{"id":67011,"date":"2024-11-13T10:40:51","date_gmt":"2024-11-13T15:40:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radial.com\/?post_type=insight&p=67011"},"modified":"2024-11-18T03:42:03","modified_gmt":"2024-11-18T08:42:03","slug":"women-in-logistics","status":"publish","type":"insight","link":"https:\/\/www.radial.com\/eur\/insights\/women-in-logistics","title":{"rendered":"Beyond the boxes: the perspective of a woman leader in logistics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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As a prominent figure among women in logistics, Sarah Harvey<\/a>, the UK Site<\/a> Manager at Radial, has built a successful career in a traditionally male-dominated industry. She oversees operations with a strong commitment to growth, diversity, and innovation. With over 20 years of experience across various roles, she brings a unique perspective on the logistics sector, the importance of hands-on experience, and the value of a supportive, inclusive workplace. Her insights highlight the need for genuine inclusion, where all voices are heard and valued.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Approach to leadership<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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How do you lead teams in this male-dominated environment? What unique strengths do women bring to the table?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Sarah<\/strong>: It\u2019s not as male-dominated as you might think. While I am the only female site manager at Radial, we have many female team leaders and colleagues within operations. In any organization, diversity is key. Different people bring different perspectives. Women in logistics often bring creativity, pragmatic thinking, and unique communication styles. However, it\u2019s important to recognize that everyone brings different strengths, regardless of gender. Ultimately, I believe the best person for the job should always be the priority, no matter their gender, age, or background.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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What is your leadership style and approach?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Sarah:<\/strong>\u00a0My leadership style has been shaped by my work experience. Account Management taught me how to communicate effectively across internal and external groups. Working in the Call Center honed my understanding of customer experience. Project Management and Onboarding developed my organizational skills. And Sales gave me insights into the business\u2019s commercial side and how to differentiate our services.
Overall, I focus on strong communication, problem-solving, understanding the customer journey, and collaborating with teams who have different needs. It\u2019s important to understand both sides of any challenge.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Opportunities and balance at Radial <\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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You\u2019ve had various roles within Radial. How would you describe the growth opportunities available?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Sarah:\u00a0<\/strong>When it comes to growth, there are many opportunities, not only within Radial but also within the\u00a0bpostgroup<\/a>. We focus on hiring the best person for the job. There is always room for growth, and it\u2019s about the skills and experience you bring to the role. In this industry, hands-on experience is equally as\u00a0important as formal education.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Are diversity and inclusion central to Radial\u2019s way of thinking?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Sarah:<\/strong> Radial does an excellent job fostering diversity and inclusion. I\u2019ve never faced any issues, and I actively encourage diversity within my teams. There have been different initiatives in recent years aimed at creating a more equitable and welcoming environment, some of them promoted female leadership. However, it\u2019s important that these initiatives are implemented correctly to avoid reverse discrimination. The focus should always be on placing the right people in roles based on their abilities, not just to fill a quota.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Can you share some of the biggest challenges you\u2019ve faced as a woman in Radial, and how you overcame them?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Sarah:<\/strong> Work-life balance was the biggest challenge for me, but it\u2019s not unique to the logistics industry, it\u2019s something many women face in any field. It was challenging, especially when my children were young. However, I\u2019ve always had flexibility, such as part-time work, home office options, and the ability to adjust my schedule for appointments. Radial has been supportive in providing that flexibility. Operational roles can be more demanding, but with the right flexibility and support, they are manageable.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Sarah, Radial Europe\u2019s only female site leader, manages the Manchester site. In just two years, she transformed it from a loss to a profitable operation. She successfully led her team through the challenges and uncertainties of the COVID period.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n

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The future of women in logistics<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Where do you see the future of women in logistics?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Sarah:<\/strong> I see it as incredibly promising, especially with the growth of e-commerce. However, it needs to start in schools and colleges to raise awareness, as many, including myself, end up in this field by chance rather than as a planned career choice. The growth of e-commerce and the influence of social media and influencers are making logistics a more attractive industry for everyone.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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What advice would you give to women considering a career in this sector?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Sarah:<\/strong> My advice to other women is to jump in. This is a dynamic and challenging industry that\u2019s constantly evolving with new technologies. Innovations like automation, artificial intelligence, and sustainability initiatives are creating new opportunities for everyone. The industry is competitive, but that only opens up more chances for growth. Personally, I\u2019m still learning and developing, especially in areas like automation and AI, so I can help my team grow into future leaders.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Sarah Harvey, Site Manager, Manchester<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Sarah is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in client management, sales, and operations in the e-commerce industry. As the UK Site Manager at Radial, she leads strategic initiatives and oversees client onboarding, client success, and sales operations. Sarah is dedicated to ensuring the successful launch of new clients across Europe, managing existing client relationships, and driving sales growth through tailored solutions. Sarah\u2019s diverse experience and expertise make her a valuable asset in driving success and growth for Radial and its clients.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","insight_type":[],"solution":[399],"class_list":["post-67011","insight","type-insight","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.radial.com\/eur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/insight\/67011","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.radial.com\/eur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/insight"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.radial.com\/eur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/insight"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.radial.com\/eur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/insight\/67011\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67515,"href":"https:\/\/www.radial.com\/eur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/insight\/67011\/revisions\/67515"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.radial.com\/eur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=67011"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"insight_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.radial.com\/eur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/insight_type?post=67011"},{"taxonomy":"solution","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.radial.com\/eur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/solution?post=67011"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}