The Supply Chain Reboot Starts With Women-Owned Businesses

Forbes

4 days ago

The future of supply chain leadership is already at the table, powered by women.
Tariffs are just the latest disruption exposing a hard truth: our global supply chain systems are outdated. Designed for cost efficiency in a different era, they're now vulnerable to challenges and feeling the strain. From labor shortages and workforce shakeups to geopolitical tensions, economic swings, material scarcity, and mounting trade regulations, the pressure is on.
This moment, this pressure point, is an opportunity. Not just to fix it, but to rethink and reimagine the supply chain. To build something better, stronger, and smarter, and ready to adapt to whatever 2025 and beyond throws our way. And that starts by unlocking the leadership we've long undervalued.
Less than 1% of global corporate supply chain spend goes to women-owned businesses.
That's not just a statistic; it's a missed opportunity. Because the very skills modern supply chains demand, such as strategic foresight, adaptability, and collaboration, are exactly what women-owned businesses deliver.
These aren't 'soft skills.' They are essential for navigating complexity, building resilience, and driving long-term growth.
For decades, the 'just-in-time' model prioritized speed and efficiency over flexibility and sustainability. But today's world demands something different. Executives are juggling a long list of priorities: cost, resilience, traceability, sustainability, and stakeholder expectations. And the pressure is only growing.
Women think a few steps ahead, and then activate. That's what the future of supply chain leadership requires.
Women-owned businesses are:
We're not just facing another economic disruption. We're facing a strategic reset. Tariffs may be the spark, but the system needs more than a patch, it needs a reboot.
This is the moment to reimagine the future of global operations. If we want more resilient, responsive, and sustainable supply chains, we need the best talent at the table. That means tapping into the full potential of women in business, leaders who think long-term and lead with impact.
The case for change is clear. The opportunity is now.
Let's stop managing crises. Let's start building smarter. Powered by women. For everyone.
#PowerofthePack #WomenInSupplyChain #BusinessOfInnovation #StrategicResilience