Supply chain leaders negotiate daily, but hesitate when it comes to their own careers. Here’s how to apply professional negotiation skills to job offers and build long-term growth.

In this interview, Sam Achampong, Regional Director for CIPS, discusses how supply chain and procurement executives must rethink their role in a world of AI disruption, sustainability pressure, and mounting volatility. Achampong shares practical strategies to leverage technology, build resilience, and develop human skills for impactful, future-ready leadership.

From a single laptop in Vancouver to a 30-strong global team, Lean Six Search's journey is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and relentless ambition. CEO Derek shares a moving letter on how the company was built from scratch after a major life pivot, growing into an internationally recognized executive search firm.

Philip Ideson, founder of Art of Procurement, spoke with Lean Six Search about transforming procurement from a cost-focused, compliance-driven department into a strategic enabler that orchestrates ecosystems. He urges leaders to think beyond contracts and metrics, to embrace technology without losing sight of the importance of human-driven collaboration.

Today’s most effective supply chain executives no longer choose between upskilling and cross-skilling—they become polymaths. By mastering multiple disciplines and connecting silos, polymath leaders like Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, and Benjamin Franklin have repeatedly transformed organizations and industries.

In a world where business is truly global, centralized leadership teams create blind spots and slow innovation. Derek Lutz shares insights on why decentralizing your executive team across continents and embracing cultural diversity isn’t just a trend, it’s a strategic imperative for building competitive, adaptable, and responsive companies that win in today’s complex markets.

Derek Lutz redefines remote work as “work from anywhere”-not just from home, but from coworking spaces, airport lounges, or even a gas station parking lot. Drawing from his experience leading distributed teams across continents, Lutz demonstrates that productivity and innovation thrive when leaders build systems rooted in flexibility, trust, and clear priorities.

The most successful supply chain leaders distinguish themselves through adaptability, communication, and strategic thinking-skills often mislabeled as “soft.” This article challenges the outdated term, arguing these are essential professional skills that drive organizational success