In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott Luton welcomes Lushentha Naidoo, Managing Director of the European Supplier Diversity Program (ESDP), for a candid conversation on purpose-driven leadership and the business value of inclusive procurement. Drawing on a 14-year transformation career at Unilever and a personal journey from apartheid-era South Africa to global operations leadership, Lushentha shares how caring as a leadership “superpower” can fuel innovation, save jobs, and build psychologically safe teams. She explains how supplier diversity isn’t charity. It’s a competitive advantage that increases agility, strengthens resilience, and unlocks fresh thinking when disruption hits. She also breaks down how ESDP bridges corporates and diverse suppliers through a fast-growing database, networking events, and the Inclusive Procurement Academy, teaching pitching, storytelling, and “corporate readiness.” From real success stories (mentorship that kept a founder in the fight) to pragmatic guidance for senior leaders doubling down on DEI, this conversation offers actionable takeaways: define the why, build inclusive cultures, and widen the supplier funnel so the best partner wins.   This episode is hosted by Scott Luton, and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton.   Additional Links & Resources Check out all the great resources and information mentioned during…

Let the National Supply Chain Day celebrations continue! On Monday, April 29th, Supply Chain Now celebrated National Supply Chain Day with a very special live stream. Hosts Scott Luton and Mary Kate Love were joined by Enrique Alvarez from Vector Global Logistics, and discussed the importance of celebrating the people of the supply chain industry, highlighting the various roles and responsibilities that keep the global supply chain running. Listen in as they also discussed trends in the industry, including the rise of AI, sustainability, and cybersecurity, and highlighted the creation of new jobs and career opportunities in the industry, emphasizing the need for continuous learning and adaptation. Join us for this episode and help us continue to show gratitude and empathy to our incredible supply chain professionals and stay tuned for more programming for National Supply Chain Day in the future!