CARGOCONNECT-MARCH2024 - Flipbook - Page 36
COVER STORY
SUPER WOMEN IN SUPPLY CHAIN
Women in Supply Chains
are Transforming the Sky
into their Playground
HENA KAUSAR
Vice President– Sales & Distribution Multimodal, Maruti Suzuki India
Embracing Momentum
During my engineering studies,
I often pondered over the key
factors driving business success.
Initially, I believed it revolved
around manpower and personnel. However, I soon realised
that while people are crucial,
progressive movement is equally
essential. Just as in life, progress
hinges on change; for businesses
to thrive, they must keep moving
forward. This realisation sparked
my interest in supply chain management and logistics within
the business realm. Fortunately,
my first job provided me with
the opportunity to delve deeper
into this 昀椀eld. Over the past 25
years, my passion for learning
and exploring in this area has
only grown stronger.
Strategic Foresight and
Courageous Leadership
With diverse experiences spanning 25 years, from enhancing
Road and Rail transportation to
establishing Driving Training
institutes and spearheading various IT initiatives, I’ve cultivated
an “Eaglion” approach—a fusion
of eagle-like vision and lion-like
determination coupled with protection of its Pride. Similar to an
eagle, I possess strategic foresight
and adeptly craft action plans to
achieve key business objectives.
Resembling a lion, I confront challenges head-on without hesitation
and I foster my team’s growth and
possess the courage to support
them through adversity.
Reflections
Sacri昀椀ces are prerequisites for
success, as Napoleon also said –
“Great achievements are born of
great sacri昀椀ces”. And the same
36 | CARGOCONNECT MARCH 2024
applies to me as well. I have
had my share of success, and
sacri昀椀ces naturally precluded –
few professional, few personnel.
However, I believe that the taste
of success will be incomplete
without sacri昀椀ces made for it.
Overcoming Challenges
As a woman, I’m often asked
about the existence of the glass
ceiling and if I’ve faced it. Indeed,
it exists. To break free, we must
昀椀rst overcome inhibitions and
move beyond sticky 昀氀oors. Family, societal, or personal issues
can hold us back, but we must
focus on our goals.
In my career, being the only
woman in the room has been an
opportunity to bring a unique
perspective. I recall a review meeting with transporters where my
capability was questioned due to
my gender, but I remained composed and carried out the review.
Drawing Insights from
Diverse Leaders
Through my 25 years of work
experience, interactions, and readings, I’ve endeavoured to adopt the
best practices of leaders across
various fields and time zones,
spanning business, economics,
politics, sports, and the workplace.
I greatly respect and draw inspiration from numerous individuals.
Valuing Collaborative
Success
One of the best pieces of advice I
received early in my career was
to remain grounded, patient,
and open to new opportunities.
Additionally, I value every team
member’s contribution and prioritise team nurturing. As the saying
goes, “Strong women don’t have
attitude, they have standards!”
To all aspiring women aiming for the top,
remember, just as a bird fearlessly navigates
the air, we, as women in logistics, should
embrace our journey with confidence and
determination. Gender doesn’t define our
role; our strength lies in our diverse perspectives, empathy, innovation, and adaptability.
Our path isn’t confined by ceilings but
boundless like the sky.
Empowering colleagues
and oneself is crucial for career
advancement. In logistics, agility
and adaptability are paramount.
Recognising the importance of
drivers, I initiated the “Pragati
Path” programme for their
training and development. This
experience propelled me to the
role of All-India Head of Driving
Training, demonstrating agility
and empowerment.
Unleashing Potential
through Knowledge
Given the opportunity to possess
a superpower, I would choose
omniscience. With a burning
desire to explore every corner of
the world, I aim to maximise my
potential. This vast knowledge
base would enhance my ability to
connect with people, empathise
with them, and e昀昀ortlessly translate goals into results.
