Manhattan Celebrates Women in Tech, Inspires Next Generation of Leaders
- June 5, 2025
- Manhattan Staff
- 4 minutes
While women continue to rise in the supply chain industry and take on executive roles, there is still much work to do: women are only a quarter of the technology workforce in 2025. The gap is even more pronounced in leadership positions, where women hold only 11% of executive roles.
When women are in leadership positions, they can inspire, guide and provide mentorship to further uplift women looking to advance their careers. What’s more, they can influence change at their organization and implement polices that can ease some of the barriers women face, such as mentorship groups, handling professional challenges and striking the right balance between work and home life.
Within the past year, AI and automation has rapidly changed the business world, and strategic leadership is even more essential today. Women at all career stages have a unique opportunity to expand their influence and lead their organization through change with confidence
At Momentum 2025, we had women from the world of supply chain and retail industries join us at the annual Women in Tech luncheon. Leading retail analyst, Hitha Herzog spoke to Ann Sung Ruckstuhl, SVP & CMO, Manhattan, Sara Coash, Director of Process and Systems, Hallmark Cards, Carrie Gofron, Global ISV Partnerships at Shopify and Annie Barua, VP of Supply Chain and Inventory, Floor & Decor about how they've achieved success in their industry and learning along the way that other women can benefit from on their journeys.
Advocate for Yourself
A quick poll during the discussion revealed that majority of women do not feel comfortable advocating for themselves, such as showcasing their accomplishments to attain a promotion, highlighting their wins or simply asking for more.
But if women want to rise, learning how to articulate their wants and their wins is a critical skill. Sara Coash recommended that women think about challenging projects they’ve tackled in the past and leverage that credibility. Then, connect the dots about how experiences from those times can help bring the company’s goals to fruition. It is important to show the path forward and build on the trust that has already been established, Coash recommended.
Use Your Voice to Take a Seat at the Table
Ann Ruckstuhl, drawing from her own journey as a mother of three and a seasoned leader in high-tech start-ups and the C-suite, emphasized the importance of tailoring one’s message to the audience. She encouraged women to confidently own their experience and advocate for themselves—but in a way that aligns with leadership’s priorities.
Whether seeking a promotion or greater responsibility, she advised making a compelling business case that demonstrates how their skills and experience directly support organizational goals.
“Turn your thinking into how you can help them,” Ruckstuhl said.
Fight Burn Out
Burn out, both at home and at work is common amongst women, and specifically mothers: 55% of women in tech experience burn out. Women may struggle to keep up with expectations at home and at work and may become disengaged with their role in either setting or both.
The leaders offered a few tips on how they fight burn out, such as keeping a positive mindset, cultivating supportive relationships and taking time for themselves.
Ann Ruckstuhl highlighted the value of intentionally structuring her schedule, ensuring she isn’t booked back-to-back throughout the day. By blocking time between meetings, she slows the pace, builds in moments to take a walk, and returns to work feeling refreshed.
Carrie Gofron shared that she stays grounded by reflecting on her “why”—the reasons she does her job and the aspects she loves about it. She encouraged women to take time to define their own purpose and revisit it during challenging moments, using it as a source of perspective and motivation.
Mastering the Art of Saying Yes or No
Saying "yes" to lead a project or team can feel intimidating. But the key word here is “feel,” as often women are more than qualified to take on the added responsibility but only feel like they can’t. This imposter syndrome is common, but opportunities are limited and should be embraced as they come. Afterall, it can be a golden opportunity to learn and grow more.
But equally important is recognizing when it's OK to say no. Carrie Gofron said she says "no" a lot. She advised that women should clearly articulate why they are saying no to an opportunity, such as "That project appeals to me, but I have these four other priorities on my plate right now, so I don't have the time to do that project well. Please do ask me in the future, as I am interested." Similarly, if the project is one that a woman wants but doesn't have the time for, Gofron says she will say yes, and then set her boundaries. Such as, "I can pilot that if one of these other four projects is removed from my plate, and I can get you a deliverable by this date." Setting boundaries and being clear is important in both scenarios of saying yes or no.
Shake off the Mistakes
Projects go wrong. Ideas fail. Yet, each panelist echoed that they’ve learned to shake off mistakes, learn from them and move forward. “If you flip your focus from what I didn’t do to what did I learn, then you can immediately start moving forward and that becomes a strength,” Hallmark’s Sara Coash said. Similarly, Annie Barua advised women to not feel guilty if something doesn’t go well but apply what they learned to make it better next time. We are human after all, right?
At the end of the Luncheon, one thing was clear - women should invest in each other, share their stories and inspire the next generation of leaders. Today, women are standing strong based on the path carved for them and learnings from those who chose to walk strong before them. That path needs to be widened for more women to rise and stand even taller.