Women in Breakbulk: Collaboration Takes Center Stage

By Jenn Morris

The Women in Breakbulk Luncheon at Breakbulk Americas 2025 was much more than a pre-conference meal. A packed room of a record 276 women across breakbulk, logistics, maritime and beyond came together not only to connect but to set their intentions for the week ahead.

This year’s program followed a straightforward but very intentional framework: Problem, Solution, Celebration. And in each part of the event, the conversations showed why women in logistics are not just managing in this high-pressure industry, but they are actively shaping its present and its future.

Facing the Hard Stuff

The first panel looked into some of the thorniest issues in our industry: procurement challenges, tariffs uncertainty, and the complexity that comes with large-scale manufacturing, logistics and energy projects.

Panelists spoke candidly about what these challenges look like in real time. One described the frustration of sourcing parts for a project only to have tariffs change while in transit, while another explained how her team had to scramble for storage solutions when customers couldn’t move product because of policy confusion.

Geanean Ordonez of Technip Energies highlighted how procurement and logistics have become inseparable: “From the very beginning stages of a project, our logistics team is working with procurement to help them understand the impacts of tariffs, whether sourcing from India versus China. Tariffs have definitely changed the way we do business."

Yet even as they shared stories of chaos, the attitude in the room wasn’t frustration or anger. Instead, it was pragmatic. Plan, adapt, and plan again is the only way to keep projects on track.

“Planning, planning, planning… that’s how you survive tariffs,” said Lorena Alvarez of Fluence. "Most times our companies are absorbing these tariffs. It’s a huge impact. But at the end of the day… we thrive in chaos.”

Lessons in Collaboration

The second panel shifted gears to focus on solutions, with three of Houston’s powerhouse women from the sports world: Holly Kesner of the Houston Sports Authority, Leah Fagnio of Toyota Center and Rachel Wan of the Houston Astros. Between them, they’ve run events ranging from Final Fours to Super Bowls.

Their stories underscored just how much collaboration, trust and clear communication matter when big projects are on the line. Imagine turning a rodeo arena into a basketball court in just 24 hours. That took a minute-by-minute timeline and hundreds of people working in sync. And figuring out the logistics of adjusting the stadium roof during Lady Gaga’s Super Bowl halftime show. That required teamwork, trust and the nerve to make a high-pressure call in real time.

While the examples came from sports, the lessons for logistics were clear:

• Build genuine relationships. Wan emphasized that collaboration works when it’s rooted in trust, not just surface-level networking.
• Say what you mean and follow through. Fagnio stressed that collaboration depends on honesty — owning it when you can’t deliver is just as important as keeping promises.
• Surround yourself with the best people you can. Kesner’s assertion struck a chord: "You don’t need to be the smartest in the room; in fact, you grow more when you’re not."

Whether you are moving cargo or moving athletes and superstars, collaboration and communication keep massive operations and projects from falling apart.

Celebration & Inclusion

The final part of the program reminded everyone that connection and self-care are also essential. The “Blend & Bond” activity gave women the chance to create personalized essential oil blends, a fun but meaningful way to pause, connect and recharge. The afternoon closed with a cake cutting to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Breakbulk Americas, a tasty way to honor how far the community has come.

What was really great to witness is how intentional the women were about making sure everyone felt part of the experience. You could see women reaching out, pulling others into conversations and creating a genuine sense of connection.

Final Thoughts

With 276 women filling the room, this year’s Women in Breakbulk Luncheon wasn’t just fluff. It was candid about industry challenges, practical about solutions and joyful about celebrating women’s contributions. From chaos to collaboration to cake, it captured the full spectrum of what it means to work and thrive in logistics.

Jenn Morris is the founder of Ship Happens, an educational and opinionated platform for logistics professionals and curious outsiders. With over two decades of experience in freight brokerage, supply chain strategy and operational efficiency, Jenn now focuses on creating content that helps demystify logistics for professionals and business owners alike.