1: Regenia Sanders - How Diverse Suppliers Can Transform Global Supply Chains

Diversity Rewired

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In this insightful episode of Diversity Rewired, host Nedra Dickson sits down with her best friend and supply chain expert, Regenia Sanders. Regenia shares her journey from a small town in Alabama to becoming a leading voice in supply chain management and operations. The conversation delves into the critical role of supply chain diversity, the impact of generative AI, and the importance of data integrity and governance. Regenia also discusses her role on the board of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) and the significance of showcasing innovation from small and diverse suppliers.

Key Takeaways

04:05 - Regenia's Background and Journey into Supply Chain

05:18 - Discussion on Regional Suppliers and Global Market Disruption

07:03 - Risk in Supply Chain with Small, Diverse, or Local Suppliers

09:20 - Generative AI in Supply Chain

13:28 - Data Integrity and Governance in Supply Chain

15:44 - Role of Diverse Suppliers in Tiered Supply Chains

16:52 - Supply Chain in the Boardroom and Corporate Strategy

20:25 - Regenia's Role on the Board of NMSDC and Audit Committee

22:44 - Importance of Showcasing Innovation from Diverse Suppliers

23:08 - Rapid Fire Questions

27:42 - Final Thoughts and Solutions for Diverse Suppliers in Supply Chain

Memorable Quotes

On Career Path and Supply Chain:

"During my master's work, I realized, as much as I liked engineering, I really didn't want to do it. What attracted me were roles where engineers were running big programs related to business. So, I became a consultant, leveraging my problem-solving skills in a business setting. Within about five years, I became an end-to-end supply chain practitioner."

On Supply Chain Disruptions and Local Sourcing:

"The pandemic has shown us the importance of supply chain and caused us to rethink our supply chains. Companies are now considering sourcing more locally to avoid disruptions and take advantage of tax incentives. It's about ensuring redundancy and understanding the entire supply chain, including tier-x suppliers."

On Generative AI in Supply Chain:

"Generative AI can be a great tool to help accelerate visibility and consistency of processes like supplier relationship management and procurement operations. It's important to ensure data integrity and establish good data governance to maintain trust in the information used for decision-making."

Resources Mentioned

Auburn University - https://www.auburn.edu

National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) - https://www.nmsdc.org

Accenture - https://www.accenture.com

Christian Louboutin - https://us.christianlouboutin.com

Connect with Regenia

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/regeniarsanders/

Connect with Nedra

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nedra-dickson-051b361/

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