicated to closing the remaining supply-chain gender gap across the ranks, including leadership, with more visibility for women supply chain and logistics leaders making purposeful movement forward in their careers and the industry. Let’s Talk Supply Chain explores professional roadblocks women leaders continually learn to navigate, how they support each other, and how they transform business.

This month, we’re proud to highlight Jennifer Karpus-Romain, Executive Director at the Transportation Marketing & Sales Association (TMSA), an organization dedicated to empowering the advancement of commercial freight and transportation professionals. Jennifer boasts a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Ohio University and a Master of Business Administration from Capella University. In addition to her notable achievements as a thought leader and proponent of other Women In Supply Chain™, Jennifer is the Vice President of the Board for the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence. She has served as a volunteer mentor for women in STEM.