Alan Watts once wrote that life is “all about balancing, not about being balanced.” For those of us who have spent years in the trenches of supply chain management, this insight resonates with particular force. We’ve been taught to pursue stability, to eliminate variability, to build fortresses of inventory and rigid contracts that promise predictability….
Category: Leadership
The Wisdom of Balance: What Confucius Teaches Us About Supply Chain Excellence
Over two millennia ago, Confucius observed a fundamental truth about human progress: “Learning without thought is labor lost. Thought without learning is intellectual death.” As I reflect on this quote, I’m struck by how profoundly this ancient wisdom applies to our modern, fast-paced industry. We live in an era of unprecedented information availability. Every day…
The Six Spokes of Supply Chain Excellence: Building a Balanced and Resilient Network
Just as Darius Foroux’s Six Spokes Theory emphasizes the importance of balancing body, mind, work, love, money, and play for an optimal life. I believe that the supply chain management requires a similar holistic approach. A truly resilient and efficient supply chain operates like a well-balanced wheel, with six critical spokes working in harmony to…
How Muhtar Kent’s Leadership Framework Can Be a Guide to Supply Chain Excellence
As supply chain professionals, we constantly seek proven frameworks that can elevate our operations from good to exceptional. Cem Kozlu’s insights in “Liderin Takım Çantası” (Toolbox of the Leader) offer a compelling perspective through Muhtar Kent’s leadership approach: the Leader-Strategy-People-Operations quartet. I find this framework particularly resonant for our field. Understanding the Quartet Muhtar Kent’s…



