Women in Supply Chain: Are the Doors Open?

You'd like to think that the people who manage a global supply chain are as diverse as the pieces that make it up. But that's not always the case. To be sure, there are a good number of women occupying senior-level management positions in various parts of the supply chain today. Among them is Lynn Torrel, senior vice president of global supply chain and strategic accounts with Avnet, Inc. She has amassed 18 years of experience managing complex global supply chains for customers of a major distributor of electronics components and computer products. In this episode, Torrel traces the path of her career, and relates how she ended up in supply-chain management. (As with so many people in that discipline, it was something of a sideways journey.) She also offers a candid assessment of the leadership opportunities available to women today, in terms of advancement, mentorship and compensation.