The number of women in all supply chain roles has dropped, but there are industry leaders who offer different perspectives. Manifest Vegas plans to host a Women's Luncheon to celebrate women in logistics technology on Feb. 2, 2023, at Caesars Forum. The event will include partners DHL Supply Chain, Daimler Truck North America, Food Logistics, and Supply and Demand Chain Executive.
According to Gartner Inc. research, the amount of women in supply chain roles dropped from 41% in 2021 to 39% in 2022, and there was also a 2% drop at the most senior levels. This is a worrisome trend in the opposite direction from previous years; that number rose from 35% in 2016 to 41% in 2021, noted Manifest.
In its “Diversity Wins” report, McKinsey & Co. asserted that companies with greater gender diversity have higher likelihoods of positive financial performance. It also found that the diverse perspectives of women can help challenge legacy-focused mindsets, embrace innovative automation technologies, and adapt to shifting regulatory mandates and industry trends faster.
Event to spotlight leading women
The women’s lunch will feature Katie Date, leader of the Women in Supply Chain Initiative at the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics. Date will discuss the importance of diversity in the supply chain and what she has learned talking to leaders of some of the largest supply chains in the world.
Joining her onstage will be Alicemarie Geoffrion, who is president of packaging at DHL Supply Chain. She was recently named one of the Top 100 Women in Supply Chain by Supply Chain Digital. Geoffrion is also a member of the World Economic Forum.
“We are thrilled to host two brilliant supply chain minds at our second annual Women’s Lunch,” stated Courtney Muller, president of Manifest. “Their experience, insights, and stories will undoubtedly resonate and add value to a discussion that will never really be over until we achieve real equality at the highest levels of the supply chain industry.”
Manifest LLC said its commitment to diversity doesn’t end with the Women’s Lunch. The event organizer said the importance of including different perspectives from the LogisticsTech community can be seen throughout its entire speaker lineup.
Although the event is called a Women's Lunch, both women and those who support them are invited to attend.
About Manifest 2023
Manifest claimed that it is the only event that brings together industry executives, top venture investors, cutting-edge startups, and technology leaders striving to find solutions to critical logistics and supply chain disruptions—while identifying breakthrough technologies.
In 2020, about 131 billion parcels shipped globally, and that number is expected to grow to 262 billion by 2026. Manifest will cover topics including automation and robotics, electric and autonomous vehicles, machine learning and artificial intelligence, drones, shipping and last-mile delivery, and cybersecurity and regulations.
The Las Vegas event is produced by the same team that created InsureTech Connect, Blueprint, HR Transform, and The Future of Logistics Tech Summit. Robotics 24/7 is a media partner of Manifest.
“Manifest will offer unparalleled access to a comprehensive gathering of entrepreneurs, investors and executives from BCOs/Shippers,” said the organizers.
Manifest 2023 expects to bring together more than 3,000 executives from Jan. 31, 2022 through Feb. 2, 2023, in Las Vegas. It will include over 150 exhibitors and 500 startups, 40 of which will present on the Innovation Stage in the exhibit hall.
The agenda for the event includes more than 100 sessions and three half-day tracks between 1:00 and 5:00 p.m. focusing on intelligent infrastructure, maritime and ports, and sustainability.