Penn State Smeal College of Business introduced Kelly DiMuccio to supply chain and many possibilities the career can bring. The more that she learned about the field, the more she felt a calling to pursue the degree. Through courses such as BA 297A, which taught her how to market herself and speak confidently as a businesswoman, she came to recognize that core functions of supply chain like efficiency and problem solving aligned with her strengths and values.
Today, DiMuccio is a Demand Manager at Mondelez International, a multinational American brand whose confectionery, food, snack and beverage services are some of the largest in the world. DiMuccio joned the company six years ago and has since made her way up from a Transportation Operations Specialist to Location Demand Planner and Demand Analyst to her current role today.
The drive it takes to be successful in supply chain is precisely why DiMuccio loves the field as well as why she is passionate about being a woman in supply chain. “Women in business is growing and it is such an incredible place to be right now,” she said.
Today’s society is continually progressing when it comes to empowering women in STEM fields and supply chain specifically. Along with women increasingly present on executive leadership teams, DiMuccio is also seeing a balancing of the scales in her direct management, noting that she has had as many female managers as male. From the start of her career to this day, she has never experienced any barriers in the field, “which is telling that we are moving in the right direction,” she shared.
“Ultimately, I feel empowered as a woman in supply chain that I can help lead change,” DiMuccio explained. “Supply chain is the backbone of every company and even the entire world, and to have a role in this industry in a time that is constantly changing and growing is incredible.”
The greatest advice that DiMuccio can share with future supply chain students is to gain experience in operations, especially early on. She has found that operations provide young professionals an accurate perspective of the day-to-day hustle and execution phase of the supply chain.
As important as gaining relevant work experience, goal setting and planning for the future is critical to success in any field—supply chain being no exception. For those who want to be challenged in how they think about goals, DiMuccio recommends a book called Atomic Habits. The book has allowed her to focus more on small, daily routines that can build a world of difference in long-term change.
DiMuccio thinks companies could apply the same thinking when it comes to empowering women. She believes that organizations can help women who seek to be business leaders and have a family by providing flexibility, benefits, and support.
“As fewer women are staying home full time today vs. historically, companies that support motherhood will see strong work ethics and results from woman employees who are given the opportunity to do both,” she summarized.
At the end of the day, DiMuccio is excited to be paving the way for future women in supply chain and her roots within the college remain strong as ever.
“Smeal supported me with such a strong network of companies to engage with, as well as the skills necessary to succeed in that arena,” she recalled. “Because Smeal provided me with so many opportunities to grow my career, I want to give back to students who are now in my shoes to offer them the same experiences I had.”