Sarah Barnes-Humphrey devoted 20 years of her life to her family’s business, helping to grow the business and infusing it with vitality. Throughout her journey, she took risks, experienced both success and failure, and gained invaluable knowledge and experience. However, when the family business eventually dissolved, Sarah was left with nothing, and her lifelong plan was abruptly halted.
Nevertheless, Sarah refused to give up, and instead, she charted a new course for herself. Despite facing bankruptcy, fear, and loneliness, she persevered because quitting was simply not an option. Her unwavering determination paid off, and she achieved success once again.
Driven by her passion for supply chain and her belief in the power of collaboration, Sarah launched “Let’s Talk Supply Chain (LTSC),” which has become the most popular supply chain podcast in the market. Through this venture, the Blended Podcast and her non-profit The Blended Pledge, Sarah has finally found her true calling and is making a meaningful impact in the industry.
Below are highlights of the interview conducted between World’s Leaders and Sarah Barnes-Humphrey:
Describe who you are as a person, inside and outside of the workplace.
I am a warrior, a survivor, and a work in progress. Outside of the company and inside from an early age, I had to learn how to resilient, and that has led me to always be able to pivot my business mindset.
When I’m not working, I’m an avid sports player (and fan! ), dog-lover, and family person. You can catch me at the baseball fields or spending time with my husband, Alan, eating good local food.
Describe your background and what did you do before you started/joined the company?
It’s a joke of mine, but I grew up talking about supply chain at the dinner table, not boys and trends like your average teenager. After graduating from high school, I went straight into the family business in logistics. Working reception and taking night courses, I worked my way up through operations and sales to my position as Director of Sales and Marketing. Through my education and hands-on experience, I was able to create Let’s Talk Supply Chain in 2018.
Tell us about the inception of the company. How did it all start?
While I was Director of Sales and Marketing, I decided we needed to do something for our brand to stick out. I was listening to a lot of podcasts at the time, and I thought, “Hell, if Lewis Howes can do that, why can’t Sarah Barnes-Humphrey?” That’s when I asked a peer from the customs department to join me as a co-host.
Let’s just say that marketing in the supply chain wasn’t very good at that time. so, tongue-in-cheek, we called the podcast 2 Babes Talk Supply Chain. That was in 2016, and by November 2017 the company shut down, and I was out on my own with guests paying to come on the show.
That’s when I got serious, learned graphic design, social media, and website design. In January 2018, I started the Women in Supply Chain Series, and by April 2018, no women would come on a show called 2 Babes Talk Supply Chain, so I rebranded to Let’s Talk Supply Chain within a week, and the rest is history.
What has made you successful? What do you value?
I think what has made us successful is that we consistently show up! We value the voices in our industry; if they take time out of their day to comment or send a message, we engage right back. We are intentional in how we provide and create content for all members of the supply chain community. Here at Let’s Talk Supply Chain, we’re innovative, always coming up with ideas, and not afraid to fail.
Which are the major services of the company and how do the company to get ahead in the competition? What value-added services does the company provide?
We focus on digital content that will make a difference and make the daily lives of supply chain professionals easier. From podcasts to live shows, we elevate voices in the community.
What are the most important aspects of a company’s culture? What principles do you believe in and how do you build this culture?
We are a team of freelancers from all over the world. One principle I firmly believe in is not being a micromanager. So, we encourage a culture of owning your space and creating safe spaces. That way, everyone feels comfortable reaching out with a challenge, an idea, or an innovation. It fosters a culture of collaboration, which is really important when we are all in different locations.
What is the significance of innovative ideas in the company?
Super important! We really encourage that in everything we do and in every team meeting we have.
Give us your opinion on; do organizations rely heavily on individual heroics or team processes?
Organizations rely heavily on team processes. It is the only way we can keep things running smoothly.
What are your responsibilities as the Founder/CEO of the company? What is the happiest part of your daily routine?
My daily role as the founder includes the vision and execution of new ideas, being the face of the brand, and hosting a lot of our content. It’s a lot of responsibility! My team is incredible, and they are the reason I can do it all. The best part of my daily routine is the connection! I truly enjoy speaking with people about their passions and also hearing from the community when they reach out for feedback, and I know we have made a difference for one person.
What advice would you give someone going into a leadership position for the first time?
We are all works in progress, so take time to listen; learn, and give grace to yourself and your team.
