Karla Jakeman | Director of Grant Funding, Head of Automation & Employee Director | TRL
Karla Jakeman is the Director of Grant Funding, Head of Automation & Employee Director at TRL. TRL, formerly known as the Transport Research Laboratory, operates as a Social Enterprise. Unlike traditional commercial entities, TRL reinvests its profits into research, innovation, and societal benefits. The company’s mission is to create clean, efficient transport that is safe, reliable, and accessible for everyone. Karla plays a crucial role at TRL, a company with over 90 years of experience in transport research. She focuses on supporting the supply chain to efficiency, sustainably, and safely deliver transport. Her work involves safety, asset management, automation research, behaviour research, traffic optimization through Scoot7®, and advanced asset management via iROADS™. At EliteX, we are proud to have Karla Jakeman as part of Impactful Leaders in Supply Chain, 2024.
As a thought leader, Karla collaborates with stakeholders in the transport industry to identify strategic opportunities within TRL’s Smart Mobility Living Lab (a live test bed of 24km in London). She also leads initiatives to secure grant-funded projects, showcasing TRL’s capabilities and ensuring ongoing innovation. Karla’s journey into the transport sector was somewhat accidental. With a degree in Japanese Studies, she began her career at Honda, where she was deeply involved in the international supply chain. Her work there included importing and exporting parts, collaborating with designers, and working with vehicle dealers from manufacturing to sales.
“Our commitment lies in conducting impactful applied research, collaborating with fellow stakeholders in the supply chain to foster innovation, and developing pathways to adoption to achieve our collective social, economic, and environmental objectives.”
For Karla, impactful leadership means being real and authentic. She believes in learning from both challenges and successes. Karla also emphasizes stepping out of one’s comfort zone to grow and demonstrate leadership, supporting others along the way. Being a female leader in a male-dominated sector has been challenging for Karla. Despite her vast experience, she sometimes faces gender-based obstacles. However, she strives to lead by example, proving she deserves her place at the table and working towards progress in the entire sector. Before joining TRL, Karla worked at Innovate UK, part of UKRI and the Government’s innovation agency. She managed funding competitions for large organizations like National Highways and the Geospatial Commission. These competitions supported various parts of the supply chain, from concept to market, driving innovation and maximizing funding impact.
Karla believes successful leaders must see beyond the bigger picture. She often generates ideas and drives their adoption through strategic methodologies, effective communication, collaboration, and inspiration. For her, leadership is about not being isolated but working with others to achieve common goals. Karla stays updated on industry trends by attending events, participating in roundtables, and engaging in online discussions. Networking at conferences is vital for developing future business opportunities. Additionally, she spends a considerable amount of time on LinkedIn in the evenings, staying connected and informed.
Karla Jakeman once faced a challenging situation with a project in her portfolio that was struggling due to a lack of commitment from the supply chain. Although the project was fundamentally sound, the Project Lead was unable to effectively convey the message to inspire participation. Karla approached the problem by coaching the Project Lead, directly communicating with the supply chain, and most importantly, listening to their concerns. By addressing their worries and implementing contingencies to reduce risks, she turned the project around, resulting in a successful outcome two years later. This approach made the project team feel supported and the suppliers feel heard.
“Underestimate communication at your peril. Throughout my career, I have prided myself on authentic, trustworthy, and clear communication.”
Karla emphasizes the critical importance of communication in fostering collaboration within the supply chain. Throughout her career, she has prioritized authentic, trustworthy, and clear communication. She believes in the power of honest and open dialogue, understanding that without it, projects can falter, partnerships can crumble, and great ideas can be lost. Karla values combining different perspectives to transform ordinary ideas into exceptional outcomes, recognizing that innovation rarely happens in isolation.
At TRL, Karla ensures that sustainability and ethical practices are at the forefront of supply chain management. The company’s commitment to clean, efficient, and accessible transport is driven by a focus on safety and reliability for all. TRL’s research initiatives aim to pioneer transformative transport solutions while preserving the natural environment, particularly in low to middle-income economies. Central to their approach is a robust ethical framework that safeguards the rights and well-being of human research participants. TRL upholds the highest standards of commercial integrity, maintaining transparency and accountability in all their projects. Karla sees technology playing a crucial role in the future of automation and its supply chain. Collaboration and effective communication are essential in this field, with technologies like robotics, AI, data analytics, machine learning, simulation, and sensor technology advancing rapidly. She believes that no single technology can fully address the challenges of automated transport alone; rather, integrating and coordinating these technologies is key to success.
TRL has a long history of leading the development of transport safety standards and regulations since the 1940s. Karla highlights how their work has formed the basis of legislation that has saved hundreds of thousands of lives worldwide. TRL’s ability to adapt to changes in the global market and industry regulations ensures that they remain at the forefront of transport safety and innovation. Karla advises aspiring leaders to view challenges as opportunities for growth. When she started in the innovation industry, she knew no one but dedicated herself to building connections, learning about others’ roles in the industry, and maintaining those relationships. This approach helped her forge partnerships, gain insights, and build her reputation. She emphasizes the importance of attending industry events, participating in Q&A sessions, and introducing oneself when possible. Developing strong communication skills and empathy, embracing mistakes as part of the learning process, and persevering are key qualities for success. She also stresses the importance of respecting all career levels and constantly pushing beyond one’s comfort zone.
“To be an impactful leader, I find the best approach is to be real and authentic. We have challenges; we have wins; we learn from both.”
Karla believes that as the transport industry and people’s needs evolve, TRL must continue to adapt, as it has for over 90 years. TRL plays a crucial role in the supply chain, aiming for accessible and sustainable transportation for everyone, democratizing personal mobility and the movement of goods. Karla is committed to conducting impactful applied research, collaborating with fellow stakeholders in the supply chain to foster innovation, and developing pathways to adoption to achieve collective social, economic, and environmental objectives.
