Charlyn Asher is the president and CEO of Colt Paper and Antoine Fulfillment, divisions of Asher Industries Inc. Her impressive achievements throughout her 23-year career are a testament to her perseverance, dedication, and unwavering commitment. Charlyn’s success is especially noteworthy as she is the first and only Black female president in Canada’s corrugated and shipping supplies industry, which is male-dominated.
Charlyn was born in Windsor Forest, a peaceful village in Grenada, and had humble beginnings. She moved to Canada at 18 years old, determined to transform her life into something remarkable. Despite facing various challenges, such as having no Canadian work experience, lacking immigration papers, only holding a high school diploma, and having a distinct dialect, Charlyn remained steadfast in her pursuit of becoming a successful entrepreneur.
Her ability to overcome adversity and break down barriers has enabled her to reach unparalleled heights in her career. Charlyn is a true inspiration to many, and her accomplishments serve as a testament to the power of determination and hard work.
Below are highlights of the interview conducted between World’s Leaders and Charlyn Asher:
Describe your background and what did you do before you started/joined the company?
Before starting Antione Fulfillment, I had a diverse professional background that began at the age of 18 as a child care provider. My journey then led me to work in warehouses, starting as a helper on a production line and working my way up to becoming an order picker and packer. In my early twenties, I decided to transition from working in warehouses to working in offices. My first office role was as a logistics clerk, and then I held positions as a customer service representative, Warehouse supervisor, and logistics, warehouse, and purchasing manager for an international company. Through these experiences, I developed a range of skills and self-discipline. Each position was a stepping stone towards my ultimate goal of becoming the president of two companies.
Tell us about the inception of the company. How did it all start?
In 2017, I purchased Colt Paper, an 87-year-old custom box and packaging supplies company in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Having a background in warehousing, supply chain, and logistics, it was a logical decision to venture into that world. This was not a job to me; it was a passion; I loved it, and I’m knowledgeable about all aspects of the supply chain. It made sense to use this transferable knowledge to offer a hybrid version to potential customers and set ourselves apart from the competition. The overflow warehouse space gave birth to Antoine Fulfillment in 2017.
What has made you successful? What do you value?
Success can be measured from one human being to another; one of the two things that have made me successful is adapting and evolving to the many changing complexities of our business world. Over the past five years, I have discovered ways to pivot and secure steady growth for both Colt Paper and Antoine Fulfillment. The second is wowing our customers with exceptional customer service. We can fulfill each customer’s needs through flexibility, availability, and a commitment to growth at every service level.
To me, Integrity is the most important value in business. In a world where money influences behavior, it can be challenging to make ethical decisions and remain true to oneself. Establishing a foundation of integrity and honesty with employees, customers, and colleagues helps to establish credibility and a positive reputation in the industry.
Which are the major services of the company and how do they help the company to get ahead in the competition? What value-added services does the company provide?
Antoine Fulfillment was established in 2017 to bridge the gap between the international supply chain, giving its customers a space for brand recognition in the Canadian market. Today, Antoine Fulfillment is one of the leading full-service supply chain management companies in Toronto, Canada, focusing on warehousing, logistics, fulfillment, and distribution. By facilitating business transactions between companies, their customers, and end users. We can help our clients keep the promises they make to their customers. serving both domestic and international markets. We pick, pack, and prepare orders using our clients’ exact specifications. Our services and processing times surpass those of our competitors, leaving our customers speechless. Our business model strives to be detail-oriented and efficient and keeps our customers’ needs at the forefront.
What are the most important aspects of a company’s culture? What principles do you believe in and how do you build this culture?
Recognition: At Antoine Fulfillment, we like to create a culture of recognition to retain our employees and encourage high employee performance while keeping them engaged. Our employees’ well-being and ensuring they are fairly compensated and recognized for their hard work are of the utmost importance.
Leadership: At the helm of any great company is its leader. Our leadership is dependably strong, creates a positive work environment, and has empathy.
I believe in recognition, as our employees are the heart and soul of our company, and rewarding them for going above and beyond to satisfy our customers’ needs is no brainer.
What is the significance of innovative ideas in the company?
One of the main challenges that warehousing faces today is having the capacity and flexibility to adapt to customers’ ever-changing needs. We have seen a sharp increase in e-commerce and online shopping, igniting the demand for fulfillment and warehousing. It’s more cost-effective to keep up with this demand. Several innovative processes were implemented, including a new, more modern cloud-based warehouse management system with shipping integrations to all the major courier providers in Canada. With the implementation of faster picking, packing, and delivery times, we can efficiently pick up orders within one hour of receipt for same-day or next-day delivery.
Give us your opinion on; do organizations rely heavily on individual heroics or team processes?
There is no place in an organization for heroic individuals. A company must emphasize the value of teamwork processes and team building.No single person or persons can keep a company from reaching its full potential. It takes a team of committed individuals to achieve an organization’s success.
What are your responsibilities as the CEO of the company? What is the happiest part of your daily routine?
As a hands-on CEO, I am involved in various aspects of our business, including loading and unloading trucks, picking and packing, managing inventory, assembling packaging, reworking loads during transit, dispatching, and using warehouse equipment such as electric pump trucks. I believe in being a well-versed leader and providing direction to my team. I am capable of excelling at multitasking, and I do not let my gender limit what I can accomplish in a male-dominated industry.
The most fulfilling part of my daily routine is successfully managing all aspects of the supply chain with the satisfaction of our customers in mind.
What advice would you give someone going into a leadership position for the first time?
As a leader, it’s essential to understand the individuality of each team member to manage them effectively. A great leader focuses on teamwork rather than micromanaging and is fearless when working alongside their team. Actively listen to your employees, address their concerns, and show them that their input is valued in the organization. A good leader should possess knowledge about their job, be humble, have confidence, lead by example, and strive to make their team successful.
