CARGOCONNECT-APRIL2026 - Flipbook - Page 78
Panel 1
The Rise of Women in Modern-Day Supply Chains
“The real value lies in ensuring that
products reach the right place, at
the right time and at the right cost,
while remaining competitive in the
market. This understanding shaped
my career direction and strengthened my passion for the supply chain
function. Since then, the supply chain
discipline has evolved signi昀椀cantly
and gained increasing strategic
importance across organisations.
In the post-pandemic era especially, supply chain management has received
greater attention as a critical business enabler, reinforcing its role at the core
of organisational resilience and competitiveness. I clearly recall attending
my 昀椀rst industry conference in early 2019 while leading logistics operations,
where I was the only woman speaker at the event. Since then, there has been
a noticeable and encouraging shift. Today, women’s participation in supply
chain leadership forums and industry conferences is steadily increasing.
It is particularly encouraging to see a strong presence of women leaders
contributing insights and perspectives, re昀氀ecting the positive progress the
industry is making toward greater diversity and inclusion.”
MANIKA BHARGAVA, Operations Director– India Integrated Supply
Chain, Dow Chemical International (MODERATOR)
“I strongly relate to the perspective that while supply chain is
a demanding field, it is also a
deliberate and rewarding career
choice. It is encouraging to see that
organisations today are increasingly supportive of women leaders,
creating an enabling environment
for professional growth. One of the
key reasons I chose to continue in
supply chain management is the
dynamic nature of the function. I am naturally inclined toward taking on
new challenges and learning continuously, and supply chain o昀昀ers exactly
that environment. Over the past ten years, my journey across multiple
industries and diverse organisational environments has further strengthened
my commitment to this profession. Each day presents a new situation to
analyse and a new problem to solve, making the role both engaging and
intellectually stimulating. This mindset also re昀氀ects my broader personal
approach to growth, where I actively seek opportunities to develop new skills.
On a personal note, I have lived and worked across several cities in India,
which has further broadened my professional exposure and perspective.”
SANYUKTA SEN, Supply Chain Leader – Indian Subcontinent, Philips
(Personal Health Div.)
78 | CARGOCONNECT APRIL 2026
“I have encountered several
perceptions about the supply
chain profession, including the
belief that it was traditionally
male-dominated and involved
extensive 昀椀eld-level interaction
across operational environments
such as transportation and
warehousing. However, I viewed
these aspects as opportunities
rather than limitations. The
ability to engage effectively with stakeholders across organisational
hierarchies requires adaptability and professional versatility, which are
essential qualities in supply chain roles. I therefore chose to approach the
昀椀eld as a challenge and an opportunity for growth. Over the past eight to
nine years, my experience in supply chain management has consistently
reinforced my decision to enter this profession. At no point have I felt that
this was the wrong career choice. While the function can sometimes be
perceived as demanding and less visible in terms of recognition—given that
consistent performance often goes unnoticed unless disruptions occur—it
remains a highly impactful and rewarding domain that plays a critical role
in organisational success.”
DISHA GARG, Regional Logistics Partner, Hilti India
“Traditionally, supply chain roles
were often associated primarily
with physical operations. Over
time, the function has evolved
signi昀椀cantly to include strategy,
digitalisation, analytics and
integrated planning. As the scope
of supply chain has expanded,
it has naturally created more
opportunities for women professionals to enter and grow within
the 昀椀eld. Organisations have also increasingly shifted toward skill-based
hiring practices, which has contributed to the development of a stronger
and more diverse talent pipeline. As more women acquire specialised
education and professional training in supply chain management, the
availability of quali昀椀ed talent has increased substantially over the past 20
years. In sectors such as healthcare, women have historically maintained
strong representation in clinical and nursing roles. However, functions
such as supply chain, engineering and information technology previously
had comparatively lower participation. Today, improvements in education
access and structured skill development initiatives are helping address this
imbalance and encouraging greater participation of women.”
NANDINI GOKHALE, AVP– Supply Chain Management, Fortis Healthcare
