Only five percent of top-level supply chain positions in Fortune 500 companies are held by women, compared to 15 percent of all executive officer positions, according to a Fortune report.
However, increasing the number of women in these top-level supply chain positions could catalyze an increase of women in the C-suite, as supply chain responsibilities entail working with a number of business units and as the supply chain is turning into an innovative and strategic element of a business' operations, according to the report.
Beth Ford, executive vice president and chief supply chain and operations officer at Land O'Lakes, said in the report the demands of the job may be a deterrent for women to enter the industry as the supply chain work schedule can often require a lot of travel and work hours in the field, which can be difficult for women wanting to build a family. However, Ms. Ford adds that women are increasingly studying supply chain because of how important it is for many businesses. The report indicates 37 percent of students in university supply chain courses are women.
"This field has transformed," Ms. Ford said in the report. "It is a critical role in the C-suite of any business. The representation of women in this area is not where it needs to be. At the same time, it could be viewed as tremendously exciting. The opportunities are there for women."
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