2023: A Year Through My Lens

Well, here we are. The end of 2023. For me, and so many others, it’s been somewhat of a strange year. Learning to figure out how to settle into a post-pandemic new normal, with the desire to ‘make up for lost time’ constantly looming overhead, has meant the year seems to have flown by faster than any other, a blur of people and places.

Often, it’s only when you take an intentional pause that you can pick apart that blur and start to realize how much you’ve truly achieved, and what you can learn.

So in this month’s Monthly Hustle, I’m reflecting on the whirlwind that was 2023. And preparing to do it all again next year!

Awards and recognition

We don’t get out of bed in the morning and work our butts off for awards. We do it because we’re passionate, dedicated and – for our sins! – we love supply chain.

But, particularly for women and underrepresented groups, I’ve come to realize just how important industry recognition is. Not because you get a shiny trophy for your mantelpiece. But because you show the next generation of women and marginalized people what is possible. You inspire them, you carve out much-needed space for them, and you prove to everyone the incredible talent and innovation to be found within all of those people that previously weren’t allowed a seat at the table.

That is why I was so excited to be a part of Supply and Demand Chain Executive’s Women in Supply Chain awards this year. I met some of the most incredible women at the awards show in Atlanta last month, and have featured several of the winners on Let’s Talk Supply Chain’s Women In Supply Chain podcast series already. 

Blake Lively recently talked about encouraging women to support one another, in a society which often forces us to compete, and her words really stood out to me. “When I grew up, women were always pit against one another. It took me until adulthood to see that the instinct for women to lift each other up to their highest potential is the norm not the exception. It’s our job to show younger generations the power in aligning rather than dividing.”

So a big shout out to the nominees, winners and all women across the industry – keep smashing it.

I’ve also personally received some incredible awards and recognitions this year and, just last month, had the absolute honor of being the recipient of the second annual WISE Legends award for women in supply chain management from the University of Arkansas. I was inducted into their hall of fame at the 5th Annual Women Impacting Supply Chain Excellence Future Leaders Symposium, along with six other female pioneers and industry legends. And, perhaps the most amazing thing for me, was that it was the students who nominated me. There’s no greater honor than being nominated by the future leaders of supply chain.

Big changes behind the scenes

2023 has been the biggest year to date for Let’s Talk Supply Chain. We’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with some old friends, as well as making lots of new ones. I’ve interviewed some amazing people, hosted webinars, and our LinkedIn community has grown to over 65,000 supply chain professionals. And, call me greedy, but I want more! I’ve curated an incredibly talented team behind the scenes, who are just as passionate as I am, and we have big plans for 2024.

Blended is also going from strength to strength. The podcast has grown its followers by 50% and grants from the pledge have helped some amazing women attend industry events that they previously wouldn’t have been able to.

And, last but not least, we launched The Secret Society of Supply Chain this year! Catering to supply chain professionals, women, and industry marketeers, the community is specifically designed to provide a platform for professionals who are determined to make a significant impact in their supply chain careers. Launching this unique industry offering has been a labour of love (to say the least!) but has been such a huge success, and I cannot wait to see it grow in 2024.

Events

This year, I have been here, there and EVERYWHERE! And, whilst I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t exhausting, its been an absolute blast. I started the year at Manifest in Las Vegas, before moving onto TPM in California. I attended Home Delivery World in Philadelphia, and DPW in the beautiful city of Amsterdam.

It's been by far my busiest year, not only for attending events, but also for playing a bigger role in those events. I’ve interviewed close to a hundred key industry players, hosted live TV, moderated panels and become a roving reporter on show floors.

Events have previously been a source of anxiety for me, but I really wanted to push myself this year. So I laced up my custom Let’s Talk Supply Chain Air Force One’s and hit the floors. And I’m so glad I did. I’ve been invited back to so many events next year and asked to collaborate in even bigger and better ways, and I can’t wait. I might still get some pre-show nerves, but I’ve learned how to turn adrenaline into success.  

Trends

From all the people I’ve spoken to and events I’ve attended this year, some key trends have emerged.

Cybercrime: In an increasingly digital world, cybersecurity is a growing threat to businesses worldwide. The impact of an attack, if your organization doesn’t have robust cybersecurity in place, could be potentially devastating. Compliance and digital security is key in 2024.

Data: The conversation around data rumbles on, as many organizations still find themselves knee deep in Excel spreadsheets, emails and dirty data. For 2024, your conversations on data should be focusing more on bridging the gap between legacy systems and new technologies, ensuring seamless integrations and putting a greater emphasis on the brand story that your data is telling.

Sustainability: A lot of big goals have been thrown around this year, but the reality is that we’re just not meeting them. Many organizations have focused more on greenwashing for PR points, than they have on making meaningful change. And we don’t have time to wait around. Make 2024 the year you stop buying carbon offsets and start making fundamental business changes.   

Collaboration: It’s no surprise that I would put collaboration in a list of key trends to pay attention to! As we attempt to tackle ongoing disruption and solve challenges, new and historic, strong partnerships can make all the difference. 2024 should be all about analyzing whether the partnerships you have now are deep and robust, or whether they’re just skin deep.  

 There’s so much more I could say about 2023, but now I really want to stop and ask you to consider YOUR year. What were your highlights? What challenges did you overcome? What did you learn? And how will of this shape your approach to 2024?

I’d love to hear your thoughts, and I’ll collate the best into a blog post that highlights all of your reflections on 2023.

Have an amazing holiday, and I’ll talk to you all again in 2024!

Sarah