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 WEBINAR- From Compliance to Impact and Competitive Advantage: How to Decarbonize Your Supply Chain: https://bit.ly/47uXKKo WEBINAR- The Power of Partnership: Building Long-Term Success with Automation Integrators: https://bit.ly/3Ie1WUO WEBINAR- Reengineering supply chain planning: How to get more bang for your buck in 2026- https://bit.ly/3VahMCQ WEBINAR- Optimizing End-to-End Logistics: Efficiency, Collaboration, and Innovation- https://bit.ly/4ml2TZh Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit:
