In this episode of Supply Chain Now, and part of the Supply Chain Leadership Across Africa series, Scott Luton is joined by co-host Clare Fincham of SAPICS , with guests Nicole Petersen from the South African Graduate Employers Association , and Yaseen Ahmid , CEO of Luna , to explore the biggest takeaways from the SAPICS Annual Conference 2025 in Cape Town. Together, they discuss the rising demand for supply chain graduates, the growing emphasis on sustainability skills, and the widening gap between what universities teach and what employers need. Nicole shares how initiatives like Quantify Your Future are creating clear pathways for students, while Yaseen highlights the importance of tailoring resumes, building early employer relationships, and showcasing entrepreneurial soft skills. Clare emphasizes the role of community and collaboration in extending conference conversations into universities and businesses. This discussion offers a roadmap for addressing supply chain talent shortages and preparing Africa’s workforce to lead in global innovation. Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Intro (01:01) Supply chain leadership across Africa (02:10) Introducing Nicole Petersen and Yaseen Ahmid (04:16) Cape Town experiences and warm-up questions (07:40) SAGEA’s role in early career talent (10:24) Luna and career development with Yaseen (14:12) SAPICS Annual Conference 2025 highlights (20:47) Talent trends in South African supply chains (25:05) Recap and industry insights shared (26:25) Tailoring resumes for specific roles (28:05) Case study: Quantify Your Future initiative (32:36) Case study: Drexel supply chain advisory board (41:13) Innovative leadership examples from Africa Resources: Connect with Nicole Petersen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-petersen-sagea/ Learn more about the South African Graduate Employers Association (SAGEA): https://sagea.org.za/ Connect with Yaseen Ahmid: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yaseen-ahmid/ Learn more about Luna: https://luna-resume.com/ Connect with Clare Fincham: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clare-fincham-5aab6a27/ Learn more about SAPICS: https://www.sapics.org/ 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:
