Equity in Action: How Inclusion Leads to Supply Chain Innovation

Sep 22, 2025

Join Lushentha Naidoo, Managing Director of the European Supplier Diversity Program, who has journeyed from apartheid-era South Africa to global supply chain leadership. She shares her transformative experience at Unilever, emphasizing caring as a leadership superpower. Lushentha discusses how supplier diversity enhances innovation and resilience, dispelling the myth that it's merely charity. Discover insights on creating inclusive cultures, widening the supplier funnel, and the actionable strategies from ESDP’s mentorship programs and Inclusive Procurement Academy.

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ANECDOTE

From Apartheid To Unilever

Lushentha grew up under apartheid and used education as her escape route.
She fought bias by topping her class and pursuing university and a Unilever graduate role.

INSIGHT

Ubuntu As Leadership

Ubuntu shaped Lushentha's leadership: 'I am because we are.'
She practices servant leadership and prioritizes community and mutual support.

ANECDOTE

Saving Jobs With Factory Reinvention

At Unilever Lushentha led a transformation that repurposed a factory to save jobs.
They converted a home-care site into a plastic recycling plant and retained about 90% of roles.

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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