Show Us The Money!

Happy 2024!

I hope you all enjoyed the holidays. I know for us supply chainers that there’s very rarely much rest for the wicked (!), but I for one made sure to take some time to rest and recharge, spend time with family and friends, and squeeze in a little self-care as well. I had a busy 2023 – and I have big plans for 2024! – so the last thing I wanted to do was start the new year with burnout.

I will be headed to Las Vegas in February to attend one of my favorite events – Manifest. I’ll be hosting a panel centered on how organizations can keep pace with evolving customer expectations (one of the biggest industry challenges right now!), and I’ll be getting stuck into conversations and debates around the future of supply chain and logistics. And, in March, I’ll be at TPM in California for my famous woman on-the-street interviews, hosting, networking, and more.?

I won’t bore you with my whole year’s schedule, but 2024 just ramps up from there!

And planning for 2024, as well as reflecting on some of my past experiences, has really had me thinking more about opportunities, particularly opportunities for women. Because my calendar didn’t always look as jam-packed as it does now.?

It wasn’t that long ago that I had to fight. I worked for exposure, I did some work for free. On the side, I worked two part-time jobs - as a receptionist at a tennis club and scoring men's basketball - so that I could grow my brand and build revenue streams. I was so passionate about it, so then I found myself saying yes to everything and burning out, because I’d worked too hard for too long to say no and risk losing everything I’d worked for!?

Those years took their toll on my health, and my bank balance!?

And that situation is happening across supply chain, to thousands of women every year. Not just at events. But within organizations and communities – even the ones we found ourselves!?

We’re fighting for a seat at the table. And, often, we think we have to do it for free.

Why??

Let’s face it, there’s no easy answer. But, having spoken to so many women over the years, there are a few recurring themes.??

• It’s uncomfortable
• It’s insecurity around worth
• It’s anxiety about value
• It’s our fear of rejection or failure
• It’s believing that extra hours are needed to compete
• It’s wearing burnout as a badge of honor?

Sometimes it’s easier to do it for free, and tell ourselves we’re just paying our dues.?

But taking that approach won’t help any woman’s career in the long run. And it has dangerous consequences for all other women across the industry. Because, when one woman works for free:?

• We devalue other women and their worth
• We make it harder for those behind us to ask for the money they deserve?
• We get used to only supporting each other when it’s free?
• We further the gender pay gap??

According to the World Economic Forum, if progress made towards gender parity continues at the current rate, it will take another 131 years to close the gender gap.?

I believe that it’s our collective duty to make sure we chase that number down a heck of a lot quicker.???

How can we do that??

Well… show us the money!

Fundamentally, it boils down to two key things. Women: stop working for free. Men: pay women equally. But, we all know it’s more complicated than that, and that’s why I’m putting myself out there a little bit to start conversations like this one.?

Because it’s only when we start to talk, that we start to understand and empathize with the issues that are running deeper, that are encouraging women to work for less, or free, and ultimately holding them back.?

For me, there are some places to start.

1?? Let’s normalize paying each other what we’re worth

2?? Let’s normalize making the women around us feel valued for the work they do, the time they spend, and the investment they make

3?? Let’s normalize investing in women – in ourselves, in others, in the legacy we leave for the next generation?

And, yes. I know I’ve talked a lot about money. Because it’s important! Women need a seat at the table, and money can help us get there.?

But it’s not just about money. There are so many things we can do to promote women in the workplace that don’t cost a thing.

? Become a sponsor or mentor?

? Make introductions and referrals?

? Engage and share on social media?

? Create safe spaces for women to network, learn and grow together?

? Introduce policies that support and elevate women?

And, perhaps most importantly, give genuine support.?

A friend in the industry recently told me that I had helped her to understand her worth and feel valued. And that’s what our interactions should sound like. No competition. No battling for the one ‘female seat’ at the table. Just real support, encouragement and a dedication to the better future we can all create for women.?

Because money, in the right hands, is changing the world for the better.?

So let’s make sure we’re a part of it.?

If you’d like to help a woman in the industry to take the next step, you can donate to the Blended Pledge, make a corporate donation, or become a corporate sponsor, just like Blume Global.? The Blended Pledge is a non-profit arm, expanded from the Blended Podcast, that is striving to create a visible impact across the industry, providing scholarships and grants to all diverse voices in the community so they can get a seat on in-person/digital stages, and in audiences.?

And if you’re a woman who’d love to say yes to industry events and speaking opportunities, but a lack of funds is holding you back, you can apply for a grant. Our 2023 grant recipients did some incredible things, and I can’t wait to see who is going to benefit this year.?

If you’d like to hear more, I also recorded a podcast episode on this very topic (because there’s so much more to say!) I was joined by Marina Mayer , Katie Date , and Jo Ann Dizy for a special New Year’s edition of our Women In Supply Chain series to dive deeper, and I know you’ll love hearing the perspectives of other women who are working incredibly hard to drive the industry forward for women.

This is such an important topic, so if you have anything you’d like to share or contribute, please do get in touch. Let’s really get this conversation going, make waves for women – and close that 131 year gap.?

Sarah