This year ’ s research reveals some hardfought gains at the top , with women ’ s representation in the C-suite at the highest it has ever been . According to McKinsey & Co ’ s 2023 Women in the Workplace 2023 report , 2 women represent roughly one in four C-suite leaders , and women of color just one in 16 . Does this mean that supply chain is ahead of the trend ? And yet , with lagging progress in the middle of the pipeline — and a persistent underrepresentation of women of color — true parity remains painfully out of reach .

In speaking with several women supply chain leaders in healthcare systems across the country — Régine Villain , SVP , Chief Supply Chain & Support Services Officer at Ochsner Health ; Sarah Charai , Executive Director , Supply Chain Operations at Cleveland Clinic ; Jennifer Carlson , Vice President of Supply Chain at Boston Medical ; and Candice Pytlik , Vice President , Strategic Sourcing and P2P at Henry Ford Health — several major themes emerged on the state of women in supply chain leaders , their ability to impact change on all levels and how healthcare is focused on facing challenges head on .

“ There ’ s a real feeling of paying it forward to others . The increased visibility of women leaders is encouraging — and seeing that representation across gender and race — is key .”

— Sarah Charai , Executive Director , Supply Chain Operations at

Cleveland Clinic

VERSUS

Diversity impacts decision making and improves outcomes More and more , women are making their mark by being visible and active in the advancement of female leaders . People bring different skills , perspectives , approaches to the process — based on background , history , experience . As Sarah Charai relates , the more perspectives you have , the more creative and innovative the outcome or solution . Organizations , groups and programs focused on the advancement of women and BIPOC employees bring an amazing amount of value . We know that women still aren ’ t represented equally in leadership roles , and we still have a gender gap . It ’ s the awareness of this and an organization ’ s commitment to address it that is going to drive change .

Value analysis is integral to supply chain success As organizations strive for greater efficiency and cost-effectiveness in the delivery of healthcare services , women in supply chain are finding themselves at the forefront of decision-making processes . The emphasis on value analysis underscores the importance of strategic procurement , innovative sourcing , and the careful evaluation of products and services to optimize both quality and cost . Women professionals in this field are driving change by leveraging their expertise in supply chain management to navigate the complexities of healthcare procurement , negotiate advantageous contracts , and ensure the delivery of high-quality products while maximizing value for healthcare organizations . And there is an underlying sentiment that women are uniquely adept at handling diverse perspectives from clinicians and supply chain managers . This shift towards value-driven decision-making not only empowers women in healthcare supply chain roles but also contributes to the overall resilience and sustainability of the healthcare system .

Candice Pytlik recalls that with the pandemic and so many other critical issues to focus on , a lot of things went by the wayside — including the value analysis teams . Over the past year , Henry Ford Health has made great strides to restart those teams and with that has come increased engagement and involvement .

As Jennifer Carlson of Boston Medical notes , value analysis is not a core competency in most supply chains yet . But this is a di-

“ It ’ s no longer as simple as price reductions .

We must get more creative , more innovative .

We must look at clinical outcomes , and we need to look at the processes . We must look at the waste and the utilization standardization . It ’ s about stepping outside of our traditional supply chain world and then interacting with stakeholders to find opportunities to drive value .”

— Candice Pytlik , Vice President , Strategic Sourcing and P2P at Henry Ford Health

14 SUPPLY CHAIN OPTIMIZATION Issue 8 / 2024