A Word from Christine Boucher, Director, Columbus Region Logistics Council |
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Geopolitics of SC&L in 2024
With only one month left of 2023, if there was a Jeopardy question about “the top trends in supply chain and logistics for 2024”, your answer would/could be, “What is AI, blockchain, supply chain resilience, sustainability initiatives, and e-commerce?”. But, you also wouldn’t want to leave out data-driven decision making, regulatory changes and trade dynamics, labor and talent, and customer centric approaches. (Go ahead…Google it!)
With a presidential election year coming up in 2024, all of what we know now is subject to change based on the direction the wind blows during the presidential race. Elections have a notable impact on supply chain and logistics to the extent of influence based on factors including specific policies and agendas of the elected candidate, prevailing economic conditions, geopolitical factors, and the global landscape.
What are some ways a presidential election can affect the supply chain and logistics industry? Here is a list:
- Trade Policies – Tariffs and Trade Agreements
- Regulations and Compliance – Environmental regulations and labor law
- Infrastructure Investment – Infrastructure spending
- Global Relations and Geopolitical Stability – Diplomatic relations and sanctions and trade disputes
- Economic Policies – fiscal policies
- Technology and Innovation Policies – R&D
- Market Sentiment and Confidence – Investor confidence
- Long-Term Strategic Planning – Uncertainty and planning
While presidential elections can have a significant impact, they are one of many factors influencing the industry. The actual influence may differ based on the specific actions taken by the elected administration and how they align with the broader global trends and economic conditions, but don’t be fooled that this is just a national issue. Many of our legislatures in our own backyards are influential too in what happens here closer to home.
Do you have an issue with supply chain and logistics you would like us to research and address? Contact Christine Boucher, Director of the Columbus Region Logistics Council at christineboucher@columbus.org.
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CRLC Upcoming Meetings & Events |
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CRLC Upcoming Meetings & Events in 2024 |
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Mark your calendars!
- March 14 (morning) – Women in Supply Chain & Logistics
- June 13 (morning) – Supply Chain 360: Embracing Circular Economies and Sustainability
- August 15 (all day) – Supply Chain Evolution
- December 12 (evening) – Mixer with CSCMP
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The Material Handling Education Foundation | Call for Scholarships for 2024 |
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Join the CRLC LinkedIn Group. Our CRLC business network is a catalyst for advocacy and promoting a competitive logistics industry in Central Ohio. Connect with shippers, manufacturers, cargo and freight carriers, warehouse, distribution providers, third-party logistics, and service providers to the logistics industry.
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Kelly Fuller, VP of Talent & Workforce Development
Reach out directly to the VP of Talent & Workforce Development, Kelly Fuller, at KellyFuller@columbus.org for more information.
Workforce Report | Nothing Soft About “Soft Skills”
In the course of the last 3 years, and over 1200 workforce consultations with members, I have been part of countless conversations with HR and Talent professionals where the topic is the importance of “soft skills” in the workplace.
“Just help me find people who are adaptable and hard working. I can teach them the technical part of the job.”
“Our team could really use a great communicator who manages their time well We can always train them on how to use the equipment.”
“Problem solving is the number 1 attribute our company needs! And, if the person can be an empathetic listener, that would be an amazing asset to our workplace.”
Here are the most in-demand soft skills according to a survey conducted by LinkedIn:
- Creativity
- Persuasion
- Collaboration
- Adaptability
- Time Management
A common theme across industry sectors is the difficulty in finding employees who can demonstrate proficiency in what we refer to as “soft skills”. In fact, we could argue that hard skills are soft (they change all the time, are constantly going obsolete, and are relatively easy to learn), and soft skills are hard (they are difficult to build, critical, and take extreme effort and time to obtain).
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Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Access Update |
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Sherrice Thomas, VP of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Access
Reach out directly to the VP of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Access, Sherrice Thomas, at SherriceThomas@columbus.org for more information.
Unlocking the Power of Inclusive Excellence
Are your DEIA initiatives truly reaching their full potential? If not, consider unlocking a key catalyst, the Inclusive Excellence competency. Leaders who embody this competency establish a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere that amplifies the success of all employees. Key behaviors linked to this competency include:
- Embrace the significance of diversity, equity, inclusion, and access
- Seek, engage, and respect diverse perspectives
- Identify and address bias at personal, process, and organizational levels
- Recognize and dismantle barriers to inclusion at personal, process, and organizational levels
- Encourage the participation of all individuals
- Mitigate power imbalances and hierarchical dynamics
Cultivating the Inclusive Excellence competency serves as a pivotal driver in crafting a more inclusive and equitable environment and propelling other DEIA initiatives forward. To delve deeper into this transformative journey, apply for the upcoming Next Level DEIA cohort.
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Upcoming Meetings and Events |
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