Talking Supply Chain: Women Ascend the Supply Chain Ranks

Women made gains in the supply chain workforce in 202 and now make up 41% of the total workforce, according to a new survey from Gartner. However, while women have grown their over ranks in the past year, the growth rate in executive leadership is a bit slower, albeit still at a record high.

“It’s particularly encouraging to see women make gains at the senior executive level, as we know that when a woman holds the top supply chain position this has a positive correlation with more women in leadership and in all roles through that organization,” said Caroline Chumakov, director analyst in the Gartner Supply Chain Practice.

Overall, women in the workforce gained two percentage points in the 2023 survey, to 41% from 2022’s 39%. The total was also 41% in the 2021 survey. At the frontline level, though, women make up only 31% of senior manager positions and 34% of managers/supervisors, up just one percentage point in each category.

Chumakov joined Talking Supply Chain podcast host Brian Straight to discuss the Gartner report, some of the details she found interesting, and areas where she believes more work needs to be done.