Lisa DiCarlo, Senior Innovation Planning Manager at Unilever
DiCarlo is now a Senior Innovation Planning Manager at Unilever, corporate sponsor of the Center for Supply Chain Research®. In her position, she focuses on applying her skills in supply chain optimization, production planning, demand planning, and demand forecasting for the multinational consumer goods company.
She has been part of the Unilever family for 14 years, finding that the company's equal opportunities and focus on diversity and inclusion profoundly align with her personal vision and values. DiCarlo finds that mentorship was her biggest aid in leading a long-term career with the same company— her mentors have been empathetic, kind, empowering and she recommends all students to find the same.
"My strongest female mentor early on in my career helped me focus on holding people accountable," DiCarlo shared. "She also gave me helpful feedback about how I can be timid and how that can affect my working environment; she then provided great suggestions on how I could develop and become recognized as a strong female lead."
To this end, DiCarlo wants all new supply chain majors to know that they can do anything they set their minds to— as long as they are willing to put in the work.
"Get as much experience you can in different areas of the supply chain," she advised. "Take that job— even if it sounds like an unattractive location, so that you can get the experience and develop different skills that will not only make you a more marketable candidate for future roles but also will help you learn your strengths as a future leader."
This is especially true as the supply chain continues to evolve, whether it be with increasing focus on digital or cold supply chains, or keeping in mind the increasing expectations of consumers who are now seeing the impact of smooth supply chains first hand.
"The pandemic has helped bring to life what it is that I do— we do— and the challenges that us supply chain professional face on a daily basis," she explained. "It made things real for everyone else and it made us in supply chain VERY busy!"
DiCarlo looks forward to the future of the field, predicting that companies will begin to focus on more innovation, automation and cost savings for 2022.