Beth Morgan
VP Content Operations, SCM World
With a background in research and analysis, Beth started in IT at Ovum, a UK analyst firm, then moving into supply chain in 2000. For the past two years, she has worked as part of the research team at SCM World, a cross-industry learning community of the world’s most influential supply chain practitioners. Owned and managed by Gartner, the community exists to advance the profession of supply chain management.
In an SCM World survey of the supply chain community, the one challenge that stands out is the current imbalance in terms of female representation at more senior levels of the supply chain organisation. Things even out quite a bit at manager level, but interestingly, there is greater female representation today at entry level, which bodes extremely well for redressing the balance in the future at more senior levels.
What is being done?
The many programmes that are now in place in companies around the world gives me enormous confidence that the future for women in supply chain is incredibly bright.
What needs to change?
I’d like to think there are far fewer barriers facing women today. The biggest challenge is probably a lack of understanding at school and college level of what supply chain actually is, and what it offers as a career. For most graduate and post-graduate supply chain programmes today, the balance between male and female students is almost equal, and this will inevitably filter on into workforce demographics as new generations of women enter the profession.
Any Advice for Women in Male Dominated Industries?
Supply chain is a fascinating and dynamic profession, which is in a constant state of change – the opportunities are almost endless. Don’t be afraid to move around and try new things – take advantage of career rotations into other roles. It’s also one of the most open professions I’ve encountered in terms of people’s willingness to talk and share about their experiences, so network as much as you can and ask questions to find out what it’s really like and discover where your potential lies.