Supply Chain Now – “Equity in Action: How Inclusion Leads to Supply Chain Innovation”

Podcast: Supply Chain Now
Host: Scott Luton
Guest: Lushynta Naidu, Managing Director, European Supplier Diversity Program (ESTP)
Air Date: December 26, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode features an enlightening conversation with Lushynta Naidu, Managing Director of the European Supplier Diversity Program (ESTP). Through recounting her inspirational journey from growing up under South African apartheid to leading DEI-driven supply chain efforts across Europe, Lushynta and host Scott Luton discuss how inclusion catalyzes both innovation and opportunity. Listeners are treated to candid reflections, actionable advice, and real-world stories that illustrate why equity isn’t just a moral imperative—it’s also a strategic advantage in supply chain innovation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal Journey: From Apartheid South Africa to Global Supply Chain Leader

• Enduring Impact of Apartheid
  • Lushynta describes growing up under apartheid as profoundly formative, emphasizing the complexities of racial segregation in South Africa (07:00).

    “Everyone thinks it’s just a divide between black and white, but it goes much deeper... my bloodline goes back to the 1800s when the British brought cheap labor—slaves—to South Africa... We were always kept in the same communities.”
    — Lushynta, 07:00

• Value of Education as a Pathway
  • Education was her way forward and her means to “silence critics” and achieve social mobility despite systemic obstacles (08:44).

    “Nothing was ever handed to me. I don’t believe in the word ‘self-made’—there’s always a community that’s supporting you along the way… Choice is a privilege.”
    — Lushynta, 09:32

• Legacy, Hopes & Dreams
  • Despite hardships, she emphasizes determination and the importance of dreams as a source of hope and persistence (56:43).

    “The one thing they couldn’t take away from me was my dreams. Dream big. Don’t let go of those things.”
    — Lushynta, 56:43

2. Influence of Leadership and Community in Overcoming Barriers

• Ubuntu Philosophy
  • Lushynta shares how the Ubuntu philosophy—“I am because we are”—shapes her servant leadership approach (15:45).

    “Humanity is a plural, not a singular… It’s about community. Whether at Unilever or now at ESTP, the most important thing is helping each other along the way.”
    — Lushynta, 15:45

3. Professional Growth & The Power of Diversity at Unilever

• Factory Floor Experiences & Transformation Leadership
  • Her drive for positive impact led to complex transformation projects, including converting a threatened factory into a plastic recycling site in southern Italy, saving 90% of jobs (17:46).

    “That was just pure creativity, thinking out of the box. That’s why I’m such an advocate for diversity—if we all thought the same, we could not have got there.”
    — Lushynta, 20:33

• Diversity as Innovation Driver
  • She highlights the importance of diversity of thought—not just visible differences—as central to organizational problem-solving and innovation (17:46).

4. Authenticity, Psychological Safety, and Compassionate Leadership

• The ‘Superpower’ of Caring & Authenticity
  • Lushynta discusses the toll of imposter syndrome and societal expectations, especially for women and minorities in leadership, stressing the liberating effect of leading authentically (22:44; 23:57).

    “I am a compassionate human being and I can lead... They’re not mutually exclusive.”
    — Lushynta, 22:44

• Combatting the ‘Pretzel’ Effect
  • The energy loss and pressure of ‘wearing masks’ at work is a recurrent theme, with a call for psychological safety and representation to allow everyone to be their true self (31:00).

    “The hardest part of my career was in my 20s, wearing different masks... Think about that in your teams: what can you do to create that environment so that they can do so [be themselves]?”
    — Lushynta, 29:36

5. Making the Leap: Moving from Corporate to Nonprofit Impact

• Purposeful Career Pivot Following Personal Wake-up Call
  • A serious accident made Lushynta reconsider her legacy and emboldened her transition from Unilever to leading ESTP, a move driven by her desire to create societal impact through supplier diversity (26:28).

    “I want to be living my purpose... and this was my way to say, in this part of my life, I want to have something more impact.”
    — Lushynta, 27:02

• Advice to Corporate Leaders Torn Between Security and Purpose
  • She encourages small, incremental actions within existing roles, advocating for supporting ERGs, promoting DI boards, and fostering inclusion to drive change without radical career shifts (29:36).

6. ESTP’s Role in Driving Equitable Access and Supply Chain Resilience

• Mission & Method
  • ESTP connects minority-owned suppliers with large corporate buyers, facilitating opportunities and breaking down barriers rooted in unconscious bias and lack of network (34:14).

    “What we’re doing is trying to build equity so no one has to keep working three times as hard… We create a network, bridge the gap.”
    — Lushynta, 34:14

• Business Case for Supplier Diversity
  • Especially amidst supply chain shocks (e.g., Brexit, COVID-19, Ukraine war), diverse, small suppliers offer agility and innovation critical to supply chain resilience (36:49).
• Concrete Success Stories
  • ESTP’s mentorship and networking led suppliers to renewed hope and real business outcomes. Example: A supplier on the verge of quitting regained momentum through mentorship, now in contract discussions (38:48).

    “She joined one of the mentorship programs … and now she’s actually gaining ground with her business.”
    — Lushynta, 38:48

• Supplier Development via Education (IPA)
  • ESTP’s Inclusive Procurement Academy delivers free training to help diverse suppliers become “corporate ready” (43:05).

7. Redefining Inclusion: The Heartbeat of Equitable Innovation

• Inclusion Beyond Diversity
  • Lushynta frames diversity as “the seeds” and inclusion as “the water”—essential partners for growth (45:27).

    “Inclusion is the water. You can’t do one without the other. Otherwise, diversity is just ticking a box.”
    — Lushynta, 45:27

• On Unhelpful Stereotypes & Merit
  • She reflects on the undermining effect of being told, “It must be so nice to be a woman of color right now” (00:00; 46:00), and insists:

    “It just took away everything I worked so hard for. I never, ever believed anyone’s just promoted because they’re ticking a box.”
    — Lushynta, 00:00/46:00

8. Future Goals & Overcoming Societal Headwinds

• ESTP Expansion Plans
  • Despite political and regulatory challenges (e.g., GDPR, rising nationalist sentiment), ESTP aims to expand certifications to more EU countries and continue developing supplier education (47:56).

9. Tangible DEI Strategies and Business Impact

• DEI That Works
  • Companies succeed when senior leadership embeds DEI in company DNA, focuses on the “why,” and ensures no one feels excluded (50:04).

    “If it’s in the DNA of the company… if people understand the why… it doesn’t matter what’s happening in the world.”
    — Lushynta, 50:04

• Success through Diverse Ideas
  • Example: ESTP innovation challenge winner from Costa Rica upcycles spent coffee grounds into high-value products like coffee oil and clothing, now partnering with Lush Cosmetics (50:54).

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “Education is a way out. From the age of six years old, that was my goal.” — Lushynta, 09:25
• “There’s no such thing as self-made. It’s about community… supporting each other through the journey.” — Lushynta, 15:45
• “How do we open up the table so everyone can compete for this contract? When everyone is included, everyone wins.” — Lushynta, 42:13
• “Diversity is the seeds, inclusion is the water. You need both for innovation.” — Lushynta, 45:27
• “Compassion for me is a superpower.” — Lushynta, 47:20
• “The one thing they couldn’t take away from me was my dreams. Dream big. Don’t let go of those things.” — Lushynta, 56:43

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00 — Challenge of being “othered”; on merit and tokenization
• 07:00 — Apartheid’s impact and significance of education
• 13:32 — Reflections on Nelson Mandela’s influence and the spirit of hope
• 15:45 — Ubuntu philosophy and its ties to leadership
• 17:46 — Career at Unilever, leading innovative transformation through diversity
• 20:33 — Case study: factory transformation, the power of diverse teams
• 22:44 — Superpower of caring and the path to authentic leadership
• 29:36 — Advice on making an impact regardless of role
• 34:14 — How ESTP levels the playing field for minority suppliers
• 38:48 — Supplier success story: mentorship and perseverance
• 45:27 — Diversity vs. inclusion: seed vs. water analogy
• 47:20 — On compassion and redefining merit
• 50:04 — Real DEI strategies that deliver business value
• 50:54 — Coffee waste upcycling innovation story
• 56:43 — Final advice: “Don’t give up on your dreams.”

Call To Action & Closing

Scott Luton closes by urging listeners to convert insights into action:

“Take one thing you heard here from Lushynta’s journey… put it into practice. It’s all about deeds, not words. That’s how we keep transforming this industry and leave no one behind.” (59:28)

Connect & Learn More

• Connect with Lushynta Naidu: LinkedIn
• Learn about ESTP: esdp.org.eu
• ESTP Email: shantalestp-org EU

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in how empowerment, inclusion, and bold leadership drive both equitable opportunity and cutting-edge innovation in global supply chains.