We all remember the supply shortage during the pandemic and the long wait for specialty items. As a supply chain professional, you were in the thick of it. Tell us about the success that resulted from it.

I am most proud of other people—my team during the pandemic. I was so proud to lead and work with them, which included over 50 procurement professionals in multiple countries at the time.

In my career, I’ve not experienced the type and quantity of challenges in supply chain management that we had then in 2020. This team supported the supply chains of companies across multiple essential industries. The needs and demands escalated daily, all while dealing with material shortages and constant disruptions. My team rose to the challenge and successfully supported everyone who turned to them.

Not only did they succeed professionally, they kept up engagement and formed tight bonds that are still intact today. A large number of us still connect and support each other both personally and professionally. I’ve never had a greater success in my career.

What was the best piece of career advice you received when you were first starting out?

Don’t be afraid to use your voice.

I’ve always worked in more male-dominated industries and sought out advice from other women. That was the best advice I’ve ever followed - and the same advice I give today. To everyone. There could be any reason someone is afraid to use their voice. To speak up or ask questions. But don’t let that stop you. Let your voice be heard and ask the hard questions, offer your ideas. You’ll gain more by being bold and using your voice.

In moments of self-doubt or adversity, how do you build yourself back up?

One thing I’ve learned throughout my career in supply chain is that it requires resiliency. In both your supply chain itself - and in the way you react to adversity. I build myself and my team back up by keeping that mindset every day.

When I was younger, I was a runner. I am also a planner. I would train for nine months before a marathon and have a detailed day-by-day schedule on day 1. With young children, my career, and the unreliable Arkansas weather, that training schedule was challenging to live up to. I eventually realized that it doesn’t require perfection. It requires resilience. So I was always ready to pivot and create a new plan. Missing a long run day did not mean that I gave up. It meant that I adjusted with a new plan to achieve the same goal.

I live by that today. Have a strategy, but always be prepared to pivot when needed. Be proud of yourself and celebrate each small win and milestone.

What’s your favorite thing to come home to after a long day at work?

My pottery studio. After being analytical at work, my favorite thing to do is get my hands dirty (literally) and create something.

I started pottery during the pandemic. I went to one class and was hooked. I realized immediately how meditative the clay on the wheel is, and how thrilling it was to create something both beautiful and useful. But my analytical side is still there. So much of throwing on the wheel comes down to physics, and the glazing process relies on chemistry.

It has become a family effort. My 23-year-old daughter also picked up the hobby.

What role do mistakes play in a person’s career?

The decisions I make every day are usually based in part on lessons learned through my career. Looking at my mistakes as improvement opportunities goes back to a resilient mindset.

What I tell people who are just starting their careers is that we will always run into new situations and issues. We aren’t building skills that allow us to know everything immediately. We are building skills that allow us to know how to question things, know how to break the problem down and know how to make decisions. And especially early on - myself and everyone else - that experience is based on our mistakes.

What rituals could you not live without in your workday?

I am a creature of habit and someone who loves connecting with people. I couldn’t make it through my day without my morning conversations with our Demand Planner, Lyndsey, my good morning texts with my long-time best friend, Michelle, and then walking down the hall for quick good mornings with my co-workers.

People are my fuel and I’m surrounded by a great group of colleagues and couldn’t feel luckier to have such wonderful support around me.

Emily Calhoun is a supply chain professional and the Vice President of Supply Chain at MFCP.

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