493: Women in Supply Chain, Natalie Walker

Natalie Walker talks about her career journey; the importance of mentors in creating space for women; the changing face of workplaces; & the future of robotics.   IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [04.06] Natalie's education journey, how a family friend inspired an interest in supply chain, and why international business is a crucial, but sometimes overlooked, component of the industry. "I had this abstract idea of getting into international deal-making, international negotiations… So she encouraged me to check out supply chain." [07.47] Why supply chain is often misunderstood, and why it's a great career choice for women looking to drive meaningful change. "When people think about supply chain… especially in traditional manufacturing and operations, there's more of a connotation of heavy, manual labor… For me, it's about explaining what supply chain is and thinking about it more in a corporate sense – how to streamline and centralize operations." [11.58] Natalie's career journey, how her intentional decision-making built a foundation for where she is now, and the biggest lessons she learned in her early years. "I started in federal utilities… And starting in the utilities space really piqued my interest in energy as this foundational thing we take for granted… And energy led me to robotics, because it's the next transformational technology that has huge energy requirements." "Learning about myself, and how to apply my strengths to whatever position I was in, was core." [19.14] Why collaboration is the future of technology, and the vision for how humans and machines collaborate at Cobot, Natalie's place of work. "We're not trying to design a product that looks like a human. It's designed with the intent of being safe, smart, and reliable…. And we're not saying we need to wait until a point in time, where AI is at a particular level, to make a difference. We're building a platform that can make a difference today, and improve as AI improves." [22.55] Natalie's perspective on where supply chain is at, as an industry, with robotics. "We're talking a lot about reshoring and revitalizing manufacturing… Everyone is under a lot of pressure… Cost volatility coupled with labor shortages and the rising complexity of the environments we're working in are pushing companies to find automation solutions that are flexible, reliable and fast." [25.09] Natalie's role as Head of Supply Chain and Manufacturing Operations at Cobot. [30.04] Natalie's experience, as a woman, working across the utilities, oil and gas, clean tech, EV and robotics industries. "How is the way I represent myself going to be perceived, and how might that affect my eligibility for the job?" [35.00] The importance of mentors, and the role they've played in Natalie's career so far. "I can't overstate the value of mentorship." [39.20] Natalie's experience of boards, and her advice for young people looking to pursue board opportunities. [42.18] How workplaces are changing, and why collaboration and communication is key. [48.12] The future for Natalie.   RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:   You can connect with Natalie over on LinkedIn or Instagram. If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more about robotics, check out 294: Optimize Warehouse Productivity, with Locus Robotics, 465: Your Fulfillment Transformation Starts Now, with TGW Logistics or 308: Stabilizing Safety in the Workplace, with Ideal Warehouse Innovations. Check out our other podcasts HERE.