Thursday, October 15th, 2026
How can logistics professionals create stronger support networks, challenge assumptions and build fairer opportunities for professional growth? These questions were at the centre of the (Wo)men in Logistics Circle webinar, held by ALICE on 2 October 2026, introducing a practical community designed to connect people, develop skills and turn peer support into action.
The initiative is deliberately called the (Wo)men in Logistics Circle. While it addresses challenges experienced by women across the logistics sector, the Circle actively welcomes both women and men, recognising that creating more inclusive working environments requires different perspectives, better mutual understanding and shared responsibility.
Opening the webinar, Fernando Liesa, Secretary General of ALICE, highlighted the importance of creating a trusted environment where members can exchange experiences, support one another and openly discuss professional challenges and opportunities. As the ALICE community continues to grow, he stressed the need for mechanisms that help people feel connected, contribute their perspectives, develop professionally and take leadership roles.
Dr Marianna Levtov, Hoopo and ALICE TG3 Co-Chair, introduced the purpose and practical approach of the Circle. Drawing on her own professional journey across different working environments, logistics, technology, academia and coaching, she explored how professional achievement does not necessarily remove questions around recognition, confidence and belonging.
A central message was that external recognition can be valuable, but it cannot provide the foundation for a sustainable career on its own. Instead, the Circle aims to help participants develop the skills and perspectives needed to understand professional situations, make better decisions and identify concrete actions they can take.
The session explored how bias and assumptions can influence workplace decisions, often before evidence is properly considered. Through practical examples, participants reflected on how assumptions about gender, family responsibilities, communication styles or professional profiles can affect assignments, opportunities and feedback.
Fairness, Marianna stressed, does not mean predetermining who should receive an opportunity. It means establishing relevant criteria, giving people an equal opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities and making decisions based on evidence rather than assumptions. The same behaviour can also be interpreted differently depending on who demonstrates it – for example, direct communication being described as “aggressive” in one person and “decisive” in another.
The webinar also distinguished between recognition and belonging. Being acknowledged for good work is important, but genuine inclusion also means having a voice, access to opportunities and the ability to influence decisions. The Circle will therefore provide a space where participants can reflect on these experiences, learn from different perspectives and identify constructive ways forward.
Importantly, the initiative is designed to move beyond discussion. One of its central activities will be the Buddy System, connecting participants for reciprocal peer support. Rather than creating a traditional mentor–mentee relationship, buddies will support each other around professional goals, communication challenges and decisions. The proposed approach is simple: define a goal, explore the situation, agree on a next action and review progress together.
The Circle will also establish a Speakers Bank, creating opportunities for members to share their expertise and become more visible as speakers within the logistics community. Participants will be able to propose topics, expertise and potential speakers, helping talented professionals who may not usually put themselves forward to develop their voice and contribute to industry discussions.
Further activities will include skills-development webinars shaped around the needs of the community and voluntary weekly 30-minute focus sessions, where members can work together on tasks they have been postponing while benefiting from peer accountability and support.
During the open discussion, participants welcomed the practical approach and shared experiences around professional travel, family responsibilities, communication and the importance of having access to different perspectives. The potential to connect with similar initiatives elsewhere in Europe was also raised, while maintaining a clear identity and purpose for the ALICE Circle.
The next phase will now focus on launching the Buddy System, developing the Speakers Bank and establishing the programme of online activities. The community will also have an opportunity to meet face-to-face during the ALICE Logistics Innovation Summit on 17 November 2026 in Brussels.
The ambition is not simply to create another professional network. The (Wo)men in Logistics Circle is intended to provide a practical environment where people can connect, learn, support one another and turn those connections into better professional decisions and concrete action.
Read the report: https://knowledgeplatform.etp-logistics.eu/pluginfile.php/24129/mod_resource/content/1/Report%20%28Wo%29men%20in%20Logistics%20Circle%20%281%29.pdf