Two leading supply chain professionals, Rick Blasgen and Dr. Nancy Nix, serving as moderators at a recent CSCMP Roundtable, shared thinking about the skills and types of experiences that are critical for effective supply chain leadership.
Rick Blasgen is President and CEO of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP). Nancy Nix is the Executive Director of AWESOME and formerly Executive Director of the EMBA Program and Professor of Supply Chain Practice at the Neeley School of Business at TCU in Fort Worth, TX.
Blasgen cited work experiences that include inventory management, transportation, warehousing, materials planning, production planning and manufacturing, customer service and procurement – as well as qualities that include excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to sustain collaborative relationships.
Dr. Nix stressed that leaders need a blend of “soft” and “hard” skills to address today’s challenges. AWESOME panellists in the past have credited a variety of professional experiences with helping them develop a broad range of skills from which to draw in new leadership roles. Leaders are advised to identify their gaps and find ways to fill them.