Podcast Summary: Supply Chain Now
Episode: Supply Chain Talent & Leadership Trends Across Africa
Date: October 15, 2025
Host: Scott Luton (B) with Co-host Claire Fincham (C)
Guests: Nicole Peterson (D), Yasin Ahmed (A)
Episode Overview
This Supply Chain Now episode dives into talent and leadership trends in supply chain across Africa, focusing on key takeaways from the SAPIEX Annual Conference 2025 and highlighting innovative solutions for bridging talent gaps. The discussion brings together perspectives from academia, young professionals, and industry leadership, offering practical insights, case studies, and advice for both aspiring and established supply chain professionals.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Future of Africa in Supply Chain Talent
- Africa’s Youthful Potential: Opening the conversation, Yasin asserts, "I'm a firm believer that Africa is the future. I think Africa is positioned to be a leader in the world when it comes to talent and youth talent." (00:00)
- Pan-African Opportunities: Claire underscores the importance of thinking beyond South Africa and seeing Africa as a continent of diverse opportunity and innovation.
2. Panelist Introductions & Backgrounds
- Nicole Peterson: Program Manager at the South African Graduate Employers Association (SAGEA), focused on bridging the gap between education and employment for young talent, especially in analytical and supply chain roles. (07:54)
- “We build bridges between students and opportunities, universities and employers, and ultimately between potential and possibility.” (08:56)
- Yasin Ahmed: South African entrepreneur, founder of Luna, and recent Drexel and Columbia University graduate, recognized for advancing careers and circular economies. His company, Luna, combines AI and human expertise to overhaul resume writing and has helped 750+ clients in 40 countries. (10:30)
3. Perspectives on Cape Town and Local Culture
- Panelists share local experiences in Cape Town, from the Sea Point promenade to unique markets and the local aquarium, emphasizing the city's world-class, cosmopolitan feel and entrepreneur-driven markets. (04:42–07:15)
4. SAPIEX Annual Conference 2025 – Key Takeaways
- Panel Diversity: The panel intentionally brought together stakeholders from industry, academia, and government to address the supply chain talent gap.
- “It was really a thoughtful process of how can we get everyone from along the value chain, the talent value chain, on the same stage and engaging in a meaningful conversation to drive toward an impactful solution.” – Yasin (17:25)
- Passion and Community: The conference’s hallmark was its palpable passion and community spirit. Attendees valued ongoing post-conference discussions and actionable follow-ups.
- “For me, the takeaway of the conference is to continue the conversations… it’s very important to translate that into actions.” – Claire (19:21)
- Networking Beyond the Stage: Nicole found value in engaging with passionate exhibitors and learning about their contributions to the industry. (14:42)
5. Emerging Talent Trends in African Supply Chain
Nicole outlined four major trends from SAGEA’s research:
- Boom in Early-Talent Hiring: The number of employers recruiting supply chain graduates has doubled since 2023.
- Rising Vacancies: For the first time in 21 years, unfilled supply chain graduate vacancies have overtaken audit, ICT, legal, and finance.
- Skills Gap: Mismatch between technical skills and customer-facing/UX skills employers need versus what graduates offer.
- Sustainability Mindset Gap: Need for grads who “can adopt the ethos of sustainability and the green economy,” which current degrees do not yet fully address. (21:21–23:11)
- Advice on Resumes: Yasin urges candidates to tailor resumes for each application, aligning specific skills and accomplishments to the role—one of the biggest misses among job seekers. (27:00)
6. Closing the Talent Gap: Case Studies
a. Quantify Your Future (QIF) Ecosystem (Nicole)
- Developed to address South Africa’s "broken math pipeline," QIF linked students with analytical skills to critical roles in banking, insurance, and fintech.
- “So, we ran virtual internships, school outreach programmes, innovation showcases, future skills forums... All designed to connect the dots. And like a supply chain, we kept checking, listening, and adjusting. And what was the result? Flow.” (28:22)
- The project’s collaborative, feedback-driven approach ensured continuous improvement and measurable outcomes.
b. Drexel Supply Chain Advisory Board (Yasin)
- Yasin pioneered an advisory board connecting industry leaders with Drexel faculty to align curriculum with real-world employer needs, facilitate mentorship, and provide touchpoints for students earlier in their academic careers.
- “I was able to bring together 16 industry stakeholders to, number one, align Drexel’s academic offerings with what’s really being requested... and build closer relationships with these employers to improve the touch points that they have with our students.” (32:59)
7. Leadership & Innovation Across Africa
Notable African Leadership Innovations
- Last-Mile Disruption: Nicole highlights a South African grocery delivery app that cracked last-mile logistics—a leapfrogging “playbook for all leaders.” (41:30)
- Entrepreneurship as Skill Incubator: Yasin advocates for entrepreneurship, citing it as a key source of soft skills and adaptability. (42:36)
- Ubuntu in Leadership: Claire emphasizes the African concept of Ubuntu—“I am, because you are”—as foundational to collaborative success in supply chains. (44:46)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
“Africa is positioned to be a leader in the world when it comes to talent and youth talent.”
– Yasin Ahmed (00:00, 42:36) -
“We bring employers, universities and students together... we build bridges between students and opportunities, universities and employers, and ultimately between potential and possibility.”
– Nicole Peterson (08:56) -
“Claire, did you hear? Yasin? Triple major. I had a big time problem with one major in school and he's over here killing it with a triple major.”
– Scott Luton (12:24) -
“There needs to be this active and intentional engagement between... academic institutions, industry, and agencies... to align academic offerings with what’s really being requested.”
– Yasin Ahmed (23:31) -
“So what?” factor:
– Emphasized by Claire and Scott as a critical follow-up mechanism post-conference and in all professional alignment: what is the actionable outcome? (19:21, 20:05) -
“Instead of the talent leaking out of the pipeline, we created pathways where students actually transitioned into these critical roles. For me, that's the magic.”
– Nicole Peterson (30:17) -
“It's not an us and them, it's an us and us.”
– Nicole Peterson (38:13) -
“Ubuntu, meaning I am. Because you are... If I'm not doing well in my department, you can't be doing well in your department. So let's all just collaborate and make sure we are one thing and one flow.”
– Claire Fincham (44:46)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 00:00 – Africa’s talent outlook and episode introduction
- 02:04–10:30 – Panel introductions, backgrounds, and local flavor on Cape Town
- 14:42–17:18 – First impressions and key takeaways from SAPIEX Annual Conference 2025
- 21:07–23:11 – Nicole’s four major supply chain talent trends for 2025
- 27:00 – Yasin’s practical advice for resume customization and job seekers
- 28:22 – Nicole’s Quantify Your Future (QIF) case study
- 32:59 – Yasin’s Drexel Advisory Board initiative
- 41:30–42:29 – African-led innovation in logistics, and a look to Africa’s demographic future
- 44:46 – Ubuntu as a supply chain and leadership principle
- 47:06–48:26 – Claire previews SAPIEX’s 60th anniversary and upcoming events
Takeaways for Listeners
- Africa is rapidly becoming a powerhouse for supply chain talent and innovation.
- Collaboration between academia, industry, and young professionals is key to bridging persistent skills gaps.
- Continuous feedback, action-oriented follow-up, and realignment between education and employment needs are yielding measurable results.
- Soft skills, adaptability, and storytelling are increasingly important for job seekers.
- Leadership in Africa often models leapfrogging, resilience, and a deep sense of pan-African community, with valuable lessons for global leaders.
Where to Connect & Learn More
- Nicole Peterson/SAGEA: segea.org.za / LinkedIn
- Yasin Ahmed/Luna: luna-resume.com / LinkedIn
- Claire Fincham/SAPIEX: sapiex.org.za / LinkedIn
Final Word
“Your challenge is to take one thing from what you heard here... put it into action. It’s all about deeds, not words.”
— Scott Luton (50:22)