Celebrating International Women’s Day, MDS Directors Nicola Tilley and Emily Cooper took to the All Things Business – The Podcast for the special 50th episode.
As two leading ladies in logistics who have succeeded in a particularly male-dominated industry, All Things Business Director Ben Thomas asks what International Women’s Day means to both Nicola and Emily. Emily thinks it’s an event to celebrate. Particularly as they have seen first-hand the prejudice and perceptions that women confront within the industry. While they have succeeded despite such challenges, Nicola reflects on the opposition they faced earlier in their business beginnings, believing it fuelled their ethic. Nowadays, they are thrilled to see more women in the logistics sector at a range of levels. The number of women drivers however, remains very low as a percentage when compared with male peers.
Ben asks what advice would the Directors give to a young woman interested within the sector?
They say it comes down to having a quality network, properly researching your industry, and having a great partner or cohort around you to bounce off, share the workload and do business with.
The episode closes with Mrs & Mrs and it’s a round that will be hard to beat. Who makes most of the decisions? In a nice display of humility, they pick each other. Who is the most likely to get lost on their way to a client meeting? Emily. Best networker? Nikki.
Whose desk is the cleanest? Emily. Always a hot point of contention though, whose dog is cuter? Of course, they prove their loyalty and both pick their own. Who’s the biggest party animal? Nikki. Who is the fittest? Emily, but it depends on the activity.
If anything, the entertaining exercise truly demonstrates the balance between them both. Ultimately showing the directors make for a great female-led team and is testament to their continued success within the Northamptonshire business community.
Listen to the full podcast.