A strong mentor can become a powerful springboard for career growth in supply chain, according to Olivia Hu, senior director of autonomous trucking and electrification at Uber Freight.
Hu has worked at Uber for more than seven years, first in business development and strategy before moving into leadership roles at Uber Freight. She says career development depends not only on delivering strong results, but also on gaining visibility across the organization.
For Hu, mentorship is built on long-term trust. Leaders are more likely to support rising talent when they see consistent performance and aligned goals. Her first mentor at Uber Freight was her manager, who gave her more responsibility after seeing her ability to deliver results. That support opened doors to leadership exposure and speaking opportunities.
Hu also emphasized the importance of speaking up, especially for women in supply chain. She noted that many professionals hesitate to ask questions or share their perspective, even when their voice could add value.
Women represent around 40% of the supply chain workforce, and Hu believes their voices are essential in an industry that underpins the global economy.
Her message is clear: performance matters, but visibility, advocacy, and confidence are equally important for long-term success.
