An Interview with New AWESOME Leader, Krina Agnew… 

I first heard about AWESOME at a recent Gartner conference. It has always been a bit hard to find spaces that are just for women, even today. I think this network offers a real opportunity for us to give back to our communities, to inspire others, but also to tell the real story of how we’ve gotten where we are. As role models, it’s important for people to see others who look like them. It makes the next level, or just meeting their own goals, feel less daunting. And that community approach really helps people do that.

I’ve been with my current company for 23 years, and I’ve lived in four of the countries where we operate. I’ve worked in 17 countries for them on different projects, so I bring a very global perspective. I’ve grown up and matured within the organization without becoming stagnant. I’ve worked hard to stay current, to keep learning through cultural experiences, and to see how the world is changing. I was brought into our organization as a “fixer,” and I’m still here fixing things… every day brings new opportunities. I’m passionate about making work easier for the people I truly influence, the folks in our plants and distribution centers, who do the critical work that keeps us going. Supporting them is the most rewarding part of my career today.

You need to have natural curiosity and want to learn. I try to learn something new every week. I even follow TikTok for PowerPoint and Excel tips! When something new comes out, I look at how I can use it. I’ve been pushing myself to use tools like ChatGPT and other AI to see how they can improve my work, not replace it. I think about it like when microwaves first came out, if we treated them as full cooking appliances, we might be baking in them today, but instead, we mostly use them to reheat. With new tech, we need to use all the functions, not just treat it as an add-on to old ways of working.

We have to replace old ways of working with better ones using new tools. If we don’t, we’ll miss out on the full benefits. AI is just another tool. It’s about making things faster, not replacing people. When I was younger, I’d go to the library and look things up in encyclopedias. I embraced Google and other search engines when they came along, so why hesitate now? I’m trying to use AI in both personal and professional ways, stepping outside my comfort zone to find improvements.

I think my superpower is translation. Whether that’s translating a cultural nuance, a business requirement into IT, or IT into user experience. That comes from growing up trilingual and being exposed to different places. I’ve learned that people everywhere are basically the same: we all want to care for our kids, our homes, our pets. We focus too much on differences when we should focus on similarities. Inclusion is key, making space for everyone to be themselves. When we rolled out software globally, it was important to ask: does this work for your location? Have we really listened? That builds trust and leads to better solutions. The people doing the work usually know what the solution is, we need to listen and design thoughtfully. I’ve learned that here in the U.S. too, it’s not one-size-fits-all. There’s rich diversity even within the country.

One of the toughest things I’ve done was moving from South Africa to Europe, and then to the U.S. with my family. Each move was a choice with consequences for others — we left friends, family, familiarity. The challenge wasn’t just building a factory or completing a project… it was leaving home and starting over. And then navigating new languages, cultures, schools. I’ve had to rely on relationships and people skills rather than technical expertise to succeed. Each step builds confidence because you lay the path as you go, one stone at a time, with the help of those around you.

Supply chain is still very male-dominated. We have myths like the idea that women can’t do physical work, even though we manage toddlers, strollers, bags, and more all at once! The real question is: how do we create workplaces that work for everyone? It shouldn’t be heroic for dads to parent. And policies like equal parental leave need to be thought through, we should account for the realities of childbirth. We also don’t talk enough about menopause, which affects so many women and leads to workplace exits. We have to be more inclusive in our policies like considering flexible shifts and understanding life stages. We need to involve men in the conversation because change comes when we work together, not by excluding anyone.

I don’t always get it right… It’s a journey. I think we should flip the phrase and talk about life-work balance. We need to be intentional about participating in life, not just work. Women often take on everything and end up exhausted. We need to be honest about that and rethink how we structure work so it supports everyone. It’s about being intentional, setting boundaries, and creating flexibility where we can. And about collaboration, helping each other manage both work and life.

I use the acronym THINK:

• Take advantage of every opportunity
• Hit your goals hard and deliver on your work
• Inquire about everything, be inquisitive
• Network — know who’s who and build relationships
• Know yourself by understanding your values and how you apply them

I hope that’s helpful to others on their journeys.