SUPPLIER DIVERSITY
Roberto and his team have rolled out numerous initiatives , including :
• Upskilling the workforce
• Fostering cross-functional collaboration
• Creating an inclusive culture that empowers the teams behind the technology .
“ In our strategy , we always treat people as a multiplier ,” Roberto explains . “ Our formula consists of skills plus cohesion in parenthesis with two multipliers : commitment and energy .
“ If you have the skills but you don ’ t work on real cohesion , how do you make sure the dynamics are working ? How do you make sure you ’ re really working end to end ?
“ The reason why I love the profession is because you are never constrained – actually , the beauty is that you need to synchronise the different ecosystems .”
Prioritising people So , just how is ELC creating the supply chain worker of the future ?
Clearly , a key component of the strategy is to ensure the organisation acquires and retains the right talent .
Roberto ’ s personal belief is that there is no discernible shortage of supply chain talent . The issue , he says , is spotting potential and ensuring continued development of such talent .
One way ELC goes beyond traditional upskilling is through its Fast-to-Action ( F2A ) initiative , which involves assembling
“ THE REASON WHY I LOVE THE SUPPLY CHAIN PROFESSION IS BECAUSE YOU ARE NEVER CONSTRAINED ”
ROBERTO CANEVARI , CHIEF SUPPLY CHAIN OFFICER , THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES
a group of employees who are assigned a project to take on over the course of a few months and accelerate its delivery .
“ This is a way to align people and create cohesion ,” says Roberto . “ It means not only acceleration but also the development of talent in multiple disciplines .
“ It ’ s a tool that ’ s very effective , both in terms of results and for development .”
Roberto also highlights ELC ’ s reverse mentorship programme , which allows younger , less experienced professionals to mentor more senior colleagues . Across the entire organisation , more than 600 people have taken part since the programme ’ s launch .
“ We are very active with this in supply chain because I personally find there is huge value to be gained in three ways ,” Roberto continues .
68 January 2025