Nelmaris Turcios

I attribute my success to my consistency and my focus. I consider myself a person with good work ethics. I know that in our corporate world, sometimes we say it doesn't matter how many hours you work, people won't see that, but I see my effort. I know that I'm a good worker, and I think having that consistency, not only externally with my customers, but also internally with my leadership and my colleagues, has been the main reason why I've been able to be so successful. I stay consistent and focused on what I want. I originally said that I wanted out of operations, so I paid my dues in operations, and when I said I want a customer that can call me and literally just know that the answer is one text away, I kept focused. I was very focused, and as soon as I saw the position become available, I just went for it. Was I scared? Yes. Was it out of my comfort zone? Absolutely. But I still went with it, and I'm so happy I did, because I'm still here.

The most impactful career advice I've received is that you can transfer knowledge to anyone, but you cannot transfer attitude. In this industry that has been around for years and years, this has really resonated with me. I can easily transfer all my knowledge to somebody who has never worked in logistics in their life, as long as that person has the right attitude to learn and is willing to do the job and get it done. But it's much harder to work with somebody who has been in the industry for 45 years but has an attitude of 'I got this, you don't know.' This means a lot, especially for people like me who consider themselves part of this new generation that is reshaping the industry. You encounter people in this industry that have been here longer than I have been alive. It's an industry that is always evolving with innovation, and now with AI and new technology, you just have to adapt and adjust. A lot of people started this industry doing so many manual things, and now we can literally do things with a click. So it's just very different, but that's something that I always take with me: I can transfer everything I know to anyone, as long as that person has the right attitude to learn.

I would tell young women entering this industry to stay true to themselves. Not every company is going to align with your values, but there's one that will. And if that means that you have to skip a certain opportunity because it's not the right fit, do it, because the one that is meant for you will come. Don't settle. There's a big difference between tolerating certain things and creating boundaries and advocating for your own values. If it's not for you, it's not for you. Don't force it, and keep moving forward. Something better will come along the way.

Some challenges are related to global disruptions, rising transportation costs, and ongoing labor shortages. At the same time, there are major opportunities driven by advances in technology, automation, and data analytics that are improving efficiency and visibility across the supply chain. Companies that adapt quickly and invest in innovation are best positioned to strengthen resilience and gain a competitive advantage.

For me, honesty goes a long way. In this role that I'm in, sometimes I don't always deliver good news. There have been plenty of times, every day, where I have to deliver failures. But I keep it very honest with my customers and maintain that transparency there. I value that relationship that I have with my customer, that has literally taken me the entire 4 years that I've been here to build. When you have that trust and relationship, delivering bad news is not as bad as delivering bad news to a customer that doesn't really trust you or have that relationship. No matter what, I just keep it honest, keep it transparent, but always offer them the next options available to ensure that the goal is still met. This applies to my personal life as well. I have a four-year-old son, and right now, every day, we're continuously talking about how no matter what, you always tell mommy and daddy the truth. It doesn't matter if you feel like it's bad or anything, just come clean. I would rather for you to tell me the truth so that I can properly help you, instead of not knowing what's going on and then being blindsided. I think it's something that is important to me in every aspect of my life.