Have you ever wanted to make history? Women’s History Month commemorates all the women who have made history around the world and in many cases that means being the first to do something.
The first licensed commercial female truck driver is known as Luella Bates, an American woman who also worked as a mechanic and inspector in the early 1900s. In 1910, a Parisian woman named Raymonde de Laroche made history as the first licensed female pilot. Whatever the role, being the first also means being part of a significant change.
Recently I have been reflecting on change – how it affects us and how we can approach it best. This led to reading about strategies for accepting change, and one of the ideas that stood out to me was to embrace change by ushering it forward. One of the authors I researched suggested that as technology advances and as the amount of information increases, we will continue to be surrounded by transformation. Rather than reluctantly accepting it, look for areas where you’re eager to see change and find ways to make it happen. This could start with finding a group of like-minded people or an organization for a common purpose.
In some cases, having a like-minded group to help you move your ideas forward is critical. A few years ago, we hosted a webinar for Women’s History Month called A March to the Top – Women Leading Today’s Companies. The importance of finding a like-minded group to support your ideas was raised by a panelist, Kristen Daihes, Founder & Managing Director, Navigare Supply Chain Consulting. “I had to do a lot to build out a support network of advocates outside of forums, so that if there were ideas that I had for how to approach something within a startup, people would hear what I had to say or I would get that external support.” Another panelist had a similar approach, and they both found that it worked.
At TranzAct, we come alongside like-minded advocates of women’s business development by participating in events led by chapters of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). We’ve also been certified by them as a women-owned business for several years. This organization brings together people who play a part of developing women-owned business across the United States for education, networking, and other forms of support.
Finally, I want to encourage you that change is sometimes more possible than it may seem. As the CEO of a logistics management company, I’ve watched this industry change for decades. When I began working, there were very few women in any area of supply chain management and now two of the top logistics companies in the U.S. are led by women. We look forward to seeing how women will shape this industry and the world in the future.
Have a happy Women’s History Month!
Jean