When will there be a “Scully effect” in logistics?
Documented in the 1990s by the Gena Davis Institute, the “Scully effect” demonstrates the positive impact of Dana Scully’s character in the series X-Files on women’s decision to pursue careers in science. Logistics is another of those fields that suffers from a lack of women. While waiting for a television series centered on a woman in logistics to be written, the sector is mobilizing to promote greater gender diversity.
They are arguably the best-known FBI agents in the world. In the 1990s, Mulder and Scully drew between 10 and 20 million viewers per episode in the United States alone. While the series’ central theme focused on supernatural and extraterrestrial phenomena, it had an unexpected side effect: portrayed by Gillian Andersen, Agent Dana Scully—a physician and a rigorous, rational scientist—inspired many women who subsequently pursued STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). This impact, known as the “Scully effect,” was documented by the Gena Davis Institute. According to its study, published in 1993 in partnership with Fox, women who watched the series were 50% more likely to pursue STEM fields, and two-thirds of women working in these scientific fields said that the character of Scully had served as a role model for empowerment and success.
Logistics’ “XX Files”
Like a number of other fields, logistics still struggles to attract female talent. And we have yet to hear of a new television series in which one of the main characters is a woman working in logistics... In 2013, a study by the European Commission concluded that if women were as present as men in the digital sector, European GDP would increase by around €9 billion a year. In logistics, few studies of this kind are available. Yet they would offer interesting insight into what a greater share of individuals with two X chromosomes could bring...
Some figures, nonetheless
Gartner’s eighth annual survey on women’s place in the Supply Chain found that women accounted for 41% of the supply chain workforce in 2023, compared with 39% in 2022. However, women’s representation still lags behind in the field, where they hold only 31% of frontline operational positions.“It is particularly encouraging to see women advancing into senior leadership roles; indeed, we know that when a woman holds the top position within the supply chain, this is positively correlated with a greater presence of women in leadership positions and at all levels of the organization,” comments Caroline Chumakov, director and analyst in Gartner’s Supply Chain division. But “although the signs point to positive change, we lack data, and before 2018, it was virtually nonexistent,” France Supply Chain points out.
Charter and working group
This lack of statistics has not prevented the profession and the various associations representing it from taking action to achieve greater gender parity. Charters are being signed and working groups are being formed. At Afilog, following the co-signing of a charter with the Ministry responsible for Gender Equality and the Fight against Discrimination, the Woment4Warehouse working group, led by Anne Vibert of Invesco and Séverine Simon of Quartus Logistique, has been carrying out a range of initiatives since 2023 to highlight the opportunities available to women in logistics and industrial real estate professions, as well as to raise awareness of the challenges they face. Every avenue is being explored to bring issues to light and identify the solutions to be implemented. “We need to be more visible!” says Anne Vibert. “In the coming months, we will be stepping up our initiatives in this regard. In addition to a dedicated website, for example, we will actively take part in sporting and charitable challenges organized at trade shows (MIPIM, SIMI, SITL), organize keynotes, professional breakfasts, meetings with students on their campuses, panel discussions...”.
Thinking ahead and attracting “talent”
Greater gender parity is not merely a societal and philanthropic goal: logistics needs to recruit (specialized software publisher Acteos estimated in 2022 that there were 22,000 vacant positions in the sector), and diversity is a major driver in encouraging younger generations to apply. France Supply Chain is moving in this direction with its Lab Jeunes, which aims to change how younger generations view careers in the sector. “The goal is for young people to enter Supply Chain by choice rather than by chance—and especially women,” reads the association’s website. The association has also chosen to highlight role models through a series of webinars called “Inspirational Women” that gives a platform to Directors of Operations, Managing Directors, Executive Committee members, and more. “The issue of visibility is central, and it is essential to develop indicators within companies and through research.” This initiative can be seen as an attempt to create a “Scully effect” in logistics—without calling it that...
