She Supply Chains

We made it to triple digits! When we first started brainstorming at Katie’s kitchen table, with zero audio background and full-time engineering careers, we weren't even sure we'd make it past Episode 10. Today, we are celebrating Episode 100! For this milestone episode, there is no guest. It’s just the two of us looking back at where we started, reflecting on the community we’ve built, sharing favorite moments (and bloopers), and talking about what is ahead for the next 100 episodes. From recording Episode 1 in a summer tank top to charting in the Top 5% of all podcasts globally across 32 countries, this show exists because women who plan, source, make, and deliver the things that run the world deserve to be heard.   ✨ Connect with us! 📱LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/she-supply-chains/ 📱INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/shesupplychainspodcast/ 📱TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@shesupplychainspodcast 🎧 Call to Action Follow She Supply Chains on your favorite podcast app Leave us a review — it helps more listeners find the show Share this episode with someone you think would love it      

In this episode, we sit down with Dimpal Padia, a mechanical engineering graduate turned supply chain consultant who is currently completing her master’s degree in the United States. Dimpal takes us behind the scenes of her rapid early career progression, starting from her initial trial-by-fire days in project planning at L&T in India to managing North American deployment at General Mills.  Throughout the conversation, Dimpal breaks down how looking at supply chain through an engineer’s lens helps optimize systems, reduce waste, and build scalable solutions across end-to-end operations. She offers insightful advice for early-career professionals on bridging the gap between entry-level execution and high-level consulting, emphasizing the importance of cross-functional learning, structured mentorship, and using existing leadership forums to build public speaking confidence.    ✨ Connect with Dimpal! 📱 LinkedIn | Dimpal 💻 Learn more on the topics discussed here: Career Spotlight: Logistics Engineer (Excelsior University) Women in Supply Chain Leadership: Barriers and Opportunities (ResearchGate) ✨ Connect with us! 📱LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/she-supply-chains/ 📱INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/shesupplychainspodcast/ 📱TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@shesupplychainspodcast 🎧 Call to Action Follow She Supply Chains on your favorite podcast app Leave us a review — it helps more listeners find the show Share this episode with someone you think would love it    

In this episode of She Supply Chains, Katie and Courtney break down the widening price gap between gasoline and diesel fuel. They explore why middle distillate refining capacity is severely squeezed, how harvest season and global energy shifts exacerbate supply tightness, and why the "surcharge lag" is quietly draining enterprise budgets across truck, rail, ocean, and air freight. They also provide a 5-step strategic checklist to take action in your contracts on Monday morning   💻Learn more on the topics discussed here:  U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) – Diesel Fuel Surcharges Explained Supply Chain Brain – Managing Fuel Volatility & Surcharge Lag in Freight Contracts   ✨ Connect with us! 📱LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/she-supply-chains/ 📱INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/shesupplychainspodcast/ 📱TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@shesupplychainspodcast 🎧 Call to Action Follow She Supply Chains on your favorite podcast app Leave us a review — it helps more listeners find the show Share this episode with someone you think would love it  

In this episode, we sit down with Lateisha Thomas, Director of Professional Services at Arkestro and over a decade-long procurement systems veteran, to unpack the future of procurement technology and leadership. Lateisha shares her journey from her early days in learning and development to managing massive enterprise system rollouts, and now leading change with Arkestro’s predictive procurement platform. We dive into how behavioral science and game theory are transforming negotiations, why rapid deployment is solving system fatigue, and how to maintain essential buyer-supplier trust in an era of AI automation. Plus, Lateisha offers inspiring advice for technical leaders making the shift into strategic roles and reflects on how her unexpected start at a manufacturing front desk shaped her approach to supply chain empathy. A special thank you to Arkestro for sponsoring this episode! Whether you're a procurement professional, an operations leader, or a technical expert looking to elevate your executive leadership, this episode is packed with practical wisdom on technology, negotiation, and people-first management.  If you're ready to eliminate change fatigue, slash sourcing cycle times, and unlock hidden savings without burdening your IT team, Arkestro is worth a look. Discover how predictive procurement can supercharge your team's strategy by visiting Arkestro.com to schedule a demo or explore their latest case studies!   ✨ Connect with Lateisha and check out all Arkestro has to offer! 📱 LinkedIn | Lateisha Thomas 📱Arkestro | The Predictive Procurment Platform 💻 Learn more on the topics discussed here: How Predictive Procurement Eliminates Change Fatigue Behavioral Science in Negotiation: Building Trust & Driving Savings From Tactical Specialist to Strategic Leader: Navigating the Shift ✨ Connect with us! 📱LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/she-supply-chains/ 📱INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/shesupplychainspodcast/ 📱TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@shesupplychainspodcast 🎧 Call to Action Follow She Supply Chains on your favorite podcast app Leave us a review — it helps more listeners find the show Share this episode with someone you think would love it    

This week we start our new "Hot Topics" solo episodes as we break down the current macro shifts impacting supply chains. We explore how shippers are front-loading inventory to outrun incoming tariffs, why warehouse capacity is suddenly choking, and how cascading 23% peak season carrier surcharges are creating a double whammy for mid-sized shippers and small businesses.   💻Learn more on the topics discussed here:  Transpacific Ocean Rates Fueled by Early Peak, Frontloading FedEx 2026 Peak Season Surcharges: What's Changing and How   ✨ Connect with us! 📱LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/she-supply-chains/ 📱INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/shesupplychainspodcast/ 📱TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@shesupplychainspodcast 🎧 Call to Action Follow She Supply Chains on your favorite podcast app Leave us a review — it helps more listeners find the show Share this episode with someone you think would love it