Cultivator Profile: Celebrating International Women’s Day with Women in Supply Chain
Meet Caroline
For Caroline Tan, a manager in Grant Thornton LLP’s Sourcing & Supply Chain Advisory practice, learning is a passion and a lifelong pursuit. Whether she’s working on her own professional development, co-hosting our Curiosity Club within the Cultivators Community, or working on her book, Caroline is a Cultivator who centers learning in all she does. It’s not a surprise that she finds herself leading Learning and Education for Women in Supply Chain (WISC), a new and growing employee community within her workplace.
Seeking personal growth and advancement, Caroline did what Cultivators do and turned toward her teammates. Conversations had been ongoing between the women in her team over the prior months, and together they had begun to ask, ”What’s important to us? What do we want to change? What can we control?”
WISC’s next big genesis came when a woman in leadership sent an email that included the question, “How do you see our supply chain practice evolving in the next 5-10 years?” Caroline and her teammates knew they had a unique perspective on the answer to that question, so along with this leader and other allies, they decided to act. They architected WISC as a comprehensive strategic group organized around a shared mission to promote inclusion. This group would be committed to fostering a culture of belonging and community through the attraction, retention, and advancement of diverse talent.
In honor of International Women’s Day, I sat down with Caroline to talk about how she and the WISC team are bringing their mission to life.
The Challenge:
Communicating about inequity can be difficult. When WISC was formed, there was limited precedence for having tough conversations about race, gender, ability, and more. Caroline and the team needed to discuss some difficult topics in a way that motivated people to move forward together. They knew that pointing fingers risks building resentment, and instead sought to build a structure that supported women, while also holding space for people of all genders.
As WISC is the first group of its kind within her team, Caroline and her teammates needed to develop an organizational structure from scratch, align on a mission and vision, gather data to support their case, and show the potential for positive impact - a tall order! In supporting the WISC kickoff, their executive sponsor challenged the team to “make it actionable, make it matter, and drive tangible change.”
Rather than deterring Caroline, she welcomed the challenge. Caroline has been with the firm nearly five years, and throughout her time, her seniors have transformed the workplace into a learning environment for her, finding teaching moments and supporting her growth as a consultant. She knew this chance to lead part of WISC would align her passion with her work, allowing her to pay forward the knowledge she has built to share her enthusiasm for education.
The Idea:
To support the WISC mission, Caroline and the members of the team have created five pillars:
Learning & Education (led by Caroline!)
Community
Recruiting
Allyship & Advocacy
Advancement & Metrics
An overall lead ensures that all pillars are supporting the overall mission of WISC, and each pillar is run by a small team of members who work on WISC alongside their regular job responsibilities.
Caroline felt passionate about leading the L&E pillar because her education, like most people’s, runs deep for her- she believes learning should never stop. She laughed as she admitted she misses school, deeply. “It’s beautiful, though, that we have access to endless knowledge, and we can learn any topic of our choosing.” Since often the most time-consuming part of learning is consolidating the research and developing the framework with which to teach, Caroline believed she could bridge the gap for her team, making knowledge more available for and relevant to them. She surrounded herself with a core team that believed the same.
The Outcome:
WISC was formed in the Summer of 2022 and is still going strong. While it’s too early to report on any impact metrics, they have run their first benchmarking survey, knowing that data will make their case stronger in the long term.
In December, the L&E team, a representative group of women across levels, had the opportunity to present on the topic of “Why, and Why Now?” The team used a collaborative approach grounded in data to present to their colleagues, building a compelling story to communicate this critical message. They reported on current research and metrics and on the real impact that a lack of diversity can have on employee retention and business outcomes. To close, they invited everyone to be a part of a strategy going forward that highlights the personal and organizational benefits of equity.
In addition to showcasing this topic, Caroline saw this as a moment to champion some of the earlier career members of the Learning and Education team, well-aware that the chance to present to senior leaders and to other peers at the firm could alter or reroute a person’s career trajectory. This presentation served the dual purpose of educating the rest of the team while elevating the talented women involved.
Based on feedback and input from the practice, the L&E team then identified future education needs, such as mentorship usage, active allyship, and leading with empathy. The team is dedicatedly working toward these next education sessions.
What worked?
Asking for leadership support: Caroline sang the praises of her supportive leadership, from their executive sponsor to the other women in leadership roles around the company who shared their own experiences and encouragement. Having enthusiastic and engaged sponsorship has greatly elevated WISC and helped them secure the resources they need to thrive. As Caroline said, ”everyone we have asked has been nothing but supportive, encouraging, and excited that we’re doing this. They’re willing to see it through.”
Leveraging strengths: WISC members work in a variety of functions and roles. By harnessing their diverse skill sets, they are stronger than they would be trying to make change alone. When community members start where they are, but move in a strategic direction together, they can amplify their impact.
Build broad support: WISC might initially sound like it’s only for women, but it’s open to everyone, with the team actively encouraging allyship and engagement by employees of all genders. This inclusive attitude has allowed them to build a broader foundation of support by involving the whole team in a common mission. I love this message, as it also shares the responsibility for equity among all team members, allowing WISC to turn their minority into an engaged majority.
Model hard conversations: When presenting on WISC more broadly, Caroline and the team put a lot of care into building a data-driven case and a strong call to action. The team strives not to assign blame for yesterday’s missteps, but instead to assign today’s responsibility to the collective for moving forward to tomorrow.
Caroline’s Advice for Fellow Cultivators:
Find your people: Being a Cultivator can feel lonely sometimes, but as Caroline says, “If you see the need for a change, chances are you’re not alone.” Start acting on your idea by being vulnerable and asking trusted colleagues for feedback. Those small conversations can be the catalyst and perspective you need to begin.
How you shape and communicate the idea matters: Caroline says, “People don’t buy the idea; they buy you…How you shape the idea and communicate it matters.” Be thorough, include data, set clear goals, and enroll others in the action you’re taking.
Start small: Referencing past Curiosity Club read, Atomic Habits by James Clear, Caroline recommends Cultivators think big, but start small; break down goals into simple action steps. This approach can keep you moving forward and helps prevent you from being overwhelmed when the challenge feels insurmountable.
Think big: “Let your idea be unleashed.” We know you have great ideas just waiting to become a reality. Caroline challenges every Cultivator to dream big and have the courage to start.
Have a wonderful International Women’s Day, Cultivators! May the example of Women in Supply Chain inspire you to move towards equity in your own organization!