Women in Supply Chain: A Conversation with Rachael Clark, Meiling Chen, and Nina Anttila

In this special episode of Masters of Digital Transformation, we are celebrating International Women’s Day. Guest host o9’s Vice President of Product Management, Stacie Immesberger is highlighting the experiences of three women, Rachael Clark, Meiling Chen, and Nina Anttila, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Supply Chain and Logistics Excellence (SCALE) Network, who share what brought them into supply chain, what they see as the biggest challenges in the future of supply chain, and what they hope to achieve in their respective careers. This is an inspiring episode where women in supply chain—each at different stages in their career—reflect on their journeys in the industry, discuss their perspectives on the future of supply chain, and share insights on the career moments that continue to resonate with them. Key Takeaways The “aha” moment While pursuing their respective degrees, Rachael, Meiling, and Nina each had that “aha” moment where they understood the power and potential that supply chains have in connecting the dots between technology and innovation. This opened a world of possibility, and each woman pivoted their initial career paths to further explore and pursue their growing interest in supply chain. The future is about resilience, sustainability, and data All three women also share their insights on some of the biggest supply chain challenges that the industry faces in the years to come. Topics that were top-of-mind included continuing to build resilient supply chains that are designed to respond to disruption or market changes, creating a sustainable, circular economy that helps manufacturers close the supply chain loop, and continuing to invest in data-driven systems that will propel the capabilities of business planning. Staying curious on the path forward A common thread throughout the conversation was how each woman cultivated a sense of curiosity and tenacity throughout their careers by exploring hard problems and finding potential solutions, seeking ways to elevate the supply chain function within corporations, and helping teams embrace digital transformation, all while guiding and inspiring others along the way.