#RealLifeWonderWoman — Meet Ruth Lopez

Today, you get to meet Ruth Lopez. She’s the Director of Transportation Management for Ryder System, Inc. and a real-life Wonder Woman.

One of Ruth’s superpowers is humility. She works hard and does great things, but isn’t one to toot her own horn, which is why I am overjoyed to tell you that she’s had a big year. She earned the 2019 Influential Woman in Trucking Award at the 2019 Accelerate! Conference. This is a really BIG honor in the trucking world. And Ruth is most-deserving of this award.

Please read on and get to know #RealLifeWonderWoman…Ruth Lopez!

Women in Trucking – Accelerate! Conference 2019 – Influential Woman in Trucking

KR: Hi Ruth! Would you please tell us about what brings you joy and fulfillment?

RL: Several items here include:
· Family
· Making a difference, be it through work or charitable organizations
· Grooming personnel reporting up through me and seeing their impact on their personnel and teammates
· Delighting our clients

KR: We all have inner superpowers. What are some of yours?

RL: I think integrity would be a key quality. Always trying to do the right thing is something I strive to always achieve.

KR: Can you tell us about an influential woman in your life and how she inspired you?

RL: My mother inspired me to be independent and mindful of my actions. My father would travel two weeks out of the month, and my mother would be the one physically supporting my two brothers and me as we performed functions either at school or sports activities. She always made time for dinner as a family and manned the household with dad gone often. She and my dad made sure we had everything we could ever need and instilled in us a very strong work ethic so that we knew we had to work for what we had or wanted. She pushed us to be forward thinking and caring of others and to always be strong.

 

KR: If you could have one super-human power, what would it be?

RL: Time travel would be my super-human power. I would very much enjoy travelling back in time to meet women I have admired, such as Eleanor Roosevelt, Harriet Tubman, and my grandmother. She moved to the U.S. from Mexico while only 13 years old without her parents in order to have a better life. Time Travel could also be to the future, as I would love to see what type of people my four nieces and nephews turn out to be.

KR: What do you do for fun? What are your hobbies?

RL: I enjoy traveling. Years ago, I decided to make it a mission to see all fifty states in the U.S. In order for me to check off a state, I have to actually walk on the ground of the state; hence, airport connections do not qualify. I am down to seeing my last one, North Dakota. I most enjoy seeing the states when sharing the experience with members of my family.

KR: Ah, North Dakota! I went to college there. And even married a North Dakotan. You might be surprised at how beautiful the state actually is. And the people there are truly down-to-earth and very kind. 

RL: Not sure yet when this might happen, but should be sometime soon. I’ll let you know how it goes.

KR: Knowing what you know at this stage of your life, what words of wisdom would you give to your 20-year-old self?

RL: Speak up more and often would be my advice. I am, or maybe was, shy by nature and often would be accepting of things versus being vocal where needed. I have learned to do this throughout my career; but, thinking back, I likely would have started this much earlier than I did.

 

Learn more about Ruth’s employer

Ryder is a fully diversified transportation and supply chain solutions company. Ryder is the only provider which offers a unique portfolio of solutions in fleet management, dedicated transportation, and supply chain management. Ryder’s Women’s Leadership Forum’s mission is to support the attraction, retention and development of women. Ryder is also a Gold Level sponsor of the Women in Trucking organization. Through the Ryder Foundation, Ryder provides $25,000 a year which funds scholarships for 5 individuals. Areas of study range from drivers, engineering, tech, and leadership.

 

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