Paul Hill speaks to some of the most influential female leaders in wholesale to ask about their challenges, what they have learnt, and find out what advice they would give from their years in the channel
Jodie Mansfield, Warehouse Operations Manager, Brakes
What you have learnt from being a female leader in wholesale? Have confidence in yourself and your ability. It’s a tough environment, but make it known that you want to progress. I have been pleasantly surprised by the people who have helped me on my journey. Go for what you want and don’t let a negative experience knock you down or hold you back.
What advice would you give to other females looking to further their career in wholesale? Embrace mentorship and identify the people that can help you develop a successful career. Not every mentor relationship works, but don’t give up, as eventually, you’ll find that one person who inspires you. I was very fortunate to work with Siobhan Afford, one of our Regional Ops Directors, who is fantastic, she really helped me to find what I wanted and then go and get it.
What is the biggest challenge women face in wholesale? In operational roles, it can be difficult to break through the stereotypes. It’s even simple things like people expecting you to make the tea. That may sound trivial, but it’s symptomatic of the challenges that we face in being accepted as equals. My advice is to politely speak up when it happens and ensure that everyone knows we are all in the room on merit.
Louise Lyle, Director of Supply Chain, Bidfood
What you have learnt from being a female leader in wholesale? The biggest lesson is that you can lead in your own way calmly, clearly, and with strong judgement, and still be credible.
Relationships cut through complexity. In a business that’s operationally intense, trust across depots, suppliers, and teams is what gets things done.
What advice would you give to other females looking to further their career in wholesale? Don’t wait for someone to map it out for you. Be specific about the role, scope, or experience you’re aiming for. If you’re looking to build credibility quickly in wholesale, operational, pacey, front-line experience is the place to be! It’s where you learn fastest.
It pays to build a strong network across the business, not just your own team, so cast a wide net from operations, commercial, finance, and supply chain. It gives you context and influence. Don’t shy away from asking for feedback and make sure you act on it. The people who progress fastest are the ones who actively refine how they show up.
What is the biggest challenge women face in wholesale? Many leadership pipelines in wholesale are built from site-based and operational experience, where women are still less visible. While that can limit progression, there’s really started to be a step change here.
There can be a fine line between being seen as confident versus being perceived differently for the same behaviour. It means you often must be more deliberate in how you communicate.
Some parts of the industry still carry legacy thinking about who ‘fits’ operational leadership. Again, that is changing, but continue to work hard and drive your career forward.
Read more: Rowland hands over Women in Wholesale keys to FWD
Jess Douglas, Managing Director, The Wholesale Group
What you have learnt from being a female leader in wholesale? One of the biggest things I’ve learnt is the importance of resilience and confidence in your own decision-making and ability. As a female leader you often have to work hard to ensure your voice is heard and valued. Over time, I’ve learnt that authenticity is one of the strongest leadership qualities you can have and I continue to try and lead through my own set of personal values.
I’ve also learnt the importance of building strong relationships. Wholesale is very much a people business, and collaboration, trust and communication are critical. Creating opportunities for others and supporting diverse talent has become an important part of my leadership approach too and I’ve worked with some incredible women and seen them grow in their confidence and roles, which is so rewarding.
What advice would you give to other females looking to further their career in wholesale?
My advice is to (try!) and be confident in your abilities and do not wait until you feel ‘100% ready’ before taking opportunities. Some of the biggest career growth comes from stepping outside your comfort zone, they certainly have done for me at times I was not expecting or necessarily prepared for. I would also encourage women to build strong networks, seek mentors, and make their achievements visible. Wholesale can be demanding and competitive, so having people around you who support and challenge you is incredibly valuable. This is where connections through FWD events can be a huge support. There are amazing people, not just women, that can provide you with invaluable advice and support.
What is the biggest challenge women face in wholesale? While the industry has made positive progress, one of the biggest challenges can still be visibility and representation of women in senior leadership roles. In some environments, women can still feel they need to prove themselves more consistently or work harder to gain the same recognition. Balancing leadership responsibilities alongside personal commitments can also be a challenge, particularly in a modern world that can require constant responsiveness. However, I believe wholesale is changing for the better and flexible working patterns is helping this.
