Gorgeous Girls In Supply Chain: Nikki McKnight
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. Nikki McKnight is our next feature.
NIKKI MCKNIGHT
This week’s Gorgeous Girls in Supply Chain is a special one, because I get to feature my best friend, Nikki McKnight.
We met a decade ago back at CH Robinson, two new hires who instantly trauma-bonding over the beautiful mess that is this industry. From day one, she was the person I could vent to about impossible customers, laugh with about the absurdity of freight life, and grow alongside as we both figured out our place in this wild supply chain universe.
I’m the designated extrovert; she’s the grounding force who keeps me focused when my brain is sprinting 3 miles ahead. Jane Fonda said, “I don’t know what I would do without my women friends; they make me stronger, they make me smarter, they make me braver.” And same. Nikki is all of that for me, plus the occasional reality check, pep talk, and critique that helped bring Ship Happens to life.
I’m ridiculously lucky to have a friend like her, and now you get to meet her too.
What is your current role and company?
Founder & Lead Strategist, The Ops Shop
How did you end up in the world of supply chain?
I basically grew up in the logistics wild. My dad spent his whole career in produce and retail, so my childhood was warehouses, backrooms, forklifts beeping in the background, and trade shows like PMA and CPMA masquerading as “family vacations.” So I went straight into produce sales, 3PL, and international trade because when you’ve spent your life watching supply chains in the wild, you eventually start running them.
What is your favourite part of your work day?
Strategy sessions where it's just us, a digital whiteboard, and a bunch of ideas.
What is the least favourite part of your work day?
Responding to emails. I wish my dictation features were better at taking my stream of consciousness replies and putting it into coherent sentences.
What is a systemic issue in your part of the supply chain that concerns you currently?
The chronic disconnect between demand signals, production capacity, and customer experience. Everyone thinks they’re running a supply chain when what they’re actually running is a series of siloed guesses loosely connected by a Google Sheet nobody trusts. Forecasting is reactive. Communication between teams is inconsistent. And when something upstream breaks, the customer downstream pays the price. In sectors like natural skincare and wellness, where seasonality, raw-material variability, and regulatory lead times collide, a tiny misalignment snowballs into stockouts, bloated inventory, customer churn, and entire teams playing whack-a-mole all winter.
How would you address it if you had the power, money, or influence?
I’d make customer experience the rulebook for the entire supply chain. Every decision (forecasting, production, inventory, delays) would be made by asking one question: How does this impact the customer down the line? In short: run the supply chain with the same care you expect from the customer experience.
What is one piece of advice you have for young women entering your field?
Collect experiences and run experiments. Early on, my whole goal was to see everything, try everything, and understand how all the moving parts actually work together. You can’t think strategically if you only ever operate your tiny corner. Context is the real teacher -> efficiency is just what you do once you actually understand the system.
What are your top 3 podcasts? (do not have to be industry related)
First Dates & Soulmates (my own passion project!)
Who are your top 5 women in supply chain to follow on LinkedIn?
(She listed Jennifer Morris 5 times, true bestie behaviour)
How do you deal with creeps you encounter in your work day?
With logistics. As in: logistically removing myself from the situation. Documentation, redirection, and, when necessary, escalation. Supply chain has enough chaos; we don’t need creeps trying to “network” their way into making women & other folks uncomfortable.
What is your favourite way to unwind?
Reading queer romance novels on my e-reader or playing video games.
What have you recently changed your mind about?
I used to believe automation would solve most supply chain problems. Now I know it just accelerates whatever system you already have (good or bad). Automation is a multiplier, not a fix. The thinking and governance have to come first.
Must haves to get you thru the day?
That first morning espresso
Blue light blocking glasses
3L of water
MY fluffy dog in my office
2 computer monitors
Social media for Nikki:
