Now in their 15th year, the Everywoman in Transport & Logistics Awards celebrate the vital contribution women make to transport and logistics showcasing progression, accomplishments and increasing avenues of opportunity within a traditionally male-dominated industry. The 2022 Woman of the Year Award was given to Faye Calland, Senior Manager – Same Day Operations at FedEx, a position she has held since 2015. The judges were impressed by her 25 years of experience and success across several roles, from implementing reorganisations to introducing technology that delivered a £2.4m annual saving to the business. An active mentor, group coach and lead chair of the FedEx Women Inclusion Network (WIL), she has been instrumental in increasing the network’s membership by 138% to 400 members which includes over 50 male colleagues. Empowering these members to be male agents of change is important to Calland. She tells Warehouse & Logistics News why she thinks she won the award.
How do you feel to have won the Woman of the Year award?
It makes me feel absolutely ecstatic and it’s definitely been the highlight of my year so far. To be named the 2022 Woman of the Year was a real honour. I’m passionate about encouraging more women into the sector and building their skills, so to have my career achievements recognised made me especially happy. The moment my name was read out, I was in shock, and since then I’ve received so many kind messages – it’s been so overwhelming.
How long have you worked in the logistics industry and what roles have you served in?
This year marks my 25th year in the logistics sector, so pretty much my entire career has been about parcels! With 21 years of leadership experience in admin, customer experience, sales, and most recently operations, I’ve had various roles throughout my career.
What made you interested in the logistics industry?
To be honest, I stumbled into the logistics industry by accident and never intended to pursue a career here. However, after my first two years I realised a career in logistics is a lot more interesting than I thought. It’s so fast paced and continually evolving, and I was amazed with how many great opportunities there are in so many different areas. So that’s when I decided I wanted to remain in logistics and purposefully chose my career path. Once I’d made this decision, I spent time on self-learning and pursuing my dreams.
Why do you think you won the Woman of the Year award?
There were so many inspiring women at the event that I still cannot believe it. I guess the judges recognised how passionate I am about supporting women in business and making sure Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are at the forefront of everything I do.
I also think they were impressed by my role as chair of the UK & Ireland FedEx Women Inclusive Network (WiN), my commitment to mentoring and coaching women, and my sponsorship of a number of key initiatives that will benefit women (and men) in business, including menopause, parenting, and improving gender balance.
Tell us about your role as lead chair of the FedEx Women Inclusion Network – what does that role involve?
The WiN’s purpose is to increase, advance and retain female team members within FedEx at all levels. My role as chair involves creating a sustainable support, development, and mentoring network. There are over 500 people in the network, which includes both men and women, and it continues to grow rapidly.
Do you think it is important to empower colleagues to be agents of change?
Yes, absolutely! The world has changed dramatically in the last two to three years, and we must empower and encourage agents of change. As a DEI ally for FedEx Europe, I empower people to learn and ‘unlearn’ behaviours. For some people, change can be a scary thing, but it’s also what makes life exciting, and if we don’t meet new people and experience new things, life would be dull.
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