I was invited as a guest on SupplyChainBrain’s Podcast, where I shared my insights on what it takes to be a great Chief Supply Chain Officer (CSCO). The host, Bob Bowman, asked interesting questions regarding the role’s history and its importance in organizations today.
We discussed the career paths of supply chain leaders, how the CSCO role started, and its evolution in general. As a headhunter focused on executive search, our team has been working on supply chain roles for quite some time now. From experience and observation, having an end-to-end knowledge of the space is a must for CSCOs, which I discussed more in the episode.
In addition, we discussed other skills that a great CSCO should have, gladly sharing more about the CHAIN Leadership Model, which can be found in the book I co-wrote, “From Source to Sold.” I also shared how these skills are important both internally and externally. We also dived into how technological skills come into play in all this.
Another topic we covered was education—its current progress, the incredible programs available, and real-world applications. Additionally, we discussed the significance of CSCOs in organizations and the potential for them to assume CEO roles in the future. I also shared an analogy comparing supply chains to an organization’s nervous system.
Listen to the full discussion here:
About SupplyChainBrain Podcast:
The SupplyChainBrain Podcast features in-depth conversations with industry practitioners, academics, consultants, and other experts on every aspect of supply chain management and international trade. Available for streaming or downloading. Hosted by Robert Bowman, Editor-in-Chief of SupplyChainBrain.
Questions Asked:
- How did the career path to being a chief supply chain officer change over the years?
- What other kinds of skills do you need to bring to the table now in order to be a truly great CSCO?
- To what degree should supply chain leaders also have some knowledge of analytics and technology? Do they need to possess those skills as well?
- How good a job do you think universities are doing today to prepare their students for a career in the supply chain?
Show notes:
- [02:13] “I’m wondering how the career path to chief supply chain officer or an equivalent of that position has changed over the years in terms of where people used to start to get to that point, where they used to come from, and how they ended up there. How have you seen that change happening?”
- [06:36] ”Just because you’re called a chief supply chain officer doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re at that peak performance and peak abilities that you describe as being a great one.”
- [08:14] “What other kinds of skills do you need to bring to the table now in order to be a truly great CSCO?”
- [12:06] “Then there’s also because the supply chain is, by its very definition, a series of relationships, both within and external to the organization. You also have to be very good at talking to your supply chain partners and your suppliers; that’s a skill all unto itself, I would think.”
- [14:12] “To what degree should this individual, in addition to all those other skills you just mentioned to me, also have some knowledge of analytics and technology? Do they need to possess those skills as well? Or can they rely on somebody else to provide that side of their skill set?”
- [16:57] “How good a job do you think universities are doing today to prepare their students for a career in the supply chain, according to your definition of what makes a great chief supply chain officer?”
- [20:53] “The CSCO of today, to what extent is that position able to serve as a springboard to the position of CEO?”
Quotes from the Episode:
About Radu Palamariu:
Excited to join SupplyChainBrain’s podcast and exchange insights with Bob Bowman! I am, Radu Palamariu, Managing Director of Alcott Global for APAC and Europe, working on C-level and top management executive search assignments with Top Fortune 500 companies and local conglomerates in value chains for manufacturing, logistics, transportation, supply chain management, and e-commerce and also the co-author of “From Source to Sold – Stories of Leadership in Supply Chain”.
Alcott Global provides Executive Search Solutions for key positions at all pillars of the end-to-end value chain: planning, procurement, manufacturing, logistics, e-commerce, and overall supply chain operations.
After a successful event in Singapore last April 18, we are excited to meet everyone in Zurich on May 16 at the Makers & Movers face-to-face event. We bring together value chain executives to connect, collaborate, and innovate—a forum focused on business value creation.
The case study submission for the Leaders in Supply Chain Awards has started and will end on May 31st. We look forward to celebrating and awarding the Top 30 Leaders in Supply Chain of 2024 for their achievements in digitizing operations, decarbonization, sustainability, and creating a diverse and equitable environment for supply chain teams to thrive and excel.
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