Women are Reshaping Global Supply Chains, Yet Leadership Gaps Continue Across Industries
Supply chains rarely make headlines when everything is working smoothly. However, when a shipment is delayed, a supplier shuts down, or geopolitical tensions disrupt trade, their importance becomes clear. Behind these increasingly complicated networks, women are taking on larger roles across logistics, procurement, manufacturing, technology, and operations.
The shift is visible in the numbers. The 2025 Gartner/AWESOME Women in Supply Chain report found that women make up 41% of the overall supply chain workforce, the highest level recorded in the study.
Still, the picture changes higher up the corporate ladder. Women accounted for just 11% of chief supply chain officer positions in 2025, showing that workforce participation has not yet translated into equal representation in top leadership roles.
A Bigger Role in Business Decisions
Supply chain management is no longer simply about moving products from one place to another. It now sits much closer to the centre of business strategy.
From supplier risks, increased costs, and artificial intelligence to sustainability and evolving customer demands, the supply chain leaders must deal with all these issues at once. The increasing number of women in these positions become part of decision-making regarding potential disruptions of the company’s functioning.
Technologies change the requirements of the profession. AI and data analysis are introduced to improve such aspects as forecasting, logistics, and inventory management. This means that a person who works in this field needs to be experienced in operations and technologies at the same time.
The logistics industry aims to open more doors for women by introducing programs concerning the professional growth of women in this industry, highlighting leadership and other relevant programs. An example of a program for women can be found at DHL. They note that logistics has always been considered a male industry.
Women are Making an Impact Across the Industry
The growing number of women in supply chain leadership can be seen in different parts of the industry. GXO Logistics recognised three women through its 2026 Women in Supply Chain Awards. Donna Del Rosso was recognised for her work in data-centre logistics across the Americas and Asia Pacific.
Natalee Marcano received recognition for work involving employee experience and inclusion, while Hannah Griffiths was recognised for contributions to transportation efficiency and continuous improvement.
Their roles reflect how broad supply chain management has become. The work now stretches from transportation and warehousing to data, workforce management and operational improvement.
Representation at the Top Remains a Challenge
While more women are entering the industry, reaching senior leadership remains difficult. Gartner’s 2024 research found that women represented 40% of the supply chain workforce. However, only 29% of organizations surveyed had direct management-scorecard accountability for increasing the number of women leaders.
This gap has put greater attention on mentorship, sponsorship, leadership development, flexible working arrangements and clearer career paths.
The issue is not simply about bringing more women into supply chain jobs. It is also about ensuring they have opportunities to move into decision-making positions as their careers progress.
The Road Ahead
Global supply chains will face continued disruption by technology and changing customer expectations. Business processes will also shift, and diversity may become increasingly central to corporate efforts to develop organizational structures.
Women are already leading the way in these efforts, from managing large-scale logistics networks to adopting technology and enhancing supply chain functions. What is needed now is to transform women’s involvement in these areas into increased representation among those at the helm.
For businesses, this translates into doing more than recruiting; it requires creating work environments in which women can thrive and advance to leadership positions. As the importance of supply chains to corporations increases, the women managing them become more significant.
