Ep. 280 - Hannah Kain is the President and CEO of ALOM, a supply chain company she founded in 1997 in Fremont, California. She’s a Supply Chain Executive with broad management and executive background, bringing creative business solutions to her company and customers. In this episode, Hannah shares her top tips for starting a business from nothing and growing it to exponential success in a male-dominated industry.
Listen in to learn why hiring top talent and building a collaborative team will help you grow your business to unimaginable heights.
You will also learn the importance of women supporting and collaborating with other women in business.
Key Takeaways:
- Surround yourself with people on the same journey as you to be successful
- The importance of hiring top talent to help you find success
- The value of collaborating with the whole team and being human together
- Hire someone from an industry you wish to start a business in but you’re unfamiliar with
- Start accepting who you are and work towards hitting your goals and living your dreams
"Once you have that alignment, passion, and the desire to succeed, then the rest will follow from that.”- Hannah Kain
In this episode, you will learn:
Hannah shares her story from the Netherlands and how she grew her company from nothing [2:07]
The activities and opportunities of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) [5:20]
She describes the supply chain work they do at ALOM and their exponential growth in 25 years [6:28]
The major challenges she faced as a brand-new entrepreneur and the lessons she learned [12:27]
How to find a skilled and qualified team that will help you move things fast and successfully [17:49]
The qualities and skills of the type of employee Hannah is looking to join her team [22:52]
How ALOM is transforming businesses by running their entire supply chain operations [25:28]
Hannah describes the things she wishes she had known at the beginning of her business [29:01]
The variabilities in the supply chain and things that need to change to make it smoother [32:23]
How to approach starting a business in an unfamiliar industry [38:17]
Why women are now in a position to support and collaborate with other women in business [40:10]
The logistics it would involve for the US to start manufacturing and producing [44:20]
The top three takeaways, actions, and thoughts Hannah would like you to take from the episode [47:41]
CAREER
Hannah Kain is President and CEO of ALOM, a supply chain company she founded in 1997. ALOM operates out of 19 global locations to support its Fortune 500 customers in the technology, automotive, medical, financial, and energy sectors.
Operating out of 19 global locations, ALOM innovates and implements technology-driven supply chains.
They help their customers pamper their end-users by ensuring that each order, no matter how complex or challenging, is executed flawlessly and delivered when and where it is needed.
Their goal is to protect the brand of our prestigious customers. At ALOM, the customer's brand is their passion.
Hannah was born in Denmark where - in addition to a business and political career - she taught at Copenhagen Business School.
EDUCATION
Hannah holds three university degrees.
BOARD POSITIONS
Hannah is a board member of the National Association of Manufacturers, WBEC-Pacific, the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) where she also serves as the WBENC Forum 1st vice chair, board chair of How Women Lead–Silicon Valley, advisory council member with Heritage Bank of Commerce, and is a member of the Committee of 200 for executive women.
AWARDS
She has received numerous industry and leadership awards. In 2021 Hannah was named a WE USA Top WBE CEO and an SDCE Supply Chain Pro to Know.
In 2020 she was featured as a Business Insider Top 100 People Transforming Business, recognized as a Top 10 Women in Logistics by Global Trade Magazine, won the SDCE Women in Supply Chain award,.
Prior awards include the WBEC-Pacific Pinnacle Award, Gold Woman of The Year Stevie, Silver Best Global Woman-owned Business Stevie, Top 25 Champion of Diversity in STEM, Manufacturing Institute STEP Ahead Award, YWCA Tribute to Women Award, and induction into the Silicon Valley Capitol Club wall of fame.
PODCAST CHANNEL
ALOM Podcast on Elevating Supply Chain Performance
RESOURCES
Talking Supply Chain with Hannah Kain
Going Global is Not for Everyone
Frictionless Supply Chain Podcast
Hannah Kain Discusses China Tariff Increase on NBC KNTV
PODCASTS LIKE THIS
Hannah is on Three YouTube Channels
JOIN PURSE POWER!
Donna Miller is the founder and CEO of Purse Power, Let's Share the Journey. Purse Power promotes women-led, women-owned businesses by providing a Google extension that allows everyone who visits your website to locate nearby businesses.
Let's Share the Journey holds calls at 10 AM Central every Friday to learn from national leaders to share expertise, ideas, and support. One week a month features Zoom Room networking. We support Donna's endeavor and have provided the speaker calls in a podcast format. Please join her on Friday mornings! You can register for the calls here.