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to the marketplace ? It ’ s not just about the products . They have process improvement arms and consulting arms that look at your operations and provide ideas on how you can better yourself as an organization .

Carlson says that the vendors she has gravitated to the most are willing to take risks and do something a little outside the norm . To get to that , though , you also must demonstrate a high level of knowledge and expertise and that you can also influence others in your own organization .

Villain recounts the number of stakeholders — the customers within supply chain , and then outside — and when she thinks about fostering that collaboration , she believes it starts with communication : encouraging collaboration amongst all the stakeholders to truly drive collective innovations and progress . And you cannot foster collaboration without transparency and trust . She says , “ When we ’ re challenging each other , we ’ re promoting trust .”

The shape of things to come The future of healthcare requires all parties to be agile and able to meet the demands of customers , as well as the demands of each other . And there is more emphasis on data to identify trends and patterns . Enabling a data driven organization will soon become the primary way to optimize a supply chain operation . And yes , AI and predictive analytics is part of that equation .

When Villain thinks about supply chain , some of the questions are plain :

• How can I prepare for future demands ?

• How can I prepare for the advent of reducing waste ?

• How can I prepare to ensure that supplies are available when and where they ’ re needed at the right price ?

C-suite leaders who are women of color

“ I see the future of supply chain as the efficient distribution of medical innovations , not supplies . Because we tend to talk about supply chain and then only assume ‘ supply ’ with that . I want us to elevate the conversation . In the end , it ’ s really an intelligent and efficient distribution of medical innovations and resources .”

— Régine Villain , SVP , Chief Supply Chain & Support Services

Officer at Ochsner Health

This is where a collaborative and trusted partnership really comes into account . Where everyone can get to a point where healthcare supply chain matches where manufacturing supply chain is already — forecasting demand for medical supplies , medications , equipment , etc ., and optimizing inventory levels , while reducing cost in other areas . This is also where sustainability and a focus on waste has also become an area of focus ,

As Villain concludes , “ I believe that the healthcare supply chain can play a very critical role in promoting sustainability , reducing the environmental impact and footprint and making sure that we ’ re establishing grid practices now .” It ’ s clear that all leaders are on a journey with that .

Armed with a diverse set of skills , including strategic thinking , adaptability , and collaborative prowess , these leaders have demonstrated resilience in the face of evolving challenges . As the healthcare industry continues to undergo transformative changes driven by technological advancements , global events , and an increased focus on value-based

care , women leaders in supply chain roles are not merely prepared ; they are catalysts for innovation and positive change . Their ability to foster inclusive cultures , leverage data-driven insights , and advocate for sustainable and efficient supply chain practices positions them as instrumental contributors to the resilience and success of healthcare organizations in the years to come . Through their visionary leadership , women in healthcare supply chain roles are not just navigating the future — they are actively shaping it . ◼

References 1 https :// www . gartner . com / en / newsroom / press-releases / 2023-06-29-gartner-says-26-percentof-supply-chain-csuite-roles-now-filled-by-women 2 https :// www . mckinsey . com / featured-insights / diversity-and-inclusion / women-in-the-workplace 3 https :// hbr . org / 2016 / 11 / why-diverse-teams-aresmarter 4 https :// insight . kellogg . northwestern . edu / article / better _ decisions _ through _ diversity 5 https :// www . mckinsey . com / capabilities / people-and-organizational-performance / our-insights / delivering-through-diversity 6 https :// www . ncbi . nlm . nih . gov / pmc / articles / PMC7812115 / 7 https :// hbr . org / 2020 / 03 / the-key-to-inclusive-leadership 8 https :// www . ncbi . nlm . nih . gov / pmc / articles / PMC8994436 /

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