255: Women In Supply Chain, Mardi Tegmeyer
In today\u2019s episode of Women In Supply Chain, I\u2019m joined by Mardi Tegmeyer: a passionately customer-focused supply chain leader.
An experienced logistics professional, Mardi\u2019s knowledge and experience covers sales, operations, account management and customer success. As a leader at Emerge, she\u2019s helping to reinvent freight procurement by putting customers firmly front and center.
Today Mardi will be talking to us about her career so far; her passion for customer success; and the importance of collaboration and inclusion within supply chain. Plus, she\u2019ll be sharing her experiences as a woman in the industry, as well as her words of advice for all of the women following in her footsteps.
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SHOW SPONSOR:\xa0
This Women in Supply Chain feature was made possible by our sponsor, Emerge. As a company focused on empowering and growing meaningful supply chain relationships, Emerge is proud to sponsor Women in Supply Chain. Through its freight procurement platform, Emerge offers solutions that enhance the spot and contract procurement process, enabling shippers and carriers to make more strategic decisions.
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IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:\xa0
[07.36] Mardi\u2019s background, and the journey that led her to a career in supply chain and customer experience.
\u201cI was the receptionist to start\u2026 and then a month later, I was the customer service manager! And from that point, taking care of customers was my niche.\u201d
[12.06] Mardi\u2019s experience at Garrett Popcorn, her incredible accomplishments there and the power of learning on the job.
\u201cI was in a little over my head \u2013 I was figuring it out as I went, making relationships, building trust\u2026 It was an adventure!\u201d
[15.37] Mardi\u2019s reflections on young people and supply chain, the balance between learning and experience and what the next generation of supply chain professionals bring to the table.
\u201cThere\u2019s no right or wrong way to solve challenges in this industry.\u201d
[18.07] Mardi\u2019s role as Customer Success Manager at Emerge.
\u201cEvery day is different - I do love that about this job - I can come in and solve different problems\u2026 and there\u2019s lots of disruptions going on, especially now.\u201d
[19.58] A closer look at Emerge\u2019s supportive culture and approach to diversity and inclusion.
[21.31] The importance of customer success, building strong relationships and how it differentiates you in the marketplace.
[24.16] The role of collaboration, how it ties business together and impacts the overall success of customer experience.
\u201cCustomers want to see that we\u2019re, internally, collaborating and that their information isn\u2019t getting lost in the shuffle.\u201d
[26.50] Mardi\u2019s experiences as a woman in a largely male-dominated industry.
\u201cUltimately, I think we teach people how to treat us \u2013 and I think hard work pays off.\u201d
[29.20] Mardi\u2019s thoughts on mentorship and the college professor that helped to launch her journey.
[30.50] What the future holds for Mardi.
[31.39] Mardi\u2019s words of advice for all of the women out there.
\u201cI would love to empower everyone, if I could, to have that big voice, to speak up \u2013 and don\u2019t be worried about how you\u2019re perceived as a result.\u201d
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RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:\xa0
You can connect with Mardi over on LinkedIn.
If you want to find out more about Emerge, check out episode 243, where George Abernathy joins me to chat all about the company: what they do; bringing accountability to logistics; and why it\u2019s so important to bring all industry players together to build positive and mutually beneficial networks.
Why not also head over to Debra Phillips' (Marketing Manager at Emerge) blog to hear her thoughts on whether consumers are finally growing tired of supply chain shortages and rising costs.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
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