167: Women in Supply Chain, May Shu

May Shu, today’s woman in supply chain, has nurtured an impressive career with our friends over at Fastenal. Originally from China, she’s now making waves in the logistics industry state-side. A dynamic and innovative supply chain professional with over 15 years of experience with Fastenal, May has a focus on people development, driving process efficiencies, and developing scalable solutions for tomorrow’s business needs in collaboration with multiple departments across the globe. Today May will be talking to us about her career so far, her approach to self-improvement and why she stays so loyal to Fastenal. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [03.30] May’s background and how she went from a degree in forestry to a career in logistics. “The more I got into it, the more excited I was with the opportunities – as soon as I accomplished one thing, there was another thing waiting!” [05.29] May’s role at Fastenal. [06.37] Why May moved from Shanghai to a small town in the USA – and how the stability of Fastenal’s culture helped ease the transition. [09.13] What makes Fastenal such a good company to work for. “We invest heavily in people, we have amazing training programs… and we have a promote from within model.” [10.25] Supply chain: why May loves it, and why it’s so important.  “Supply chain is the key piece that connects everything!” [12.07] How Fastenal’s customer-centric approach makes them such a dynamic and ever-changing business. [13.59] The challenges May and her team faced in 2020. [16.11] From continued demand for safety products to the importance of agility and being prepared for the unexpected, the trends and challenges to watch out for in 2021. [18.34] May’s approach to self-development and building confidence. “It’s still a daily challenge – I’m still building my confidence with a series of small wins every day.” [22.22] What May has learned about herself on her journey so far, and what the future holds. “I know that my personal growth is never done.” [24.04] “Don’t be afraid of stepping out of your comfort zone” – May’s words of advice for women and girls following in her footsteps.   RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED: Head over to LinkedIn to connect with May and find out more. As a company focused on supply chain partnerships, Fastenal is proud to sponsor this piece of Women In Supply Chain. With more than 100,000 point-of-use vending machines around the world, Fastenal is dedicated to helping organizations lower their total cost of ownership. Learn more here. Check out our other podcasts HERE.