The CEO Forum Group Magazine Business 2023 (1) - Flipbook - Page 27
President Int’l, UPS Global Healthcare & Supply Chain Solutions
my boss to let me fly back to Japan to try again. This
time, I won the sale.
I learned a lot from that experience—and not just
how to take my lumps. That early failure led to a
triumph that taught me never to give up, to accept
feedback and be willing to adapt.
“CEOs need to know that
UPS’s culture of constructive
dissatisfaction spurs us to pursue
continuous improvements.”
What advice do you have for women who want to
move into the C-Suite?
Get a seat at the table where decisions are made,
and insist your voice is heard. It’s not always easy,
but it’s vital.
For women early in their careers, I encourage you to:
• Embrace new opportunities. Young professionals must
demonstrate that they’re capable of continuously learning
and growing. Ask for opportunities that will broaden your
skillset. And be sure to demonstrate that you have handled
your assigned workload before doing so.
• Be adaptable. That means saying yes to new opportunities,
especially when they push you out of your comfort zone.
Embracing challenges is the best way to grow your skills.
• Learn from your failures. At some point in your career,
you will fail. We all do. Treat every failure as a learning
opportunity and remain positive even when you’re
discouraged. Channel that frustration into determination.
• Know your priorities. Balancing the priorities in your life
is tricky. Achieving the right work-life balance is all about
managing your time and being present in each moment. No
matter what life stage you’re in, staying prepared for gamechanging career opportunities will keep you flexible. Always
anticipate the complex decisions, and know your answer
before the opportunity arises.
Kate Gutmann is Executive Vice President
(EVP) and President International,
Healthcare and Supply Chain Solutions.
A member of the company’s Executive
Leadership Team, Kate oversees all of the
company’s business operations outside
of U.S. small package. She is responsible
for all international small package
and transportation operations, all the
international sales teams, as well as global
healthcare, global supply chain solutions
and global revenue operations. Kate had
served as EVP of Global Healthcare and
Chief Sales and Solutions Officer. Earlier in
her career, Kate had responsibility for the
executive management of The UPS Store®
and UPS Capital®. She was also President
of Worldwide Sales and Vice President of
Marketing for the UPS Europe Region, based
in Brussels, in which capacity she oversaw
the development of rates, services and
pricing policy in more than 100 countries.
Kate serves on the World Economic Forum
Board of Stewards for Trade Technology.
Kate is also co-founder of the UPS Reading
Clubs at the Boys & Girls Club of Metro
Atlanta. A native of Troy, New York, Kate
began her UPS career in 1989 as a marketing
intern while earning her bachelor’s degree in
marketing from Siena College.
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