Equity in Action: How Inclusion Leads to Supply Chain Innovation
Supply Chain Now
Unilever Career, Caring, and DEI in Practice
Highlights from Lushentha's 14-year Unilever career: global roles, factory-floor focus, caring as a leadership superpower, team psychological safety, ERGs, and increasing gender diversity in supply chain.
In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott Luton welcomes Lushentha Naidoo, Managing Director of the European Supplier Diversity Program (ESDP), for a candid conversation on purpose-driven leadership and the business value of inclusive procurement. Drawing on a 14-year transformation career at Unilever and a personal journey from apartheid-era South Africa to global operations leadership, Lushentha shares how caring as a leadership “superpower” can fuel innovation, save jobs, and build psychologically safe teams. She explains how supplier diversity isn’t charity. It’s a competitive advantage that increases agility, strengthens resilience, and unlocks fresh thinking when disruption hits.
She also breaks down how ESDP bridges corporates and diverse suppliers through a fast-growing database, networking events, and the Inclusive Procurement Academy, teaching pitching, storytelling, and “corporate readiness.” From real success stories (mentorship that kept a founder in the fight) to pragmatic guidance for senior leaders doubling down on DEI, this conversation offers actionable takeaways: define the why, build inclusive cultures, and widen the supplier funnel so the best partner wins.
Jump into the conversation:
(00:00) Intro
(03:18) Lushentha’s inspirational journey to Easter Island
(06:50) Growing up during Apartheid
(12:53) The impact of Nelson Mandela's leadership
(17:40) Lushentha’s professional journey at Unilever
(23:45) The power of diversity and inclusion
(26:01) The transition to the European Supplier Diversity Program (ESDP)
(29:09) Lushentha’s advice for corporate leaders
(32:17) Challenges for women in the workplace
(33:52) What ESDP does, its mission, and its impact
(44:06) The importance of inclusivity and DEI
Additional Links & Resources:
- Connect with Lushentha Naidoo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lushentha-naidoo-99730439
- Learn more about ESDP: https://esdp-org.eu/
- Connect with Scott Luton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottwindonluton/
- Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
- Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com
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This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/equity-action-inclusion-leads-supply-chain-innovation-1483
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