Today, we welcome Dana Le to NAWO’s 100 Women in Operations Wall of Fame.

Dana discovered the world of supply chain just three and a half years ago – stepping into Bunnings’ Victorian Distribution Centre as a DC Team Manager responsible for dispatch across more than 120 stores nationally. In late 2025, she progressed into her current position as DC Contracts Manager, overseeing Third Party Sites and supporting growth opportunities across the network.

Her pathway into operations wasn’t linear. Dana began her career in retail – as she says, “because that’s what girls did”.  A creative opportunity led her into entrepreneurship, opening her own beauty business which she successfully ran for almost a decade. After selling the business, she returned to retail, built a strong career over seven years, and planned to start a family. Parenthood did come, eventually, but the juggle of raising young children while managing the demands of a high-pressure role became increasingly difficult. Work received the best of her, leaving little energy for home.

With clarity came a hard choice – to step away from the career she had built and seek something closer to home where she could balance work and family. She applied for jobs with one simple criteria: proximity. One of those applications led her to a Bunnings DC role.

She bought her first-ever pair of steel cap boots, walked through the doors feeling equal parts terrified and hopeful – and unknowingly stepped into the place where her career would not only continue, but expand.

Dana speaks openly about self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and the stories she once told herself about what women – especially mothers – could or couldn’t do in warehousing and supply chain. She convinced herself she was “lucky” to be there, kept her head down, and felt content to stay small.

Everything changed when a senior female leader took notice of her potential. Someone asked about her, invested time, mentored her, and widened the horizon she once believed she didn’t belong on. With that support and with other leaders, both women and men, backing her, Dana began to step up, take risks, and rediscover confidence in her capability.

Her growth accelerated. New opportunities followed. She joined Bunnings’ Women in Leadership program – surrounded by diverse and impressive women, all carrying their own insecurities. The experience reminded her of the strength found in resilience, community, and encouragement.

Today, Dana describes herself as still a little anxious about what comes next – but confident enough to try and surrounded by people who will remind her when she forgets. She believes deeply in the power of mentorship, representation, and workplaces where mothers, women and underrepresented voices are not only welcomed, but valued.

She shares her story to encourage leaders to look for potential that is quiet rather than loud, to mentor generously, and to build inclusive environments where women see a place for themselves. She wants young women – particularly those who never imagined themselves in supply chain – to know that operations and warehousing isn’t a man’s world; it’s everyone’s world.

Dana hopes her journey inspires others to raise their hand, back themselves, and take that next step – even when it feels uncomfortable.

Nominated for:
• Her outstanding leadership as a tour guide at the Bunnings Dandenong Distribution Centre, bringing energy, insight and genuine passion to the event.
• Championing women in supply chain and speaking powerfully about the benefits of operational careers – particularly as a working parent.
• The overwhelmingly positive feedback from attendees and Bunnings colleagues, who praised her professionalism, warmth and infectious enthusiasm.

We are proud to recognise Dana as part of the NAWO 100 Women in Operations. Thank you, Dana, for sharing your story with honesty and heart, and for the work you do every day to encourage women to see themselves in warehousing, logistics and supply chain.