Driving Progress: Jeanine Ubl and the Power of Women in Logistics

Supply chain research firm Gartner, in partnership with the supply chain women leadership group AWESOME, found that women make up 41% of the overall supply chain workforce, according to the 10th Annual Women in Supply Chain Report.

While it was once rare to see women in management roles within supply chain, Evans Transportation Chief Accounting Officer, Jeanine Ubl notes that the landscape has shifted significantly. She observes, “We are seeing women thrive in every area – from corporate leadership and finance to carrier procurement. At Evans, we are part of an organization that actively celebrates these achievements, enabling women to move from being the ‘exception’ to essential leaders who drive the industry forward.”

“Professionally, [March] is a month to celebrate the achievements we are making right now and to ensure we are building bridges for the next generation of women to succeed even further than we have,” according to Jeanine.

In celebration of Women’s History Month, Evans Transportation is highlighting her accomplishments and perspective that women have in the industry and at Evans Transportation.

The Road to Evans

Building on her extensive experience at organizations such as the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve, the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, Oshkosh Corporation, Johnson Controls, and DRS Technologies, Jeanine was recruited to Evans in 2019 to create and lead an in-house accounting and finance department, addressing a function that had previously been outsourced to a third party.

Since then, Jeanine has scaled her team to 13 members and describes it as a ‘true team’ in which everyone jumps in to help each other with no finger-pointing. Her leadership has strengthened the company’s financial oversight and overall health while creating greater efficiencies – a key component as the company continues to grow year over year.

According to Jeanine, Evans is a “people-first” organization with a culture rooted in heart and hustle. “As a family-owned, mid-sized enterprise, every employee can have a direct impact on Evans’ bottom line. This visibility allows women to take ownership of their roles, lead strategic initiatives, and see the tangible results of their work.”

This visibility is reflected by women throughout the team helping to sway culture in a strong way, ensuring the Evans Experience for all customers is executed at a high-degree. From a leadership standpoint, Chief Accounting Officer Jeanine Ubl has seen first hand how Evans Transportation positions women for a career of success in the industry.

Women in Logistics

Indeed, Jeanine’s journey has been driven by a passion for process improvement and efficiency – a mindset that she believes fits perfectly within the complex, fast-moving world of logistics.

Logistics is an industry defined by constant change and volatility. “Diversity of perspective is our greatest tool for innovation; it allows us to look at a problem, like a broken supply chain process, from multiple angles to find the most efficient solution,” said Jeanine. “When we bring together different backgrounds, we move beyond ‘how it’s always been done,' to develop the proactive, tailor-made solutions our shippers depend on.”

Despite reaching an industry high of 41% of the overall supply chain workforce consisting of women, Gartner and AWESOME’s analysis found that the industry is facing new challenges: representation is slipping across all management levels. After years of steady gains, the pipeline for early-career female leaders has declined, and the percentage of female chief supply chain officers (CSCOs) recently dropped by six points to 11% – the lowest since 2019.

“My advice is to ‘aim higher’ and don’t be afraid to spread your wings. The industry is no longer just about moving trucks; it’s about data, strategy, and relationship building,” Jeanine advises women considering a career in supply chain. “Find a mentor, embrace ‘the journey’ and look for a company that values your voice” she said. 

Even at the leadership level, Jeanine is consistently applying these practices herself. She has intentionally pushed herself beyond her ‘safe-zone’ by engaging in several groups. These include TEMPO, an organization of more than 500 executive women and nearly 300 emerging women leaders, and The Association for Corporate Growth (ACG), a networking group for middle-market companies powering Wisconsin’s economy.

How Women are Influencing Logistics Trends

When asked about what industry trends are most exciting, Jeanine noted Evans’ focus on and use of data analytics and the new proprietary technology the company is developing. “As we expand our footprint internationally and enhance our service offerings, women’s ability to balance high-tech solutions with human-centric leadership will be the key to our continued evolution.”