Vanessa Nawn

I attribute my success to my self-assurance and the importance I place on relationships. Every decision I make and the way that I move professionally and personally is rooted in being very confident in the person that I am and the person that I want to present to the world, both personally and professionally. I also take friendships very seriously, and my professional relationships very seriously, and I think those two things have really helped propel me and catapult me into my career. The more I've been in the industry and in my career, I've realized that the world is so much smaller than it seems, and there's so much overlap. Being able to maintain positive relationships and always leave a good impression is really important to me. I think that combination of confidence in myself and valuing the connections I build with others has been key to getting where I am today.

My dad growing up used to always say that there is no traffic jam on the extra mile, and that advice has really been instilled in me. I think it's really easy to show up and be like, okay, I'm clocking in, I'm clocking out, but if you just do that one extra thing, or give yourself a goal to accomplish one more thing that day, or see if you can help someone in an additional way - I think that really helps set you apart in the industry, in any field that you're in really. It also solidifies yourself as an asset to whatever company or team you're a part of. As a kid, you're like, whatever, but the more I've grown, I realize parents are right the majority of the time. That piece of advice from my dad has stuck with me and continues to guide how I approach my work every single day.

I would tell them to go for it, because I think our industry needs more women. Being in logistics and warehousing is very male-dominated, and I think there's something to be said for the women that do work in the field. Everyone I've met is very hardworking, driven, and collaborative. I think I've met so many amazing women in the industry that I'm in, and because we also touch a lot of different other industries, there are so many opportunities. While it may not seem glamorous on the outside, I'd say give it a chance and go for it. There are so many ways that you can move within the industry, and it really opens up a lot of different doors that you may not know were there previously. Don't let the fact that it's male-dominated discourage you - embrace the opportunity to be part of the change and connect with the incredible women who are already making their mark.

Right now, specifically in the space I'm in with 3PLs and third-party logistics, it's very competitive. The tariff situation is also very impactful because we work with a lot of brands in fashion and apparel, and situations sometimes outside your control make it really difficult to do your job every day. Brands are sensitive, and margins are important, so figuring out how we as a team can support the brands we work with in the best way possible is a constant challenge. The space being competitive also makes things difficult because we're all kind of trying to go after the same thing, so the question becomes how can you differentiate yourself in that environment. It's about finding ways to stand out and provide value when everyone is facing the same external pressures and competing for the same clients.

Work-life balance is very important to me, and I know that sometimes that's looked down upon when you say you want work-life balance, but I think it's important to be able to have hobbies and interests outside of work because it fulfills you professionally. The way that I can balance doing things that I love makes me show up as a better employee and as a better person in the workplace. Relationships are also incredibly important to me - being able to have professional relationships and personal relationships, and ultimately the goal is for them to be one and the same in some cases. I feel really fortunate to be able to be friends with the people that I work with and take it beyond just a workplace relationship. Those two things - maintaining balance so I can pursue my passions like skiing and hockey, and building genuine connections with the people around me - are what matter most to me in both my work and personal life.