What: The supply chain crisis presents an opportunity to rebuild more resilient systems by leveraging women-owned businesses' proven capabilities in strategic foresight, adaptability, and ecosystem thinking.

Why it is important: With research showing companies achieving 56% better performance through inclusive practices, women's leadership approaches in supply chain management offer concrete solutions to current market challenges while driving substantial business growth.

The global supply chain system requires fundamental transformation, and women-owned businesses are uniquely positioned to lead this change. Despite receiving less than 1% of global corporate supply chain spend, these enterprises demonstrate exceptional capabilities in navigating complexity and building resilient operations. Their approach combines strategic foresight with practical adaptability, characteristics increasingly vital in today's volatile market environment. Women leaders excel at balancing competing priorities, from cost efficiency to sustainability, while maintaining strong collaborative networks that enhance supply chain resilience. Their ecosystem-focused thinking creates value through trust-based relationships rather than mere transactions, offering a more sustainable model for future operations. This leadership style aligns perfectly with modern supply chain demands, where success requires managing multiple stakeholders and adapting to rapid change. The article argues that this moment of disruption presents an opportunity to reimagine supply chain operations, with women's leadership providing the strategic vision and practical capabilities needed for successful transformation.

IADS Notes: The article's emphasis on women-led supply chain transformation is strongly supported by recent industry developments. In December 2024, BCG research revealed a USD 32 trillion opportunity in women-focused products and services, with women controlling 75% of global discretionary spending. By March 2025, while FTSE 350 retailers achieved 42% female board representation, only half of major retailers met the 40% women in leadership target, highlighting the persistent gap between governance and executive roles. The business case for women's leadership strengthened further when research in May 2025 showed companies with inclusive practices achieving a 50% reduction in turnover risk and 56% increase in performance. Most recently, the July 2025 UN Women report revealed how women's proven ability to balance multiple priorities - demonstrated by managing 4.2 hours of daily unpaid care work compared to men's 1.7 hours - directly translates to more effective supply chain management in today's complex business environment.

The supply chain reboot starts with women-owned businesses