An Interview With Alejandra Jover, Winner of the 2023 Women in Supply Chain Award

For the fourth year, Supply & Demand Chain Executive has again released their 2023 Women in Supply Chain Award winners. We are proud to announce that Supplyframe’s Alejandra Jover has been named one of the winners. 

The award was given to 341 winners across a wide range of industries based on their unique stories that showcased their achievements and offered a snapshot of their day-to-day lives as women in the supply chain. We sat down with Alejandra to learn more about her story and what brought her into the supply chain industry:   

Can You Tell Us About Your Role at Supplyframe? 

As a director on the solutions consulting team at Supplyframe, I’m actively helping companies harness the power of data, market intelligence, and cross-functional collaboration, specifically focusing on new product design, risk management, and electronic commodity sourcing strategies. Commonly referred to as pre-sales consulting, it’s a significant role that balances software technical knowledge, business process consulting, customer value engineering, and tailored demo presentations. 

I especially enjoy collaborating with companies across various industries to understand their unique supply chain challenges and identify ways our solutions can add the most value, increasing revenue and profitability, reducing risk, and improving team efficiency. 

As part of a small team, we wear many hats and collectively contribute to developing Supplyframe’s go-to-market strategy, product roadmap, and internal processes in close partnership with product management, sales, marketing, and customer success teams – ensuring a synchronized approach toward achieving our customers’ objectives. I’m also excited to continue expanding the partnership with our parent company, Siemens, as we jointly innovate on end-to-end enterprise digital threads that connect all value chain elements.

What inspired You to Pursue a Career in The Supply Chain Industry?

I was fortunate to have an early start in the supply chain industry. My major at the University of Texas at Austin was Supply Chain Management, a small but growing field at the school of business led by passionate professors who worked in the industry. Growing up in South America, I was excited to find a field that encourages us to think globally and connects the world in many ways. We all know supply chains are affected by global events, but I believe supply chains have the power to shape the future of our world as well. Within the realm of supply chain, I found a unique balance between strategic thinking, alignment with macroeconomic dynamics, and the application of technical and mathematical frameworks. My initial interest in logistics and global commerce evolved as my career progressed, and I discovered the multifaceted world of supply chain technology.

I wasn’t sure where I’d end up in the vast world of possibilities within the supply chain, so I decided to learn as much as possible about it. Early in my career, I was fortunate to join a supply chain rotational program in the oil & gas industry that gave me insight into how different areas like demand planning, sourcing, manufacturing, and logistics depend on each other as essential links in the overall value chain. 

Learning how each team is crucial to the organization’s success was a great foundation. The first-hand knowledge of supply chain processes and systems I gained working in the industry was vital to eventually pivot into the technology and solutions consulting space. 

That transition to software, specifically supply chain design and optimization solutions, opened up a new world. I had the chance to collaborate with major companies across several industries like retail, CPG, food and beverage, high tech, etc., learning about their unique goals and brainstorming ways to achieve them. The common objective was to become more adaptive and react quickly to disruptions. Fast forward a few years – I’m now in a similar role at Supplyframe, where we help organizations become more resilient at the point of product design and throughout their lifecycle. 

At each stage of my career over the last decade, the best lessons came from seeing the supply chain world from different perspectives. First, working in industry and facing pressures to reduce excess inventory while building relationships with suppliers to get parts faster and at a lower cost. 

Next, zooming out and evaluating the broader picture regarding supply chain design, driving an optimal network footprint to increase service levels and reduce transportation costs. At Supplyframe, we focus on risk management and visibility at the early stages of product design. These critical perspectives must be synchronized for companies to become resilient in both expected and uncertain times.

How Do You Think The Industry Can Continue Becoming More Diverse and Inclusive?

We’re fortunate to be in the industry at a turning point as companies are becoming more intentional in their diversity and inclusion practices at the organizational level, as well as smaller teams leading by example. Great talent goes where there is an environment of collaboration and acceptance, and how we practice that daily – from meeting to meeting – makes a real difference. As leaders, mentors, and coworkers, we must cultivate an environment where all individuals are empowered to make contributions aligned with their unique strengths and duly acknowledged and celebrated. 

I applaud SDCE for leveraging its platform to spotlight women in the supply chain field, providing visibility to diverse stories, roles, and career trajectories. This is a source of inspiration, encouraging others to pursue their interests and consistently infusing their unique perspectives into their teams and organizations.

What Excites You Most About The Future of our Industry?

I’m genuinely excited to see how our roles in the supply chain will continue to evolve with the advancement of technology. As intelligence and data become increasingly visible, companies like Supplyframe play an instrumental role in removing silos among teams and across the various tiers within the value chain. 

Industry leaders are leveraging these advancements to navigate uncertainties and outsmart disruptions. I’m personally motivated to continue collaborating with organizations to delineate the optimal synergy among people, processes, and technology. I’m optimistic this journey will lead to more sustainable, collaborative, and resilient supply chains that profoundly influence the world and benefit all of us.

What Advice Would You Offer to Other Women Seeking a Career in The Supply Chain Industry?

From personal experience, I have no doubt the world of supply chain has something for everyone, no matter where you are in your career. I encourage you to start somewhere, despite the mystery of it at first. I believe the key is building self-confidence through continuous learning, embracing new – sometimes scary – challenges that help sharpen one’s skills, and seeking the right environment conducive to growth and development. 

To master something requires a significant investment of time, so prioritizing what fuels interest and passion can make the journey much more enjoyable. There will be setbacks and realizations along the way, but that’s how we learn and define our boundaries and proper priorities. 

To summarize, the key to a successful journey in the supply chain is to be genuine and become great at what you do, which builds confidence and reflects in your work and relationships. This will naturally open many doors throughout your career, allowing you to choose what suits you best and craft your own vision and path to fulfillment. 

I sincerely appreciate the advice I received from many mentors and friends throughout my career that helped me realize this and aim toward that vision.

Envisioning a More Inclusive Future, One Day at a Time 

The supply chain industry continues to make progress towards balance and inclusivity. According to Gartner Inc., 2023 saw improvements for women within roles at every level of the supply chain. 

Notably, the survey showed that 26% of C-suite roles are now filled by women, up from 19% in 2022. However, frontline roles still leave room for improvement, with women only accounting for 31% of said roles. 

At Supplyframe, we are focused on fostering a more inclusive supply chain industry by uplifting leaders like Alejandra and showcasing their stories to inspire the next generation of women in the supply chain. To learn more about Supply & Demand Chain Executive’s yearly award, read the full article here.