DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
“The more we know the better we can be . That ’ s the power of communication and data ”
SARAH BARNES-HUMPHREY CO-FOUNDER , GoodOps questioning her position , and asking how much experience she really has .
“ I was lucky to join such big-name companies early in my career ,” she admits . “ That gave me a lot of credibility .”
Demato also points out that just because hers is a numbers-driven type of job - “ performance metrics , KPIs and so on ” - that does not mean the job is not for women . Quite the reverse , she insists . “ I ' d say it ’ s an exciting space to get into , if you ' re someone who likes direct assessment of your performance .”
Learning life lessons in supply chain Anyone who has earned a degree and been fortunate enough to go straight into that career field knows that workplace reality rarely follows textbook theory . Most of what we learn in our careers is on the job . So what have Demato and Barnes- Humphrey learned ?
“ I think it ' s understanding there is an impact to everything we create and make . The reason I ' m focusing on the sustainability side of supply chain is based on that lesson . These things all come at a cost , whether it ' s to the people or to the planet ”, says Demato .
She adds : “ The supply chain gives jobs ; it is a livelihood . It is a current that runs around the world and it can give life to communities . The supply chain actually has a lot of power .
“ And we western countries - how much waste are we creating ? What are we buying ? What is actually happening to the communities where all this landfill is going ?”
Barnes-Humphreys reveals the most important lesson she ’ s learned is that it ’ s only with mutual respect “ that the magic happens ”.
“ When we come together , work together , and understand and respect each other ’ s roles , that ' s where the magic happens . Communication and data are the other big components , because the more we know the better we can be .”
Both Demato and Barnes-Humphreys want to see diversity reign - from head office to warehouse floor , especially after two years of social distancing as a result of the pandemic .
“ In the global supply chain you will interact with people from all over the world ,” says Demato . “ If you want to work with a diverse group of people what could be better than this ?” supplychaindigital . com 105