Leadership: Why Recruiting More Women In Supply Chain Matters

Successful and well-balanced companies know that women business leaders—and their exceptional leadership skills—provide major benefits. But why is recruiting more female talent in supply chain and logistics still an issue?

How to search for talent implies having a broad and open mind to look past the obvious, to go beyond conventional methods, and to accept that a better gender balance in supply chain results in a more successful business. But we’re struggling to make that happen in our industry.
 
A tradition of a male-dominated supply chain sector has made it difficult for women to be well represented, or at least considered as an equal in the competition for supply chain jobs. In the past few years, there have been subtle signs of change, but not enough.
 
Why has there been a small amount of change? Well, employers demand skills—so called “soft skills”—such as collaboration, creativity, problem solving, and multitasking in the fast-paced supply chain work environment, which many strong females happen to possess. It’s shown time and again that these skills can improve employee engagement and make for smooth-running operations.
 
The question, however, remains: why, specifically, do we still lack women in supply chain and logistics?
 
Is the lack of women representation due to companies simply not hiring enough female talent, or is there not enough female talent available? Are university programs attractive enough for female students? Are women intimidated by the logistics industry, allowing the challenges they may encounter to prevent them from jumping in? When there are females with exceptional leadership skills that fit the industry, where are they found?
 
To answer some of these more specific questions, we interviewed an expert in the industry who clearly sees the absence of female executives in supply chain and logistics in the many international industry events he chairs on a regular basis. That experience, of course, gives him a unique perspective and the ability to provide insight.
 
Hugh Williams, Managing Director of Hughenden Consulting, an international, specialist consultancy focused on the processes of supply chain planning, doesn’t believe that there must be more women per se, however, he thinks there should be more. “The lack of women is due to the fact that, traditionally, Supply Chain roles are filled from the “coalface,” and consequently, men have traditionally taken these jobs,” says Williams.
 
MAKING SUPPLY CHAIN AND LOGISTICS APPEALING
 
A quick look at Hughenden Consulting data shows a ratio of 15/20 men to 1 woman at the Supply Chain and Logistics conferences that they chair and attend every year. As expected, the difference is significant.
 
According to Williams, the industry is suffering from the old problem of Supply Chain not being “sexy enough” nor it is promoted sufficiently through universities and other entities. “On a recent visit to Coventry University,” says Williams, “they said that a huge percentage, approximately 80%, of their cohort wants to go into Marketing roles, so I think this is where the image building needs to start."
 
Image Source: Susan Fourtané
 
At the Carbon Trust Standard for Supply Chain launch at the British Academy in London, England on September 30th, 2015 the ratio of men to women attending the event was similar to what Hughenden Consulting reports. Is it time for a change?
 
CREATING A GENERATION OF FEMALE LEADERS IN SUPPLY CHAIN AND LOGISTICS
 
Indeed, the key may lay in attracting more female talent within the younger generations through university programs. Another way of targeting future female talent could be through informative visits to schools from Supply Chain and Logistics organizations. Female leadership experience and success stories in supply chain and logistics could be inspirational, motivational, and encouraging.
 
Younger generations need strong role models and the certainty that they will be joining a workforce where not only their skills will be recognized and remunerated equally than those of their male counterparts but they will also have the chance to ascend on the career ladder to positions of leadership.
 
TRADITIONAL LEADERSHIP VS. 21ST CENTURY LEADERSHIP
 
Williams says that it is clear that Supply Chain needs more advanced skills such as people skills and communication, what it is still called “soft skills,” rather than just subject expertise.
 
“Women are generally better equipped naturally than men in this respect,” he says, “so, industry really should be working out how to attract more women into a role that still looks very traditional.”
 
SO, WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO REACH THE TOP IN A MALE-DOMINATED INDUSTRY?
 
According to a recent KPMG Women’s Leadership Study: Moving Women Forward into Leadership Roles, to empower more women to reach the higher ranks, there is a need to focus on three key main areas: Socializing leadership early in life, modeling leadership, and building confidence through role models and networking, and providing or enhancing corporate development programs in order to move women forward.
 
The paper goes on identifying the specific areas corporations should be looking at:
  • Identify and develop those high-performing women who aspire to lead
  • Provide the kind of individual feedback that reinforces and builds confidence and high-performance
  • Build empowered and effective networks with the express role of generating opportunities for women’s leadership growth
  • Actively give qualified women leadership opportunities
  • Put in place challenging and aspirational career paths for women at work
The most effective leaders count with attributes such as the ability to generate collaboration, effective communication, and respect. The path to leadership should follow and be characterized by the same qualities. It is important to keep in mind that diverse perspectives and experiences offer a strategic advantage at the leadership level.
 
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