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In today\\u2019s episode of Women In Supply Chain, I\\u2019m joined by Susan Walsh: the self-confessed Mistress of Data who uses her expertise in spend data classification, supplier normalisation, and taxonomy customisation to help procurement and data teams across the industry to work more effectively.

After working in sales and customer account management for big names like Philips and Colgate Palmolive, Susan discovered a passion, and talent, for data. And, having held management positions in various companies, she eventually decided to go it alone. Susan founded The Classification Guru in 2017 and now brings clarity and accuracy to data and procurement; helping teams work more effectively and efficiently by cleaning up their dirty data.

Today Susan will be talking to us about her career so far, her passion for data, how the industry\\u2019s approach to data has changed over the years; and she\\u2019ll be sharing her words of advice for all of the up and coming women following in her footsteps.

SHOW SPONSOR:

Apex Logistics are proud to sponsor Let\\u2019s Talk Supply Chain\\u2019s Women in Supply Chain podcast and blog series. Our leadership team actively works to empower an industry as diverse as our workforce with a focus on inclusion, and we\\u2019re passionate about promoting the voices of women leaders to drive visibility around their achievements. Find out more over on the Apex Logistics website.

IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:

[07.42] Susan\\u2019s background, and the varied career history that led her to her passion.

\\u201cI\\u2019m envious of those people who\\u2019ve always known what they wanted to do, because I\\u2019ve never known.\\u201d

[16.49] The ups and downs of growing The Classification Guru over the last four years.

[21.00] The role of digital marketing in Susan\\u2019s success.

\\u201cWork with what you\\u2019re comfortable with\\u2026 and don\\u2019t do what you think other people want you to do or say or be \\u2013 just be yourself.\\u201d

[25.47] Why Susan\\u2019s positive approach and free spirit was sometimes at odds with male-oriented work environments.

\\u201cI\\u2019ve never felt, even growing up, that there wasn\\u2019t anything I couldn\\u2019t do, or that I was restricted because of who I am.\\u201d

[29.28] The turning point in Susan\\u2019s career that helped her find her voice.

\\u201cWhen I found what I really loved, and I had the self-belief and self-confidence, then I felt \\u2018you can\\u2019t take me down, I know I\\u2019m good.\\u2019 \\u201d

[32.31] The pitfalls of managing data, and why you need to make sure data always has its COAT on.

\\u201cThere\\u2019s a massive misconception that you can buy some off the shelf software that will fix all of your data problems and you don\\u2019t have to do a thing\\u2026 Automation can help to a point, but it would be na\\xefve to think it can solve all your problems.\\u201d

[38.50] What Susan has learned about herself over the course of her journey so far.

[40.30] Susan\\u2019s words of advice for the girls and women looking to follow in her footsteps.

RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:

You can connect with Susan over on LinkedIn; head over to The Classification Guru\\u2019s website or follow them on Twitter or Instagram to find out more.

Check out our other podcasts HERE.