Laura Madajewski, CPA, MBA

In a recent conversation, Supply Chain Now’s Scott Luton gained perspective from Sylvia Wilks, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Lamb Weston, who shared a powerful point of view on what it takes to lead in today’s increasingly complex, high-stakes supply chain environment. Her journey, from leading transformative initiatives at Starbucks to shaping global operations at Kimberly-Clark and REI, offers a consistent message: Success in supply chain isn’t just about systems or strategy. It’s about people, integration, and clarity of purpose. Wilks’ passion for supply chain was sparked during her time at Starbucks, where she led a bold initiative to insource instant coffee production. What began as a business case evolved into a transformative opportunity. “Seeing the entire chain, from strategy through operations, work seamlessly toward a common goal reinforced how much value organizations unlock when supply chain subfunctions operate collaboratively rather than in silos,” she explained. The idea of breaking down silos to create an integrated value chain has remained a central theme throughout Wilks’ leadership career.   The Power of People and Integration Across organizations of all sizes, Wilks sees a common thread: The challenges may be similar, but outcomes depend on how well teams work together. “My passion…

Podcasting has become a crowded — and noisy — field. It seems these days everyone has a mic — and a platform. The supply chain really entered the international spotlight during COVID-19, when goods piled up at ports during stay-at-home mandates. The rapid rise in e-commerce kept the focus on the supply chain as consumers demanded to be kept up to date on when all their stuff was going to be delivered. Supply chain-focused podcasts emerged to shed light on shutdowns and disruptions as well as the advancements in moving goods from points A to B — and sometimes C, D, and E. But not all podcasts take a serious look at the supply chain. There was a rash of silly content when an Evergreen container ship got stuck in the Suez Canal, and whenever a critter steals an Uber Eats delivery, the doorbell camera footage airs everywhere. We love a funny squirrel video just as much as everyone else does, but to maximize your supply chain podcast’s reach and impact, you should treat your subject matter with the seriousness it deserves. At Supply Chain Now, we pride ourselves on giving the best and brightest in the industry a voice,…