Kathy Wengel, Worldwide Vice President, Johnson & Johnson Supply Chain (JJSC), an AWESOME Advisor and recipient of the 2014 AWESOME Legendary Leadership Award, served as a keynote speaker. As part of the conference, Gartner held a Women in Supply Chain luncheon featuring a report on the 2017 AWESOME/Gartner research and a discussion by a panel of AWESOME leaders.
Kathy Wengel spoke about how J&J’s large and complex supply chain is transforming to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing healthcare environment. J&J is focusing on agile customer solutions to deliver where and how customers need and want to access their products. She highlighted the importance of creative thinking, data transparency, disruptive technologies and partnerships to drive the innovations that will enable billions of people around the world to live longer, healthier lives.
At the luncheon, Dana Stiffler, VP Research for Gartner, reported on key findings of the 2017 Women in Supply Chain Survey, and led a discussion with panelists Ann Drake, AWESOME founder and CEO of DSC Logistics; Meri Stevens, VP Strategy & Deployment, Johnson & Johnson; and Lisa Kulok, Sr. VP Global Supply Chain Operations, Columbia Sportswear Company.
The panel discussed the importance of women being able to take risks and take on roles that prepare them for the next level. They suggested that if women lack confidence to take on those risks, they too often opt out of important developmental opportunities. When asked what they would like to see happen in the future, answers included:
- more supply chain women in top jobs in their respective companies in the next 20 years
- leaders engaging and encouraging young women globally to make a difference
- women leaders giving back and personally getting engaged in supporting and developing other women