Gorgeous Girls In Supply Chain: Casey Jenkins
Welcome to our series celebrating the incredible women in Supply Chain and Logistics! In a traditionally male-dominated field, it's important to shine a light on the inspiring women who are making a significant impact. Through a mix of insightful and fun questions, we’ll explore their journeys, challenges, and successes. While we acknowledge the contributions of everyone in this industry, this series aims to elevate the voices and stories of women who often get missed. Casey Jenkins is our next feature.
CASEY JENKINS
Meet Casey Jenkins, the former meteorology student who traded storm chasing for supply chain chaos and somehow makes it look effortless.
Now the CEO of Eight Twenty-Eight Consulting, Casey has spent 12 years touching every corner of logistics while collecting degrees and certifications like they’re Pokémon. She teaches, consults, builds programs, and uses her platform to give the industry something it desperately needs: actual foundational knowledge, context, and with zero BS.
She’s sharp, engaging, and all about solving problems, usually with snacks in hand, a 40oz water bottle nearby, and two mini-aussiedoodles supervising her Zoom calls.
What is your current role and company?
Owner & CEO at Eight Twenty-Eight Consulting LLC
How did you end up in the world of supply chain?
I actually got into it by chance but stayed in it by choice. Originally, I had always dreamed of being a meteorologist (I actually have two degrees in weather). I got out into the real world after undergrad and happened to stumble into transportation (brokerage specifically). I remember learning so much and finding it so interesting. I then transitioned into a transportation role at a distributor but got to see how logistics and transportation impact other areas of a business. During that time I was still fascinated with weather (it was my first love), and pursued my second degree in it. Well, after completing that degree, I was at a point where I had a decision to make: do I let go of the career experience I gained and shift into weather or do I continue to build upon this field that I had grown to actually enjoy. So, I stayed in supply chain and started my master's degree in supply chain instead. They actually are pretty similar fields surprisingly! But without the second weather degree, I would have never found my master's program in supply chain and none of this would have happened, so it all worked out! Now, I can't imagine any other field that suits me. Not only did I diversify my career experience over the last 12 years of my career to touch every aspect of supply chain, but I dove into my education as well to really bridge the gap between concept/theory and practice. I have a Master's in Supply Chain, Master's in Project Management, Black Belt in Lean Six Sigma, PMP Certified, and am working on my DBA in Supply Chain and Logistics. I now own a consulting firm that focuses on process improvement within supply chain processes for small businesses which has been really fun, and gets to both educate but also serve small businesses with tools to help them scale effectively. I also teach supply chain and logistics at multiple universities and have developed courses for multiple schools as well. So, the shift was definitely worth it and the field has truly become something I am passionate about and love doing!
What is your favourite part of your work day?
My favorite part of my work day is the challenge. I love problem solving. I love using my brain. Within supply chain there are a lot of problems and challenge areas, so it's always fun to know each day there's a new issue to solve.
What is the least favourite part of your work day?
That's a tough one, because I wouldn't say I have a "least favorite" part to my day. Are there frustrating points sometimes? Yes. But I actually really love what I do, so I try to find the joy in all of it.
What is a systemic issue in your part of the supply chain that concerns you currently?
This is a tough one because I think there are a few issues I've discovered/encountered throughout my career and within academia related to supply chain. I would say that there is definitely a lack of foundational knowledge around how supply chain works, how everything is interconnected, how it all feeds into a systems perspective (on both a micro and macro scale), and how it can be seen as a giant process. When it all clicked for me and I was able to make that connection, it fundamentally changed the way I worked and truly expanded my capability within the field; I was able to be more proactive, better prepared for risk and disruption, and more creative with solutioning because I could see things from both a strategic but also tactical scale. I call it a systems mindset and that perspective is not traditional to our field at all.
How would you address it if you had the power, money, or influence?
Luckily, I feel like I do have a little bit of an influence on LinkedIn! I definitely try to address this through my content. I personally love learning, and one of my passions is passing that knowledge to others. While I am a university professor and get to influence students with a systems mindset through that avenue, I try to leverage my social platform to educate with both written and video content for anyone! While most of my content isn't the stuff that will "go viral", it is the stuff that is conceptual, practical, and foundational in nature. I've had so many people reach out to me about how much they have learned through my content over the years, so I love doing it to know I'm helping others and bettering the field.
What is one piece of advice you have for young women entering your field?
Do not let a man define who you are or what your career is; that's both personally and professionally.
What are your top 3 podcasts? (do not have to be industry related)
CoffeeBreak Logistics & Supply Chain
Besides that, I honestly do not listen to a lot of podcasts regularly! But here are some other recommended ones from the field that I have been a guest on:
What The Truck
Who are your top 5 women in supply chain to follow on LinkedIn?
Michaela Payton - Talks about People, Processes, and Procurement
Mary Kate Kloeblen - Talks about Ops & Supply Chain in Scaling CPG Brands
Erika Andresen - Talks about Business Continuity and Risk Management
How do you deal with creeps you encounter in your work day?
Oh boy do I have some interesting stories around this topic! Honestly, I just don't tolerate it. I branded myself as someone who is no non-sense and will tell it like it is, so a lot of folks have stopped approaching me in a creepy way. But I still get a few here and there. I just go unfiltered and unbothered, and tell them to leave me alone!
What is your favourite way to unwind?
I don't have a lot of free time with everything that's on my plate, but I hit the gym twice a day, enjoy walking with my dogs, and spending time out by the pool.
What have you recently changed your mind about?
Running! I actually used to distance run a lot when I was younger. About 2 months ago I picked it back up again, and now I really enjoy it. It's a fantastic way for me to truly disconnect and clear my head. Plus, I sing through my runs (terribly)...but it's entertaining for the neighborhood!
Must haves to get you thru the day?
My 40oz water bottle - I stay hydrated and refill it probably 4-5 times a day.
Snacks - I'm always eating. Always. Everyone is always laughing that I'm eating on every meeting.
Headphones and Music - I enjoy a mix of silence and music to help me work. But, if I'm in a jam session, watch out because I will be singing as if I actually had a music career.
Skye & Enzo - My two mini-aussiedoodles who might be the smartest dogs in supply chain! They are always in my office and they love to squeak toys when I'm in meetings.
Bible - I have one that sits on my desk that I often pull out during the day for reminders of my purpose.
Social media for Casey:
