Insight
This year’s International Women’s Day is encouraging organisations to step forward and show their support to accelerate action for gender equality.
It’s no surprise that the logistics and tech industries are often perceived as male dominated sectors, but here at Thinventory we want to take the opportunity to shine a spotlight and recognise the contributions of some of the women that work in our business across various roles.
In the next two posts we will be sharing a series of interviews with women across our organisation, asking them to share their career journey, celebrate their achievements and give us an insight into their roles and experiences at Thinventory.
In this piece, we’re focusing on operations and have spoken to, Kate Harling, Head of Project Management and Ana Scutaru, Warehouse Team Leader.
Tell us a bit about yourself
Kate: I’m Kate Harling, Head of Project Management at Thinventory. I live in South Yorkshire with my husband of 23 years, our son and 3 cats. My daughter is further north away at university. In my spare time I like to read, swim and socialise with a close group of friends, I like aeroplanes and cars, watching motor racing and attending car shows. I adore Italy; the beautiful beaches, scenery and the food and am looking forward to visiting again in the summer.
Ana : I’m Ana, and I work at Thinventory as a Team Leader. I have a strong background in logistics, and I really enjoy being part of a fast-paced, problem-solving environment. I’m passionate about teamwork, efficiency, and continuous improvement, and I always strive to make a positive impact in my role.
Share your career journey so far
Kate: My A-Levels didn’t exactly go to plan so my career started selling books and stationery for an independent retailer on the high street! After a few years I moved away and started working for a stationery wholesaler. I stayed with them for 19 years, moving from a specialist sales team, into commercial management (which included product pricing, managing P&L) and then into project management following a company merger, working on the blend of the two companies, then warehouse builds and ERP replacement project. I joined ByBox as it was then in 2014 as a project manager, initially working on a series of operational projects including UK wide locker replacement and large-scale customer implementations. I then spent a few years in the R&D team, mainly focussing on project governance, but also as a temporary Product Owner. I then focussed on the PMO (Project Management Office) implementing a Gate Process Structure and then in 2022 I was promoted to head of project management. With a team of project managers and Implementation teams we ensure any new customers and business is onboarded swiftly and successfully and always focussed on the engineer and customer experience. We also support internal improvement projects, operational rollouts of our software etc.
Ana: I started as a warehouse operative, then I’ve been promoted as an admin for a few months and after that I step up as a team leader and gradually worked my way up by gaining experience in my current role. Over the years, I’ve developed strong leadership, organisation, and problem-solving skills, which have helped me progress. Now, I’m working towards further growth in leadership and contributing to the success of my team!
How would you describe working at Thinventory?
Kate: Fun, busy, chaotic, sometimes frustrating, but ultimately rewarding! Whilst we’re a large company, and have grown significantly since I started, I still feel we’ve kept the smaller company vibe! Thinventory is very supportive, particularly through difficult times and I have a great team around me too.
Ana: Thinventory is a dynamic and fast-moving workplace where teamwork and efficiency are key. I enjoy the collaborative culture and the opportunities to learn and grow. Every day brings new challenges, but it’s rewarding to see how our work contributes to the bigger picture.
What is your proudest achievement?
Kate: Honestly – teaching my daughter how to sew when she was 8! She’s now studying Costume Design and is amazing with a needle! I’m proud that I had a hand in that! Work wise – in 2020 we delivered the biggest customer onboarding project Thinventory has seen so far, requiring us to almost double the size of the network to accommodate over 10,000 engineers. Then COVID hit, and we continued when so many things stopped, hit every deadline and delivered the project on time. A massive team effort but I’m so proud to have been the PM on that!
Ana: One of my proudest achievements was when I’ve been asked to help our site in Warrington, and I’ve been recognized by our customer. It was a moment that really showed me how much I had grown in my career and how my contributions make a difference.
Which women inspire you the most?
Kate: Hannah Waddingham – so talented, seeing great success later in life (for the entertainment industry!) never gave up on her goals and is just stunning! Michelle Obama – so much more ‘just’ a First Lady, incredibly successful in her own right, a great mum and an amazing support to her husband.
Ana: I’m inspired by women who break barriers and make a difference in their industries, like Lisa Lisson who leads FedEx Express in Canada. Lisa’s determination reminds me that anything is possible with hard work and perseverance.
What is the most important piece of advice you have been given?
Kate: That advice can be given, but it’s always up to you whether you take it or not! Also, life is short, eat the cake!
Ana: One of the best pieces of advice I’ve received is to believe in myself and never be afraid to take on new challenges. Growth comes from stepping outside your comfort zone, and every challenge is an opportunity to learn and improve.
Have you experienced challenges in your career and how have you overcome these?
Kate: I think I’ve been lucky through my career, but there’s always difficult times. Balancing having children, whilst still growing my career was definitely a challenge, and yes I was that person running in late to a nativity or parents evening! I think that experience of coming back to work, initially part time and then building back up and seeking promotion and new challenges has stayed with me (even after all these years!) I have empathy for those in similar circumstances and understand the battle of a work life balance and how hard we have to work to move forwards in our careers.
Ana: Yes, like many people, I’ve faced challenges such as adapting to change (as mentioned before I’ve been asked to work in different sites with new people and processes) and balancing my responsibilities. I’ve overcome these by staying focused, being open to learning, and seeking support from my colleagues. Persistence and a positive attitude have helped me navigate tough situations.
How can companies in technology / logistics encourage more females into the business?
Kate: I’m surprised that schools are still struggling to entice females into STEM subjects; I saw this when I was at school many years ago when considering a future in engineering and now the world relies so heavily on Tech to function and logistics to support everything we need, do or buy! Companies could get close to schools, colleges and universities and really focus of the positive stories of successful personnel. Thinking about the more traditional aspects of what might exclude females (childcare etc) the flexibility afforded by home working, particularly in the technology sector is a massive benefit these days, people can often work around school runs and bedtimes. Logistics is a 24 hour operation, again if needing to work around other commitments, there are bound to be shifts that work! I also believe that you may not jump in at the level you might want initially, but working hard pays off (in my experience!)
Ana: Companies can encourage more women by promoting awareness of opportunities in the industry, offering mentorship programs, and creating an inclusive workplace culture. Providing equal growth opportunities and highlighting successful female role models can also inspire more women to follow careers in logistics and technology.