More senior women in purchasing makes sound business sense

In a recent global survey by Bain and Company of 1,800 business people, almost 80 per cent were convinced of the  benefits of gender parity in the supply sector. In CPO Agenda’s latest Economic Climate Survey, almost one-third of the respondents said less than five per cent of senior procurement roles (two top levels) in the organisation were filled by women. So, the question needs to be asked. Why aren’t there more women on the upper rungs of the career ladder?

Even within organisations with senior leaders advocating more women in the boardroom and on the management committee, there is a reluctant recognition that progress in this arena is too slow, and that organisational and attitudinal change takes time. What is encouraging for the procurement profession is to see that number six on the Fortune list of the global top 10 most powerful women is Barbara Kux, Head of Supply Chain Management and Chief Sustainability Officer at Siemens. Every organisation needs to find its own way around this issue. However to create  an environment for women to succeed, they should consider eight steps.

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