Influential Woman · Manufacturing

Ruby Carrillo

Senior Buyer, Confidential Technology

Portland, OR 97070

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree Cabrillo College Degree Western Governors University Degree UCSC Extension Program Member ISM

Her Story

About Ruby

I started my career in the warehouse industry as a warehouse clerk administrator and slowly worked my way up to procurement. I didn't start by choosing procurement - I found it very valuable in the organizations that I worked in, and that's how I ended up in my field. I've been working in this industry for over 10 years now. As a supply chain specialist, my day-to-day work involves a lot of data analysis and financial analysis. I focus on finding trends in the finances of my company and determining what we need to procure for manufacturing by extracting reports generated by our Director of Operations and other team members. I'm very proud of being able to navigate my space. It's extremely tricky to be in supply chain, so some of my greatest achievements have been negotiating contracts and getting ahead of supply chain risks, both geopolitically and in terms of supply availability. I have been really successful in negotiating high dollar value contracts.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Ruby

01What do you attribute your success to?

I think the support from my family is what I attribute my success to. Having that foundation and encouragement from the people closest to me has been instrumental in helping me navigate my career and achieve what I have in the supply chain field.

02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

I would say try everything. I would encourage her to really do as many internships, as many fellowships as she can, just really grasp everything in every field until you have decided what fits you best. Don't limit yourself early on - explore different opportunities and experiences so you can discover where you truly belong and what resonates with you professionally.

03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

I think there's a huge challenge in skills in the labor market in my field. However, I think there will be a lot of opportunity for young adults to dive into the benefits of using AI in our fields and learning the basics of computer science. I think that is really the evolution of supply chain and where we're headed. The integration of technology and AI represents both the challenge we face in terms of skilled workers and the tremendous opportunity for those who are willing to embrace these new tools.

04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

In my personal life, family, love, and compassion are really important to me. I recently got married, and family is truly at the center of everything I do. In my workplace, I think respect, innovation, and collaboration of ideas are the values that matter most. These principles guide how I work with my team and approach challenges in supply chain management.

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