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Women in Leadership - Vanessa Young, Director of Ketra Logistics Ltd.
Name: Vanessa Young
Role: Director
Company: Ketra Logistics Ltd
Please tell us a little bit about yourself: I commenced my career in logistics with TNT International in 2002; today I am a director and shareholder at Ketra Logistics Ltd which has been partnered with Palletways for over 20 years. I place our customers and the staff at Ketra at the heart of every decision I make which is key to my continued business success.
When I am not busy in the world of logistics, I am working on developing my ice skating skills as I started playing ice hockey in January this year.
Why did you decide to go into your chosen field? I must confess when I went to my interview at TNT, I thought it was the South African magazine that used to be around - I was very surprised when it wasn't, but I still got the job.
Once I had started in this industry I was hooked. Transport and logistics is the beating heart of the world and it keeps economy's moving. I love working with such a diverse range of industries and nothing makes me happier than finding solutions to my customers' headaches.
This industry is exciting, it is constantly changing and developing which generates new opportunities, I wouldn't want to work outside of this industry.
What qualifications and work experience did you need to reach your current position? I was not in a position to study when I finished school as had to go straight into work, but when I arrived in the UK, I completed a diploma in Business Studies and was fortunate enough to receive a lot of in house training at TNT which included a Sales Managers qualification
What do you enjoy most about your job/role? What I love the most is that no two days are the same. I love facing challenges head on and where most see problems, I will see opportunities. I love understanding how people work and what makes them tick so I can get the most out of every situation. I love constantly reviewing our systems and implementing change to ensure we are operating as efficiently as possible.
Our customers are important to us so our CS team spend their time making sure that delays are minimized and the supply chain continues to run smoothly, this all will ensure that we have happy customers and that makes me very happy!
Are there any obstacles you had to overcome in your career? Transport and logistics; like many industries out there; was historically male orientated but that has changed and I love to see so many woman in senior positions. There are a variety of forums dedicated to encouraging woman, Women in Logistics being one of them, so it is great to see how that mindset has changed.
Why do you think it is important to have strong female representation in your industry? I think it is vital to have strong female leaders in any industry as there is still a pay gap between genders but with strong representation by strong females, that gap will close. Having a daughter myself, I am very happy to know that there are good role models out there for her to aspire to.
What advice would you give to those wanting to take a similar career path? There is currently a real push to attract young people to a career in logistics as it touches so many industries but still remains one of the least considered career paths. Have a look at this site which has some fantastic information for anyone looking to start a career in logistics https://generationlogistics.org/
Is there anything else you would like to add about your job or about Women In Leadership? I think it is great to shine a light on Women in Leadership as there are so many successful mothers of the great girls at Invicta Grammar who are absolutely worth celebrating!
