Coordinating overall logistics with an intent to minimize cost and maximize the efficiency of the supply chain, Jessica Burgess redefines the way of thinking about sales, business development, and revenue growth. As the Director of Business Development at Ruby Has Fulfilment, she empowers her team to become the best they can be and drives to create a positive culture grounded in a companywide vision of success.
Insights Success caught up with Jessica in its search to find “The 10 Most Influential Women in Supply Chain.” We got into a conversation with her to understand how she utilizes consultative and solution-based selling while delivering and sustaining revenue and profit gains within multiple markets.
Below are the highlights of the interview.
Brief our audience about your journey as a business leader until your current position at Ruby Has Fulfillment. What challenges have you had to overcome to reach where you are today?
I began in this industry nearly a decade ago and worked my way up from a representative to the Director of Business Development. One of the biggest hurdles throughout this journey occurred several years ago. I had to step out of my comfort zone and move myself and my 2-year-old son 8 hours away from our friends and family. Balancing motherhood, a career, and personal life is never an easy task, but doing it without any support is something else entirely. During this trying year, I truly learned what I was capable of (and gained an incredible appreciation for my mother).
Tell us something more about your company and its mission and vision.
At Ruby Has, our mission is to be true partners to our clients. To deliver an unparalleled service to brands as they scale and to maintain real relationships with our clients. No brand is a number to us, everyone has a name, and we excel because of those relationships. Our vision is to maintain these best practices while we continue to grow and expand both domestically and internationally.
Enlighten us on how you have made an impact in the Logistics & Supply Chain niche through your expertise in the market?
Logistics and supply chain is very similar to any other business field in that it is male-dominated. Simply being a woman leader in this space is impactful, but I would say my biggest impact has been on those who have, or currently do, report to me. The experience and knowledge that I gained on my way up the proverbial ladder have proven to be critical to my ability to lead and mold a successful team. My ultimate professional goal is not tied to numbers or quotas but rather to cultivate a happy, motivated team of experts who are equipped to go out and kill it every day.
Describe in detail the values and the work culture that drives your organization.
Ruby Has is a company that values its employees. I strive to place a similar emphasis on a healthy culture amongst my team. We reward hard work and a job well done, and we also correct and mentor with empathy and compassion. People first is the motto of Ruby Has and it applies to both our clients and our staff.
Undeniably, technology is playing a significant role in almost every sector. How are you leveraging technological advancements to make your solutions resourceful?
Cutting-edge technology is a requirement for any fulfillment company that expects to be reliable at scale. Our combination of automation, robotics, and actual boots on the ground is key to our success. The technology behind our strategic robotics systems allows us to get orders picked and packed at a rate that no team of workers could accomplish; however, those workers allow us to offer more flexibility than most companies our size. We have orchestrated the perfect balance and have entire teams responsible for staying current on the next advancement in the space.
If given a chance, what change would you like to bring in the Inventory Storage & Management industry?
I would like to see increased education for entrepreneurs who are just getting started. So frequently, we see brands that have grown quickly but whose packaging and labeling haven’t grown along with their business. Nearly all fulfillment companies that are technologically advanced require barcodes, but brands are often caught off guard when they hear this. Even medium to enterprise-size companies delay making this transition until it is too late. Barcode everything and plan your packaging accordingly from the beginning. That is the message I would like to get to anyone even considering going into the ecommerce space because it will greatly impact their inventory management capabilities.
What, according to you, could be the next big change in the Supply Chain industry? How is your company preparing to be a part of that change?
I think online shopping and direct-to-consumer sales are both here to stay, so the next big changes will be improvements in transportation, both globally and domestically, that ease some of the problems we’ve seen and increase shipping capacity. There will always be something changing; it’s the nature of the business. Ruby Has is here to help facilitate change and growth for our clients.
Where do you envision yourself to be in the long run, and what are your future goals for Ruby Has Fulfillment?
I am positive that Ruby Has Fulfillment will continue to evolve along with the ecommerce industry. We are constantly adding new technology and new partners to stay ahead of the needs of our clients. I envision myself being right here, assisting in that growth by bringing new clients through the door and growing a team of professionals who are motivated to do the same.
What would be your advice to budding entrepreneurs who aspire to venture into the Supply Chain sector?
Do it! Even if you have to start at the bottom and work your way up, you should dive in headfirst. This is an industry that is growing at an unbelievable rate, and it isn’t going anywhere. Imagine if you could have gotten into the auto industry early on or the cell phone industry back when they were the size of handbags! Every year, more and more people buy more and more of their items online, and there has never been a better chance to get in on the excitement.
Jessica Burgess, Director of Business Development, Ruby Has Fulfillment
