Interviews with two immigrant women who have been successful in their entrepreneurial endeavors
WBE Pacific Blog Features IWEC Past Awardee, Hannah Kain, CEO, Alom
This week, we are revealing two Women Business Enterprise Stars, as part of our 3-week series leading up to the announcement of WBEC Pacific’s 2019 WBE Star; who will be revealed at the Summit and Salute national conference March 11-13. Olsa Martini, WBE Star 2008, and Hannah Kain, WBE Star 2012, have more in common than being exemplary women in WBEC Pacific and WBENC community. Both immigrants to the US, Olsa and Hannah worked hard to create their companies to their immense scales. Both women answered the same six questions, giving us a little insight on how they utilized their certification to not only become WBE Stars, but forward their companies to new heights.
Hannah Kain is President and CEO of ALOM, a global supply chain company she founded in 1997 headquartered in Fremont, California. Hannah was born in Denmark and immigrated to the US in 1990. She taught at Copenhagen Business School and holds three university degrees. ALOM has been WBE certified since 2001. Hannah is currently chair of the WBENC Forum Global Team and is also on the board of WBENC. She is passionate about diversity and inclusion and is involved in several other groups as well.
How/Why did you start your business? What was your vision?
I dreamed of starting and running a business very early, somewhere around age 4. Many years later I was “gainfully employed” running a plant providing software manufacturing and supply chain. However, I saw a need for a company that used technology to drive and manage outsourced supply chain. My vision was to lead in innovation, quality and service. I knew that delivery speed would become a major competitive parameter. That was 21 years ago. Today, this has become a significant differentiator for ALOM as we are competing in fulfillment, online technology and electronics assembly.
What barriers did you overcome to be successful? How did you overcome them?
I’ve seen it all. From my own self-doubts to severe economic downturn. From rejection to indifference. I believe you need persistence to succeed. I also have an over-all optimistic outlook. More importantly, I love what I do. I wake up feeling so privileged and grateful. Yet my true secret is my support network of strong women and men who want to see me succeed. That also inspires me to give back and help others succeed.
