Gorgeous Girls In Supply Chain: Zoe Upson
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. Zoe Upson is our next feature.
ZOE UPSON
I had followed Zoe for a long time before we ever actually interacted, because her content was inspirational and so women-forward; I remember thinking, I need to know this woman. Then fate stepped in and a common contact brought us together for a project, and she welcomed me in like we'd been friends and colleagues for years. Zoe has a way of making everyone around her feel more confident, she's pushed me to ask for what I'm worth and reassured me when I wasn't sure I could actually pull a project off, and somehow we've only been friends for 3 months. She's got a great hack for beating imposter syndrome and I have never in my life seen someone drink as much Diet Coke as she does. She's the one who knows everyone at an event, and if she doesn't yet, she will by the time it wraps. She surrounds herself with the best people too, so everyone she has introduced me to is warm and welcoming and supportive. Just like her.
What is your current role and company?
Founder of WOMEN TOGETHER and FACT Talent
How did you end up in the world of supply chain?
I fell in and fell in love!!
What is your favourite part of your work day?
Hearing that I made a difference to a woman in our industry.
What is the least favourite part of your work day?
ADMIN!
What is a systemic issue in your part of the supply chain that concerns you currently?
The way we identify and develop talent. Shipping, commodities and energy are changing incredibly quickly but in many areas our approach to talent has barely changed. We still hire from the same companies, the same universities and often the same networks. We overvalue experience that looks familiar and undervalue potential, adaptability and people who think differently. My concern is that we keep talking about talent shortages while unintentionally making the pool smaller ourselves.
How would you address it if you had the power, money, or influence?
I would invest far more heavily in access, development and external networks and this is actually a huge part of what we are building with WOMEN TOGETHER. We are connecting companies with universities and emerging talent earlier, creating access to women across different companies, sectors and levels of seniority and building an external professional network that women can have throughout their careers. I think companies need to stop seeing community as a nice-to-have and start recognizing it as part of talent development and retention. And ultimately, I want to see more women in the rooms where actual commercial decisions are being made. Not just on panels talking about diversity.
What is one piece of advice you have for young women entering your field?
Be bold. Be brave. And tell your imposter syndrome monster to f**k off. Seriously, give her a name. Mine would be Gertrude. Picture her as some miserable old evil stepmother sitting on your shoulder telling you that you're not ready, you're not experienced enough or you can't do something. Then tell Gertrude to shut up. Because you can. We are so quick to believe in other women. When a friend or colleague says, "I don't think I can do this," our immediate response is, "YES YOU CAN." Start speaking to yourself the same way. Back yourself. Put yourself forward before you feel ready. Take the opportunity. Ask the question. Walk into the room. And when Gertrude starts talking again, you know what to tell her.
What are your top 3 podcasts? (do not have to be industry related)
The Last Dinosaur with Christopher Aversano
Vonheim with Christopher Vonheim
The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett
Who are your top 5 women in supply chain to follow on LinkedIn?
ohhhh hard one. I have so many women in my network and I don’t want to pick favourites.
How do you deal with creeps you encounter in your work day?
Honestly, I think after nearly 17 years in male-dominated industries, I've developed a pretty good creep radar. HAHA!
I'm naturally friendly and I don't think women should have to change that because somebody else can't understand boundaries. If someone crosses the line, I'm pretty direct. I don't entertain it, I don't overthink whether I'm being rude and I definitely don't feel the need to make them comfortable.
What is your favourite way to unwind?
Time with my daughter. We love a pool day in Dubai, finding amazing food and travelling somewhere beautiful and new together.
But day to day, it's probably a bath. I fully romanticize it. Candles, bath salts, bubbles, everything. Phone away, door shut and just time to properly decompress from the day.
What have you recently changed your mind about?
That you have to have everything figured out before you start.
I've always been a planner and very driven by what comes next. More recently I've realised that some of the best things I've built have come from starting with an idea, listening to people, adapting and letting it evolve.
You don't always need the entire roadmap. Sometimes you just need to know what the next right move is and have the courage to make it.
Must haves to get you thru the day?
Coffee. Non-negotiable.
My WOMEN TOGETHER women. I speak to someone from the community pretty much every day.
Music. Always on when I'm working.
My office and my desktop. I cannot work properly from a laptop. I need my desk, my screens and my setup.
An unreasonable amount of Diet Coke.
Social media for Zoe:
