Daisy Serdan Corona's first job in the plastics industry was as an exports coordinator for Mexichem.
"At that time, we were exporting resin for the food industry to South America, and it was the best experience. I gained a lot of knowledge regarding the industry and the logistics needed to accomplish all the deliveries," she said. "I was excited by the applications for different materials, innovations and developments the industry offers."
As the international logistics manager for resin distributor M. Holland Co. located in Mexico City, Serdan Corona handles international logistics for Mexico, Puerto Rico and the U.S.
"My team is focused on requesting quotes for international freight movements and booking requests, coordinating drayage, and preparing and sending original documentation to banks and freight destinations. We also ensure payment of service invoices for forwarders, steamship lines, warehouses and drayage companies. My team is also responsible for national logistics in Mexico," she said.
Serdan Corona has 16 years of experience in logistics cost improvement, import and export processes and the supply chain.
She has a bachelor's degree in international trade and a post-graduate diploma in supply chain. She was named Employee of the Year for two consecutive years at Hella Automotive for saving the logistics department 104,000 euros ($105,800). One of her career highlights has been developing and implementing logistics dashboards at M. Holland.
"My greatest achievement is supporting business requirements by using data to make the best decisions in logistics, improving costs and negotiating better with suppliers," she said. "In fiscal year 2021, I decreased the roll booking percentage from 27 percent to 2 percent and maintained 98 percent on-time delivery."
The best advice she has received is to lead by example.
"The personal mold that I am breaking is leading a logistics team as a woman in a man's world," she said. "I break the mold by letting the world know my capabilities are not tied to my gender."
Q: What about the plastics industry surprises you?
Serdan Corona: Every day, plastics help us dramatically lower environmental impacts. The environmental cost of using plastics in consumer products and packaging is nearly four times less than the cost of using other materials because plastics help us do more with less material.
Q: What is the most unexpected thing you learned from the pandemic?
Serdan Corona: I learned how to work at home with my baby girl taking classes by my side, doing laundry and cooking, everything at the same time. I learned the meaning of "high-level multitasking."
Q: What's an accomplishment of yours that most people don't know about, either for work or in your personal life?
Serdan Corona: One accomplishment professionally is mentoring my team so we all improve together. I consider this my greatest accomplishment because I value hard work and making people happy.
On the personal side, it is the family I have formed. This especially applies to having my daughter; that's why her name is Victoria (Victory).