89: Trust First, Business Second: Navigating Middle East Supply Chains with Himani Kanwal

In this episode we sit down with seasoned supply chain leader and consultant Himani to trace her remarkable 25-year journey across end-to-end operations in India, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East. From starting as one of only three women in her MBA program to leading factories and navigating complex regional dynamics, Himani breaks down what it truly takes to adapt supply chains to volatile, high-touch markets like the Middle East. She pulls back the curtain on high-impact operational transformations, sharing how she achieved an 11% inventory drawdown for a major cosmetics retailer and boosted critical healthcare stock availability from 65% to 85% by embedding planners directly into commercial teams. Switching to her consultant lens, she spotlights major corporate blind spots, emphasizing why companies must prioritize agility, data governance, and responsiveness over a sole focus on forecast accuracy. Finally, Himani discusses her passion for giving back through Women in Supply Chain India, offering advice on creating flexible, resourceful, and future-ready networks for the next generation of women leaders.   ✨ Connect with Himani! 📱LinkedIn | Himani 💻Learn more on the topics discussed here:  McKinsey & Company: Supply Chain Risk Pulse and Managing Volatility Building Resilient Local Supply Chains in the Middle East ✨ Connect with us! 📱LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/she-supply-chains/ 📱INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/shesupplychainspodcast/ 📱TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@shesupplychainspodcast 🎧 Call to Action Follow She Supply Chains on your favorite podcast app Leave us a review — it helps more listeners find the show Share this episode with someone you think would love it